A third-sector railway (dai-san sector tetsudo: simply called sanseku) is an operator established through joint investment by a local government (prefecture or municipality) and a private company. Simply put, it is a non-JR company. Most of the third-sector railway lines are local railway lines that have been taken over from the former JNR (Japanese National Railways) and JR. There are many mutual direct trains between third sector railways and JR lines.
Basics of Fares and Charges
● Third-sector railways have different fares and fee systems (limited express/express fares, green seat/reserved seat fares) from JR lines.
● You cannot ride with a JR line ticket, Japan Rail Pass or Seishun 18 ticket. However, the Japan Rail Pass and the Seishun 18 Kippu has a conditional exception that allows you to ride in some sections.
● Some railway companies allow stopovers on ordinary one-way tickets over 101km.
● If you have a continuous ordinary ticket (over 101km) for a JR line and a 3rd sector railway line, you can stopover as many times as you like. Note that there may be restrictions on the sales section of continuous ordinary tickets
● Some railway companies sell discounted rail passes that allow unlimited travel on trains.
South Hokkaido Railway
道南いさりび鉄道: Website ↗️
The Donan Isaribi Tetsudo runs along the Tsugaru Strait in Southern Hokkaido and was transferred from the former JR Esashi Line. The Seishun 18 Kippu Hokkaido Shinkansen Option-ken Ticket is also available (stopovers are not allowed except Kikonai and Goryokaku stations).
● Route: Kikonai – Goryokaku (37.8km)
● Fare: ¥980
● Trains: Local
● Trains to the JR Line: Goryokaku – Hakodate (JR Hakodate Line)
Aoimori Railway
青い森鉄道: Website ↗️
The Aoimori Tetsudo runs through Eastern Aomori Prefecture and was transferred from the former JR Tohoku Main Line. The Hokkaido and East Japan Pass (seasonal) allows unlimited travel on this railway. Also, the Japan Rail Pass and the Seishun 18 Kippu holders can be used under certain conditions between Aomori, Noheji, and Hachinohe.
● Route: Aomori – Hachinohe – Metoki (121.9km)
● Fare: ¥3170 (valid 2 days and stopovers are possible)
● Trains: Local and rapid
● Trains to the JR Line: Noheji – Ominato (JR Ominato Line)
IGR Iwate Galaxy Railway
IGRいわて銀河鉄道: Website ↗️
The IGR Iwate Ginga Tetsudo runs through Northern Iwate Prefecture and was transferred from the former JR Tohoku Main Line. The Hokkaido and East Japan Pass (seasonal) allows unlimited travel on this railway. The JR Hanawa Line direct train from Morioka Station departs from the platform of the IGR Iwate Galaxy Railway Line. When using the Japan Rail Pass or the Seishun 18 Kippu, the fare between Morioka and Koma (¥660) is required.
● Route: Morioka – Koma – Metoki (82.0km)
● Fare: ¥2420 (Morioka – Hachinohe: ¥ 3110, valid 2 days and stopovers are possible)
● Trains: Local
● Trains to the JR Line: Morioka – Ichinoseki (JR Tohoku Main Line), Koma – Odate (JR Hanawa Line)
Aizu Railway
会津鉄道: Website ↗️
The Aizu Tetsudo runs through Aizu Region and was transferred from the former JR Aizu Line. There are direct trains to JR lines, the Yegan Railway and the Tobu Railway.
● Route: Aizu-kogen-Ozeguchi – Nishi-Aizu (57.4km)
● Fare: ¥1910
● Trains: Local, rapid and limited express
● Trains to the JR Line: Nishi-Wakamatsu – Aizu-Wakamatsu (JR Tadami Line), Aizu-Wakamatsu – Kitakata (JR Banetsu-sai Line: only seasonal trains)
Sendai Airport Railway
仙台空港鉄道: Website ↗️
The Sendai Kuko Tetsudo is an airport rail link opened in 2007. All trains are direct trains between Sendai and Sendai Airport.
● Route: Natori – Sendai Airport (7.1km)
● Fare: ¥420
● Trains: Local and rapid
● Trains to the JR Line: Natori – Sendai (JR Tohoku Main Line)
Abukuma Express
阿武隈急行: Website ↗️
The Abukuma Kyuko connecting Southern Miyagi Prefecture and Northern Fukushima Prefecture. It was built as a bypass line for the Tohoku Main Line.
● Route: Fukushima – Tsukinoki (54.9km)
● Fare: ¥980
● Trains: Local
● Trains to the JR Line: Tsukinoki – Sendai (JR Tohoku Main Line)
Echigo Tokimeki Railway
えちごトキめき鉄道: Website ↗️
The Echigo Tokimeki Tetsudo runs through Echigo Region in Niigata Prefecture and was transferred from the former JR Shin’etsu Main Line. From the Myoko Haneuma Line (Myoko-kogen – Naoetsu), there are direct trains to the JR lines and the Hokuetsu Express.
● Route (Myoko Haneuma Line): Myoko-kogen – Naoetsu (37.7km)
● Fare (same as above): ¥900
● Trains: Local and limited express
● Trains to the JR Line: Naoetsu – Niigata (JR Shin’etsu Main Line, JR Joetsu Line), Muikamachi – Echigo-Yuzawa (JR Joetsu Line)
Hokuetsu Express (Hokuhoku Line)
北越急行ほくほく線: Website ↗️
The Hokuetsu Kyuko, in the Joetsu region of Niigata Prefecture, was planned as the former JNR Hokuetsu-hoku Line and was fully opened in 1997. This is a short-circuit line between Echigo-Yuzawa and Naoetsu via Muikamachi. There are direct trains to the JR lines and the Echigo Tokimeki Railway Myoko Haneuma Line. The Hokkaido and East Japan Pass (seasonal) allows unlimited travel on this railway.
● Route: Muikamachi – Tokamachi – Saigata (59.5km)
● Fare: ¥980
● Trains: Local and rapid
● Trains to the JR Line: Echigo-Yuzawa – Muikamachi (JR Joetsu Line), Saigata – Naoetsu (JR Shin’etsu Main Line)
Shinano Railway
しなの鉄道: Website ↗️
The Shinano Tetsudo runs in Niigata Prefecture and was transferred from the former JR Shin’etsu Main Line. There are two lines, one between Nagano and Myoko-kogen (Kita-Shinano Line) and the other between Shinonoi and Karuizawa (Shinano Railway Line). If you take the Japan Rail Pass or the Seishun 18 Kippu from Nagano Station on the JR Iiyama Line, you will need to pay the fare between Nagano and Toyono (¥260).
● Route: Nagano – Myoko-kogen (37.3km), Shinonoi – Karuizawa (65.1km)
● Fares: Nagano – Myoko-kogen (¥850), Shinonoi – Karuizawa (¥1470)
● Trains: Local and rapid
● Trains to the JR Line: Nagano – Shinonoi (JR Shin’etsu Main Line), Toyono – Tokamachi – Echigo-Kawaguchi (JR Iiyama Line)
Kashima Rinkai Railway
鹿島臨海鉄道: Website ↗️
The Kashima Rinkai Tetsudo (KRT) runs along the coastline in Ibaraki Prefecture. Some trains stop at Kashima Soccer Stadium Station, which is a border station with the JR line, only on days when J-League Kashima Antlers games are held.
● Route: Mito – Kashima Soccer Stadium (53.0km)
● Fare: ¥1400 (tickets to/from Kashima Soccer Stadium Station can be purchased at any time)
● Trains: Local
● Trains to the JR Line: Kashima-jingu – Kashima Soccer Stadium (JR Kashima Line)
Aichi Loop Railway
愛知環状鉄道: Website ↗️
The Aichi Kanjo Tetsudo runs through outside of Nagoya City.
● Route: Okazaki – Shin-Toyota – Kozoji (45.3km)
● Fare: ¥890
● Trains: Local
● Trains to the JR Line: Nagoya – Kozoji (JR Chuo Main Line)
Ise Railway
伊勢鉄道: Website ↗️
The Ise Tetsudo runs in Mie Prefecture and was transferred from the former JNR Ise Line. This is a short-circuit line between Nagoya and Tsu via Suzuka. The limited express Nanki and the rapid Mie pass through this line. If you use the Seishun 18 Kippu to board the rapid Mie, you can pay the fare on board.
● Route: Kawarada – Tsu (22.3km)
● Fare: ¥520
● Trains: Local, rapid and limited express
● Trains to the JR Line: Nagoya – Kawarada (JR Kansai Main Line), Tsu – Taki – Kii-Katsuura (JR Kii Main Line: limited express Nanki), Taki – Toba (JR Sangu Line: rapid train Mie)
IR Ishikawa Railway
IRいしかわ鉄道: Website ↗️
The IR Ishikawa Tetsudo was transferred from the former JR Hokuriku Main Line in Ishikawa Prefecture. The Japan Rail Pass and the Seishun 18 Kippu holders an be used under certain conditions between Kanazawa and Tsubata.
● Route: Kawarada – Tsubata – Kurikara (17.8km)
● Fare: ¥370
● Trains: Local
● Trains to the JR Line: Tsubata – Nanao / Wakura-onsen (JR Nanao Line)
Ainokaze Toyama Railway
あいの風とやま鉄道: Website ↗️
The Ainokaze Toyama Tetsudo was transferred from the former JR Hokuriku Main Line in Toyama Prefecture. The Japan Rail Pass and the Seishun 18 Kippu holders an be used under certain conditions between Toyama and Takaoka.
● Routes: Kurikara – Takaoka – Toyama (41.6km), Toyama – Ichiburi (58.5km)
● Fares: Kurikara – Toyama (¥870), Toyama – Ichiburi (¥1130)
● Trains: Local, Ainokaze Liner
● Trains to the JR Line: Takaoka – Johana (JR Johana Line)
Noto Railway
のと鉄道: Website ↗️
The Noto Tetsudo runs on the Noto Peninsula (in Ishikawa Prefecture) and was transferred from the former JR Noto Line. The section between Nanao and Wakura Onsen is shared with the JR West (Japan Rail Pass and the Seishun 18 Kippu are available).
● Route: Wakura-onsen – Anamizu (28.0km)
● Fare: ¥690
● Trains: Local
● Trains to the JR Line: Nanao – Wakura-onsen (JR Nanao Line)
Kyoto Tango Railway
京都丹後鉄道: Website ↗️
The Kyoto Tango Tetsudo has three lines on the Tango Peninsula. The railway facilities are owned by third-sector Kitakinki Tango Railway Co., Ltd., and the railway business is operated by travel operator WILLER TRAINS. The limited express train Hashidate runs to/from Kyoto.
● Routes: Fukuchiyama – Miuazu (Miyafuku Line: 30.4km), Nishi-Maizuru – Miyazu (Miyamai Line: 24.7km), Miyazu – Amanohashidate – Toyooka (Miyatoyo Line: 58.9km)
● Fares: Fukuchiyama – Amanohashidate (¥800), Nishi-Maizuru – Amanohashidate (¥650), Toyooka – Amanohashidate (¥1200)
● Trains: Local, rapid and limited express
● Trains to the JR Line: Kyoto – Fukuchiyama (JR Sanin Line)
Wakasa Railway
若桜鉄道: Website ↗️
The Wakasa Tetsudo was transferred from the former JNR Wakasa Line in Tottori Prefecture.
● Route: Koge – Wakasa (19.2km)
● Fare: ¥440
● Trains: Local
● Trains to the JR Line: Tottori – Koge (JR Inbi Line)
Chizu Express
智頭急行: Website ↗️
The Chizu Kyoko spans Hyogo, Okayama and Tottori prefectures. It is the shortest rail line between Kansai Region and Tottori city. The limited express Super Hakuto runs between Kyoto and Kurayoshi via Tottori, and the limited express Super Inaba runs between Okayama and Tottori.
● Route: Kamigori – Chizu (56.1km)
● Fare: ¥1320
● Trains: Local, limited express
● Trains to the JR Line: Kyoto – Kamigori (JR Tokaido Main Line, JR Sanyo Main Line), Chizu – Tottori – Kurayoshi (JR Inbi Line, JR Sanin Main Line) *Local trains: Tottori – Chizu
Ibara Railway
井原鉄道: Website ↗️
The Ibara Railway connects Okayama Prefectures with Hiroshima Prefectures.
● Route: Soja – Kiyone – Kannabe (41.7km)
● Fare: ¥1120 (Kiyone –Kannabe: ¥1030)
● Trains: Local
● Trains to the JR Line: Fukuyama – Kannabe (JR Fukuen Line)
Hisatsu Orange Railway
肥薩おれんじ鉄道: Website ↗️
The Hisatsu Orange Tetudo connecting Kumamoto Prefecture and Kagoshima Prefecture on the former JR Kagoshima Main Line. The entire line is electrified, but all local and rapid trains are operated by diesel cars.
● Route: Yatsushiro – Sendai (116.0km)
● Fare: ¥2670
● Trains: Local
● Trains to the JR Line: Shin-Yatsushiro – Yatsushiro (JR Kagoshima Main Line), Sendai – Kumanojo (JR Kagoshima Main Line)
Tosa Kuroshio Railway
土佐くろしお鉄道: Website ↗️
The Tosa Kuroshio Tetsudo has two railway lines in Kochi Prefecture, one between Kubokawa and Sukumo (Nakamura Line and Sukumo Line) and the other between Gomen and Nahari (Gomen-Nahari Line).
● Routes: Kubokawa – Wakai – Nakamura – Sukumo (66.6km), Gomen – Nahari (42.7km)
● Fares: Kubokawa – Sukumo (¥1630), Gomen – Nahari (¥1080) *If you take the Japan Rail Pass or the Seishun 18 Kippu from Kubokawa Station on the JR Yodo Line, you will need to pay the fare between Kubokawa and Wakai (¥210).
● Trains: Local and limited express (Nakamura Line and Sukumo Line), local and rapid (Gomen-Nahari Line)
● Trains to the JR Line: Kubokawa – Kochi – Takamatsu (JR Dsan Line, JR Yosan Line), Kochi – Gomen (JR Dosan Line)
