Keio
A Japanese railway and diversified transport-services group centered on commuter railways in western Tokyo.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Keio Corporation is a Japanese private railway operator and the central company of the Keio Group. Its principal business is urban and suburban rail transport linking western Tokyo with central Tokyo, especially the Shinjuku area. The railway network serves communities including Chofu, Fuchu, Hachioji, Hino, Inagi and Tama, as well as Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture. The network is built around the Keio Line, which runs between Shinjuku and the western suburbs, and the separate Keio Inokashira Line, which connects Shibuya and Kichijoji and intersects the Keio Line at Meidaimae. The name Keio combines characters associated with Tokyo and Hachioji, reflecting the railway’s historic role in connecting the capital with western suburban communities. The company’s origins date to Nippon Electric Railway, established in 1905. After an early reorganization and renaming, the business became Keio Electric Tramway in 1910 and began operating an interurban route between Sasazuka and Chofu in 1913. By 1923, the principal route between Shinjuku and Hachioji had been completed. Part of the western route had originally been built by Gyokunan Electric Railway using a different gauge before being converted to the gauge used by the main Keio network. The Inokashira Line has a separate corporate origin. It was opened in 1933 by Teito Electric Railway, an independent company that was later combined with Odakyu Electric Railway and then absorbed into the government-directed Tokyo Kyuko Dentetsu structure during the Second World War. Following the postwar reorganization of Japan’s private railway sector, the Keio and Inokashira lines were separated from Tokyu in 1947. A new company, Keio Teito Electric Railway, was established to operate them. The Teito name was eventually removed from the corporate name in 1998, and the English corporate name changed from Keio Electric Railway to Keio Corporation in 2005. Railway operations remain the group’s core activity, but Keio also operates or is associated with businesses in bus transportation, taxis, retail, department stores, supermarkets, real estate, construction, travel and hotels. Related group businesses include Keio Dentetsu Bus, Nishi Tokyo Bus, Keio Jidosha, Keio Department Store, Keio Store, Keio Realty and Development, Keio Travel Agency and Keio Plaza Hotel. This portfolio reflects the typical strategy of major Japanese private railway groups: using transport infrastructure as a foundation for commercial, property and hospitality businesses around stations and in served communities. Keio’s rolling stock has primarily been designed for high-frequency commuter use, with longitudinal seating across its trains. The fleet has included the 7000, 8000, 9000 and second-generation 5000 series on the 1,372 mm-gauge lines, and the second-generation 1000 series on the 1,067 mm-gauge Inokashira Line. In 2017, Keio introduced a new generation of 5000-series ten-car electric multiple units in connection with the planned launch of reserved-seat evening commuter services from Shinjuku. Beyond vehicle modernization, the company has been associated with passenger-accessibility initiatives, including the introduction of priority seating in 1973, then called Silver Seats and renamed in 1993. Keio is therefore best understood not as a consumer-product label but as a regional mobility and infrastructure brand. Its identity is tied to reliable metropolitan commuting, station-centered development and a broad group of services supporting everyday life in western Tokyo.
History
Keio’s corporate history begins with Nippon Electric Railway, founded in 1905. The company was reorganized as Musashi Electric Railway in 1906 and renamed Keio Electric Tramway in 1910. Its first interurban railway section, between Sasazuka and Chofu, opened in 1913. The main route was progressively extended westward, and the Shinjuku–Hachioji railway was completed by 1923. The Fuchu–Hachioji section had originally been constructed by Gyokunan Electric Railway with a 1,067 mm gauge; it was subsequently converted to the 1,372 mm gauge used on the main Keio route. A second major component of today’s network, the Inokashira Line, was developed separately. Teito Electric Railway began operating the line in 1933. Its original plans included a connection from Oimachi toward the area now known as Koto Ward, but that extension was not built. In 1940, Teito Electric Railway was merged with Odakyu Electric Railway. In 1942, the combined railway businesses were incorporated into Tokyo Kyuko Dentetsu, the company now known as Tokyu Corporation, as part of wartime government-directed consolidation. After the war, Tokyu shareholders approved the separation of the Keio and Inokashira lines in 1947. The lines were placed under a new company named Keio Teito Electric Railway. This corporate structure restored Keio as an independent private railway operator while preserving the operational connection between its principal western-Tokyo route and the Inokashira Line. The Teito element was removed from the Japanese corporate name in 1998, when the company adopted Keio Electric Railway. In 2005, its English name was changed to Keio Corporation. Keio developed as more than a railway operator. Like other major private railway companies in Japan, it expanded into businesses that could benefit from the passenger flows and land values generated by its network. The Keio Group came to include bus and taxi operations, retail companies, real-estate and construction businesses, travel services and hotels. Keio Department Store, Keio Store, Keio Plaza Hotel, Keio Realty and Development, Keio Dentetsu Bus, Nishi Tokyo Bus and Keio Jidosha are among the associated businesses identified with the group. The railway’s operating identity has been shaped by dense commuter demand in western Tokyo. Its lines connect suburban municipalities with major urban interchange points, most importantly Shinjuku, while the Inokashira Line provides a separate east-west connection between Shibuya and Kichijoji. The network uses two track gauges: the main Keio and related 1,372 mm-gauge lines, and the 1,067 mm-gauge Inokashira Line. Passenger trains have generally used longitudinal seating suited to frequent urban commuting. Keio has also made selected service and fleet changes over time. It introduced priority seating in 1973, an early accessibility measure within the Japanese railway sector; the designation was changed from Silver Seats to priority seats in 1993. Rolling-stock generations have included the 7000, 8000, 9000 and 5000 series on the main-gauge lines, together with the second-generation 1000 series on the Inokashira Line. A new second-generation 5000 series entered service in 2017 as part of preparations for evening reserved-seat commuter services. Through these developments, Keio has remained an active regional railway and a diversified station-centered services group.
- 2017
Second-generation 5000 series enters service
[1]Keio introduces a new ten-car 5000-series fleet ahead of reserved-seat evening commuter operations.
- 2005
English corporate name becomes Keio Corporation
[1]The company adopts Keio Corporation as its English name.
- 1998
Teito name removed
[1]The company changes its Japanese corporate name from Keio Teito Electric Railway to Keio Electric Railway.
- 1973
Priority seating introduced
[1]Keio establishes designated seats for passengers needing additional assistance.
- 1947
Keio lines are separated from Tokyu
[1]Shareholders approve the spin-off of the Keio and Inokashira lines into an independent company.
- 1933
Inokashira Line begins operation
[1]The separately established Teito Electric Railway opens the line that later becomes part of Keio’s network.
- 1923
Shinjuku–Hachioji main route completed
[1]Keio completes the principal railway connection between central Tokyo and Hachioji.
- 1913
First interurban section opens
[1]Service begins between Sasazuka and Chofu.
- 1910
Renamed Keio Electric Tramway
[1]The company adopts the name that establishes the historical Keio identity.
- 1906
Reorganization as Musashi Electric Railway
[1]The predecessor company is reorganized under the Musashi Electric Railway name.
Products and positioning
A regional Japanese private railway group combining commuter mobility with station-area retail, property, hospitality and related services.
Railway transportation
Keio Line
Keio’s principal railway corridor links Shinjuku with western Tokyo, serving suburban communities including Chofu, Fuchu and Hachioji. The line is the core of the company’s commuter network and the main transport spine around which several group businesses have developed.
Railway transportation · 1933
Keio Inokashira Line
The Inokashira Line is a separate-gauge urban railway connecting Shibuya and Kichijoji. Although it originated with Teito Electric Railway, it became part of the independent Keio railway structure after the postwar separation from Tokyu. It intersects the Keio Line at Meidaimae.
Railway rolling stock · 2017
Keio 5000 series
The second-generation 5000 series is a ten-car electric multiple-unit fleet introduced in 2017. Its deployment was associated with Keio’s move toward reserved-seat evening commuter services from Shinjuku, combining ordinary commuter capacity with a more premium seating offer.
Bus transportation
Keio Dentetsu Bus
Keio Dentetsu Bus is a group transport business extending the company’s mobility offering beyond the railway network. It supports local and feeder transportation in areas associated with the Keio railway corridor.
Retail
Keio Department Store and Keio Store
Keio’s retail businesses provide department-store and supermarket services within the broader station-centered group model. These operations connect everyday shopping and commercial activity with the passenger traffic generated by the railway network.
Hospitality
Keio Plaza Hotel
Keio Plaza Hotel represents the group’s hospitality business. It forms part of Keio’s diversification beyond transport into hotels and visitor services, complementing the group’s retail, real-estate and travel operations.
Brand decisions
2017
Launch of the second-generation 5000 seriesProduct launchBackground
Keio planned to introduce reserved-seat evening commuter services from Shinjuku while continuing to serve high-volume commuter demand.
Action taken
The first of five new ten-car 5000-series electric multiple units entered service on September 29, 2017.
Aftermath
The new fleet was positioned to support the start of evening reserved-seat commuter services in spring 2018.
1973
Introduction of priority seatingStrategyBackground
Keio sought to provide more appropriate seating for elderly and disabled passengers, pregnant women and passengers with infants.
Action taken
The company introduced designated Silver Seats on Respect for the Aged Day, creating a dedicated priority-seating policy on its trains.
Aftermath
The seats were later renamed priority seats in 1993 and became part of the railway’s passenger-service identity.
Recent events
- 2018
Reserved-seat evening commuter services begin[1]
Product launch
The second-generation 5000 series was introduced ahead of new reserved-seat commuter services running from Shinjuku during evening periods.
- 2017
Keio launches a new 5000-series train fleet[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The first of a new fleet of ten-car 5000-series electric multiple units entered service in September 2017. The trains supported the introduction of reserved-seat evening commuter services from Shinjuku.
- 2017
Keio launches second-generation 5000 series trains[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Keio introduced the first of five new ten-car second-generation 5000 series electric multiple units. The trains supported the later introduction of reserved-seat evening commuter services.
- 1993
Priority-seat designation is adopted[1]
Other
The company's Silver Seats were renamed priority seats, broadening the terminology used for the accessibility-oriented seating policy.
- 1973
Keio introduces priority seating for passengers requiring additional assistance[1]
Other
Keio introduced designated priority seats for elderly people, disabled passengers, pregnant women and passengers with infants. The seats were initially called Silver Seats and were later renamed priority seats.
- 1973
Keio introduces priority seating[1]
Other
Keio introduced designated seats for older passengers, people with disabilities, pregnant passengers, and passengers with infants. The seats were initially known as Silver Seats.
Sources2 sources
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