 The Tochigi Prefectural Government opened a 3 km gauge line to Nishihara-cho in 1897, extending it 10 km to Yoshihara in 1899 and opening a 4 km branch to Tokujiro the following year.Handcar passenger services commenced on both lines from opening, operating until 1928.A 7.5 km branch from Nishihara-cho to Tateiwa was opened in 1898 to haul gravel.