▁is ▁a ▁railway ▁company ▁in ▁Nag as aki , ▁Japan . ▁▁ ▁Sh im ab ara ▁Railway ▁also ▁oper ates ▁bus es , ▁tax is ▁and ▁passenger ▁fer ries ; ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁other ▁non - transport ▁vent ures . ▁▁ ▁Nag as aki ▁Pref ect ure ▁and ▁C ities ▁in ▁Sh im ab ara ▁area ▁came ▁to ▁hold ▁stock s ▁in ▁the ▁company ▁after ▁an ▁er u ption ▁dis aster ▁of ▁Un zen ▁F ugen - d ake ▁in ▁an ▁effort ▁to ▁increase ▁capital . ▁ ▁History ▁May ▁ 5 , ▁ 1 9 0 8 : ▁Sh im ab ara ▁Railway ▁Co ., ▁Ltd . ▁established . ▁▁▁ 1 9 1 1 : ▁April ▁ 1 : ▁Line ▁opened ▁with ▁a ▁J GR ▁Class ▁ 1 5 0 ▁locomot ive ▁( built ▁ 1 8 7 1 ) ▁from ▁the ▁Ministry ▁of ▁Rail ways . ▁June ▁ 2 0 : ▁Line ▁from ▁ ▁to ▁Ain om ura ▁( now ▁) ▁opened . ▁September ▁ 2 4 , ▁ 1 9 1 3 : ▁Line ▁from ▁Is ah aya ▁to ▁Sh im ab ara ▁Min ato ▁( now ▁South ▁Sh im ab ara ) ▁opened . ▁April ▁ 1 0 , ▁ 1 9 1 9 : ▁K uch in ots u ▁Railway ▁Co ., ▁Ltd . ▁established . ▁ ▁April ▁ 2 2 , ▁ 1 9 2 2 : ▁K uch in ots u ▁Railway ▁line ▁from ▁Sh im ab ara ▁Min ato ▁to ▁Do z aki ▁opened . ▁March