Shinonoi Line

Template:Short description Template:Refimprove The is a railway line in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Shinonoi Station in Nagano with Shiojiri Station in Shiojiri.

The line is a corridor between the Shinetsu Main Line and the Chūō Main Line. All the limited express trains on the Shinonoi Line come from the Chūō Main Line: Azusa from Tokyo and Shinano from Nagoya.

Stations

All stations are located in Nagano Prefecture.

●: All trains stop, ▲: Some trains stop, ｜: non-stop, Rapid Misuzu stops at all stations

Line name	No.	Station	Japanese	Distance (km)	Rapid	Transfers	Location
Shinonoi Line	Template:JRSN	Shiojiri	塩尻	0.0	●	Template:JRLS File:JR Central Chuo Line.svg Chūō Main Line	Shiojiri
	Template:JRSN	Hirooka	広丘	3.8	●
	Template:JRSN	Murai	村井	6.8	●		Matsumoto
	Template:JRSN	Hirata	平田	8.8	●
	Template:JRSN	Minami-Matsumoto	南松本	10.9	●
	Template:JRSN	Matsumoto	松本	13.3	●	Template:Plainlist
	Template:JRSN	Tazawa	田沢	21.6	●		Azumino
	Template:JRSN	Akashina	明科	28.2	●
	Template:JRSN	Nishijō	西条	37.2	▲		Chikuhoku, Higashi­chikuma District
	Template:JRSN	Sakakita	坂北	40.9	▲
	Template:JRSN	Hijiri-Kōgen	聖高原	45.0	●		Omi, Higashi­chikuma District
	Template:JRSN	Kamuriki	冠着	48.3	▲		Chikuhoku, Higashi­chikuma District
	Template:JRSN	Obasute	姨捨	54.2	▲		Chikuma
	Template:JRSN	Inariyama	稲荷山	62.9	▲		Nagano
	Template:JRSN	Shinonoi	篠ノ井	66.7	●	File:Shinano Railway Symbolmark.svg Shinano Railway Line
Shin'etsu Main Line	Template:JRSN
	Template:JRSN	Imai	今井	68.8	｜
	Template:JRSN	Kawanakajima	川中島	71.0	▲
	Template:JRSN	Amori	安茂里	73.1	｜
	Template:JRSN	Nagano	長野	76.0	●	Template:Plainlist

Passing loops and switchbacks

Hirase loop

A passing loop is located in Azumino, known as . It has two tracks.

• Coordinates:

Haneo switchback

A switchback is located in Azumino, known as

• Coordinates:

Kuwanohara switchback

A switchback is located in Azumino, known as

• Coordinates:

• Hirase loop (A: to Matsumoto, B: to Tazawa)
  Hirase loop (A: to Matsumoto, B: to Tazawa)
• Haneo switchback (A: to Kamuriki (uphill), B: to Obasute)
  Haneo switchback (A: to Kamuriki (uphill), B: to Obasute)
• Kuwanohara switchback (A: to Obasute (uphill), B: to Inariyama)
  Kuwanohara switchback (A: to Obasute (uphill), B: to Inariyama)

Rolling stock

Limited express

• E353 series EMU (Azusa, Kaiji)
• 383 series EMU (Wide View Shinano)

Local

• E127 series EMU
• 211 series EMU
• 313 series EMU

Former rolling stock

• 115 series EMU
• 123 series EMU
• 381 series EMU (Shinano)
• E257 series EMU (Azusa, Kaiji)
• E351 series EMU (Super Azusa)

History

The Shinonoi to Nishijo section opened in 1900, and was extended via Matsumoto to Shiojiri in 1902.

The Shiojiri to Matsumoto section was double-tracked between 1961 and 1965, with the Tazawa to Akashina section double-tracked in 1966. The Akashina to Nishijo section was also double-tracked, but the original line was decommissioned in 1988.

The Shiojiri to Matsumoto section was electrified in 1964/5, and extended to Shinonoi in 1973, CTC signalling being commissioned on the entire line the previous year.

Station numbering was introduced on the Nagano area from February 2025, with Shinonoi Line stations numbered using the prefix "SN". Numbers increase towards Shinonoi.

Former connecting lines

• Matsumoto Station: The Chikuma Electric Railway opened a 5 km line, electrified at 600 V DC, to Asama Onsen in 1924. In 1958 the voltage was raised to 750 V DC, but the line closed in 1964.