List of defunct railway companies in Japan lists defunct Japanese railway operators. The list includes all types of railways, such as handcars, horsecars, trams, light railways, heavy rails, freight rails, industrial railways, monorails, new transit systems, or funiculars. Some companies are still active in other businesses, such as bus operation. Translated names might be tentative. "Former names" include those of preceding operators not directly related to their successors.
The list omits these types of operators: Type 1: Direct predecessor of surviving railway operator. (e.g. Meguro Kamata Electric Railway, the current Tokyu Corporation.) Type 2: Operator with lines largely succeeded by surviving railway operator. (e.g. Kaetsunō Railway, whose lines succeeded by Manyōsen.) Type 3: Operator that was merged by surviving railway operator, Type 1, or Type 2. (e.g. Sanyō Railway, later merged into Japanese National Railways, which was later succeeded by Japan Railways Group Companies.) Type 4: Planned line that was never built.
Hokkaidō
Abashiri Kōtsū 網走交通 Formerly called Higashi-Mokoto Transportation 東藻琴交通. Still active in bus and other businesses. Asahikawa City Tramway 旭川市街軌道 Asahikawa Electric Tramway 旭川電気軌道 Ashibetsu Forest Railway 芦別森林鉄道 (Industrial railway) Bekkai Municipal Tramway 別海村営軌道 Bifuka Municipal Tramway 美深町営軌道 Ebetsu Municipal Handcar Tramway 江別町営人車軌道 Forest Railway in Mikasa (Operator name unknown) 森林鉄道 (Industrial railway) Garuishi Tramway 軽石軌道 Haboro Colliery Railway 羽幌炭礦鉄道 Haboro Forest Railway 羽幌森林鉄道 (Industrial railway) Hamanaka Municipal Tramway 浜中町営軌道 Hayakita Railway 早来鉄道 Formerly called Hayakita Tramway 早来軌道. Still active as Atsuma Bus あつまバス, a bus operator. Hokkaidō Chihoku Kōgen Railway 北海道ちほく高原鉄道 Hokkaidō Colliery and Steamship 北海道炭礦汽船 Formerly called Yūbari Railway 夕張鉄道. Hokkaidō Colliery and Steamship is still active as a chemical importer. Yūbari Railway is still active as a bus operator. Hokkaidō Takushoku Railway 北海道拓殖鉄道 Still active as a truck company. Horonobe Municipal Tramway 幌延町営軌道 Iwanai Horsecar 岩内馬車鉄道 Jōzankei Forest Railway 定山渓森林鉄道 (Industrial railway) Jōzankei Railway 定山渓鉄道 Still active as Jōtetsu じょうてつ, a bus operator. Kakuta Coal Mine Industrial Railway 角田炭礦専用鉄道 (Industrial railway) Kamikawa Horsecar 上川馬車鉄道 Kayanuma Colliery Tramway 茅沼炭鉱軌道 Opened in 1869, presumed to be the oldest railway in Japan. Kitami Railway 北見鉄道 Kōtō Tramway 江当軌道 Kushiro Development Pier 釧路開発埠頭 Former names include Hokkaidō Colliery Railway 北海道炭礦鉄道, Yūbetsu Colliery Railway 雄別炭礦鉄道, Yūbetsu Railway 雄別鉄道, and Yūbetsu Coal Mine 雄別炭礦. Kushiro Railway 釧路鉄道 Maruseppu Forest Railway 丸瀬布森林鉄道 (Industrial railway) Mitsubishi Coal Mining 三菱石炭鉱業 Former names include Ōyūbari Coal Mine 大夕張炭礦, Bibai Railway 美唄鉄道, Mitsubishi Mining 三菱鉱業, and Mitsubishi Ōyūbari Coal Mine 三菱大夕張炭礦. Mitsubishi Mining was later merged into Mitsubishi Material 三菱マテリアル. Mitsui Ashibetsu Railway 三井芦別鉄道 Mitsui Mining 三井鉱山 Still active in its main business. Nemuro Takushoku Railway 根室拓殖鉄道 Nippon Soda 日本曹達 (Industrial railway) Still active in its main business as a chemical company. Noboribetsu Onsen Tramway 登別温泉軌道 Oketo Forest Railway 置戸森林鉄道 (Industrial railway) Onneyu Forest Railway 温根湯森林鉄道 (Industrial railway) Ōnuma Electric Railway 大沼電鉄 Ōyūbari Forest Office 大夕張営林署 (Industrial railway) Rumoi Railway 留萠鉄道 Sapporo Suburban Electric Tramway 札幌郊外電気軌道 Formerly called Sapporo Onsen Electric Tramway 札幌温泉電気軌道. Sapporo Tramway 札幌軌道 Saru Railway 沙流鉄道 Shibecha Municipal Tramway 標茶町営軌道 Shibetsu Tramway 士別軌道 Still active as a bus operator. Suttsu Railway 寿都鉄道 Teshio Colliery Railway 天塩炭砿鉄道 Still active as Tentesu Bus てんてつバス, a bus operator. Tōbetsu Municipal Tramway 当別町営軌道 Tomakomai Port Development 苫小牧港開発 Still active as a developer. Tōyako Electric Railway 洞爺湖電気鉄道 Tsurui Municipal Tramway 鶴居村営軌道 Utanobori Municipal Tramway 歌登町営軌道 Yoichi Rinkō Tramway 余市臨港軌道 Yūbetsu Tramway 湧別軌道
Tōhoku region
Aomori Prefecture Aomori Prefecture 青森県 Kawauchi Forest Railway 川内森林鉄道 (Industrial railway) Nanbu Jūkan Railway 南部縦貫鉄道 Still active as Nanbu Jūkan 南部縦貫, a taxi company. Nanbu Railway 南部鉄道 Still active as Nanbu Bus 南部バス, a bus operator. Ōhata Forest Railway 大畑森林鉄道 (Industrial railway) Shimokita Kōtsū 下北交通 Still active as a bus operator. Tanabe Transport Tramway 田名部運輸軌道 Formerly called Tanabe Tramway 田名部軌道 Tsugaru Forest Railway 津軽森林鉄道 (Industrial railway)
Iwate Prefecture Ganpoku Tramway 岩北軌道 Iwate Chūō Bus 岩手中央バス Former names include Hanamaki Electric Tramway 花巻電気軌道, Hanamaki Electric Company 花巻電気, Morioka Electric Industry 盛岡電気工業, Hanamaki Onsen Electric Railway 花巻温泉電気鉄道/花巻温泉電鉄, Hanamaki Electric Railway 花巻電気鉄道/花巻電鉄. Later merged into Iwateken Kōtsū 岩手県交通, a bus operator. Japan Iron & Steel 日本製鐵 Former names include Kamaishi Mine Horsecar 釜石鉱山馬車鉄道, Kamaishi Mine Railway 釜石鉱山鉄道, Tanaka Mine 田中鉱山, Kamaishi Mine 釜石鉱山, and Nittetsu Mining 日鉄鉱業. The last company is still active in its main business. Matsuo Mining Railway 松尾鉱業鉄道 Mizusawa Forest Railway 水沢森林鉄道 (Industrial railway) Tankō Tramway 胆江軌道 Waga Light Tramway 和賀軽便軌道
Miyagi Prefecture Furukawa Horsecar 古川馬車鉄道 Kakuda Tramway 角田軌道 Formerly called Kakuda Horsecar 角田馬車軌道. Kurihara Den'en Railway くりはら田園鉄道線 Miyagi Bus 宮城バス Former names include Sendai Tramway 仙台軌道, Sendai Railway 仙台鉄道, Senpoku Railway 仙北鉄道, Kinkazan Tramway 金華山軌道, Ojika Tramway 牡鹿軌道, Kinkazan Jidōsha 金華山自動車, and Matsuyama Handcar Tramway 松山人車軌道. Later merged into Miyagi Transportation 宮城交通, a bus operator. Sennan Kōtsū 仙南交通 Former names include Sennan Tramway 仙南軌道, Jōnan Tramway 城南軌道, Sennan Onsen Tramway 仙南温泉軌道, Sennan Kōtsū Jidōsha 仙南交通自動車, Akiu Stone Tramway 秋保石材軌道, Akiu Stone Electric Tramway 秋保石材電気軌道, Akiu Electric Tramway 秋保電気軌道, and Akiu Electric Railway 秋保電気鉄道. Later merged into Miyagi Transportation. Zōtō Tramway 増東軌道 Later merged into Sendai City Transportation Bureau 仙台市交通局.
Akita Prefecture Akita Chūō Kōtsū 秋田中央交通 Still active as a bus operator. Akita City Transportation Bureau 秋田市交通局 Dōwa Kōgyō 同和鉱業 Still active as Dōwa Holdings DOWAホールディングス in its main business, a metal company. Jōgi Forest Railway 定義森林鉄道 (Industrial railway) Nagakisawa Forest Railway 長木沢森林鉄道 (Industrial railway) Nakanishi Tokugorō Operated Tramway 中西徳五郎経営軌道 Nibetsu Forest Railway 仁別森林鉄道 (Industrial railway) Sugisawa Forest Railway 杉沢森林鉄道 (Industrial railway) Takanosu Forest Railway 鷹巣森林鉄道 (Industrial railway) Ugo Kōtsū 羽後交通 Former names include Ogachi Railway 雄勝鉄道, and Yokote Railway 横手鉄道. Still active as a bus operator.
Yamagata Prefecture Akayu Handcar Tramway 赤湯人車軌道 Shōnai Kōtsū 庄内交通 Still active as a bus operator. Yachi Tramway 谷地軌道 Yamagata Kōtsū 山形交通 Former names include Takahata Railway 高畠鉄道, Sanzan Electric Tramway 三山電気鉄道, and Obanazawa Railway 尾花沢鉄道. Still active as Yamakō ヤマコー, a bus and other operator.
Fukushima Prefecture Akai Tramway 赤井軌道 Bandai Kyūkō Electric Railway 磐梯急行電鉄 Former names include Japan Sulfur 日本硫黄, and Japan Sulfur Kankō 日本硫黄観光. Ena Railway 江名鉄道 Iwaki Coal Mine 磐城炭礦 Still active as Jōban Kōsan 常磐興産, a resort developer. Iwaki Tramway 磐城軌道 Miharu Horsecar 三春馬車鉄道 Nakoso Tramway 勿来軌道 Yoshima Tramway 好間軌道
Kantō region
Ibaraki Prefecture Haguro Tramway 羽黒軌道 Hitachi Dentetsu 日立電鉄 Formerly called Jōhoku Electric Railway 常北電気鉄道. Still active as a bus operator. Ibaraki Tramway 茨城軌道 Inada Handcar Tramway 稲田人車軌道 Iwama Handcar Tramway 岩間人車軌道 Jōnan Electric Railway 常南電気鉄道 Kabaho Kōgyō 樺穂興業 Kasama Inari Transport 笠間稲荷運輸 Kashima Railway 鹿島鉄道 Formerly called Kashima Sangū Railway 鹿島参宮鉄道. Kashima Tramway 鹿島軌道 Mito Electric Railway 水戸電気鉄道 Muramatsu Tramway 村松軌道 Tsukuba Railway 筑波鉄道 Formerly called Jōsō Tsukuba Railway 常総筑波鉄道. Still active as Kantetsu Tsukuba Shōji 関鉄筑波商事, a golf practice range company.
Tochigi Prefecture Akami Railway 赤見鉄道 Formerly called Akami Light Railway 赤見軽便鉄道. Imperial Japanese Army 大日本帝国陸軍 (Industrial railway) Iwafune Handcar Railway 岩舟人車鉄道 Kitsuregawa Handcar Tramway 喜連川人車軌道 Formerly called Kitsuregawa Handcar Railway 喜連川人車鉄道. Nabeyama Tramway 鍋山軌道 Formerly called Nabeyama Handcar Tramway 鍋山人車軌道. Nasu Tramway 那須軌道 Formerly called Nasu Handcar Tramway 那須人車軌道. Otome Handcar Tramway 乙女人車軌道 Shiobara Electric Railway 塩原電車 Formerly called Shiobara Tramway 塩原軌道. Tōya Railway 東野鉄道 Still active as Tōya Kōtsū 東野交通, a bus operator.
Gunma Prefecture Ikaho Cable Railway 伊香保ケーブル鉄道 Formerly called Kantō Cable Railway 関東鋼索鉄道. Iwahana Light Railway 岩鼻軽便鉄道 Kusakaru Electric Railway 草軽電気鉄道 Former names include Kusakaru Light Railway 草津軽便鉄道, and Kusatsu Electric Railway 草津電気鉄道. Still active as Kusakaru Kōtsū 草軽交通, a bus operator. Midorino Horsecar 緑野馬車鉄道 Satomi Tramway 里見軌道 Tokyo Light 東京電燈 Formerly called Agatsuma Onsen Horsecar 吾妻温泉馬車鉄道, Tone Tramway 利根軌道, Agatsuma Tramway 吾妻軌道, Gunma Electric Power Company 群馬電力, and Tokyo Electric Power Company 東京電力. The last company is different from the current company with the same name. Usui Horsecar 碓氷馬車鉄道
Saitama Prefecture Bushū Nakatsugawa Forest Railway 武州中津川森林鉄道 (Industrial railway) Bushū Railway 武州鉄道 Former names include Chūō Light Electric Railway 中央軽便電気鉄道, and Chūō Railway 中央鉄道. Chichibu Mining 秩父鉱業 (Industrial railway) Still active as Taiheiyō Cement 太平洋セメント in its main business. Chūbu Horsecar 中武馬車鉄道 Gyōda Horsecar 行田馬車鉄道 Honjō Electric Tramway 本庄電気軌道 Irikawa Forest Railway 入川森林鉄道 (Industrial railway) Iruma Horsecar 入間馬車鉄道 Jōbu Railway 上武鉄道 Formerly called Japan Nickel 日本ニッケル. Japan Nickel is still active as Asahi Industries 朝日工業, a chemical company. Senju Horsecar 千住馬車鉄道 Sōka Horsecar 草加馬車鉄道 University of Tokyo 東京大学 (Industrial railway) Still active in its main operation.
Chiba Prefecture Imperial Japanese Army 大日本帝国陸軍 (Railway for tactical practice) Isumi Tramway 夷隅軌道 Kujūkuri Railway 九十九里鉄道 Formerly called Kujūkuri Tramway 九十九里軌道. Still active as a bus operator. Nansō Railway 南総鉄道 Narita Railway 成田鉄道 Former names include Chiba Prefectural Railway 千葉県営鉄道, Seisō Electric Tramway 成宗電気軌道, and Narita Electric Tramway 成田電気軌道. Still active as Chiba Kōtsū 千葉交通, a bus operator.
Tokyo Metropolis Okutama Kōgyō 奥多摩工業 (Industrial railway) Still active in its main business as a limestone company. Senju Horsecar 千住馬車鉄道 Sōka Horsecar 草加馬車鉄道 Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Port and Harbor 東京都港湾局 (Industrial railway) Still active in its main operation.
Kanagawa Prefecture Atami Tramway Organization 熱海軌道組合 Former names include Zusō Handcar Railway 豆相人車鉄道, Atami Railway 熱海鉄道, and Dai-Nippon Tramway 大日本軌道. Dream Kōtsū ドリーム交通 Kawasaki City Transportation Bureau 川崎市交通局 Still active as a bus operator. Now planning a subway. Shōnan Tramway 湘南軌道 Former names include Shōnan Horsecar 湘南馬車鉄道, and Shōnan Light Railway 湘南軽便鉄道. Tsurumi Rinkō Railway 鶴見臨港鉄道 Formerly called Kaigan Electric Tramway 海岸電気軌道.
Chūbu region
Niigata Prefecture Echigo Kōtsū 越後交通 Former names include Tochio Railway 栃尾鉄道, Tochio Electric Railway 栃尾鉄道, and Nagaoka Railway 長岡鉄道. Still active as a bus operator.. Kanbara Railway 蒲原鉄道 Still active as a bus operator. Kubiki Railway and Bus 頸城鉄道自動車 Formerly called Kubiki Railway 頸城鉄道. Still active as Kubiki Bus 頸城自動車, a bus operator. Niigata Kōtsū 新潟交通 Former names include Nakanokuchi Electric Railway 中ノ口電気鉄道, and Niigata Electric Railway 新潟電鉄.
Yamanashi Prefecture Fuji Kaiyū Tramway 富士廻遊軌道 Yamanashi Horsecar 山梨馬車鉄道 Yamanashi Kōtsū 山梨交通 Former names include Yamanashi Electric Railway 山梨電気鉄道, and Kyōsai Electric Railway 峡西電気鉄道. Still active as a bus operator.
Nagano Prefecture Enasan Forest Railway 恵那山森林軌道 (Industrial railway) Ikeda Railway 池田鉄道 Kiso Forest Railway 木曽森林鉄道 (Industrial railway) Kusakaru Electric Railway 草軽電気鉄道 Former names include Kusakaru Light Railway 草津軽便鉄道, and Kusatsu Electric Railway 草津電気鉄道. Still active as Kusakaru Kōtsū 草軽交通, a bus operator. Nunobiki Electric Railway 布引電気鉄道 Usui Horsecar 碓氷馬車鉄道 Zenkōji-Hakuba Dentetsu 善光寺白馬電鉄 Still active as a truck company.
Toyama Prefecture Kamioka Railway 神岡鉄道
Ishikawa Prefecture Ogoya Railway 尾小屋鉄道