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Private company

Alpico Kōtsū

Transport company in Chūbu region, Japan

Alpico Kōtsū Co., Ltd. (アルピコ交通株式会社, Arupiko Kōtsū Kabushiki-gaisha) is a public transport company in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It is the core company of Alpico Group and is wholly owned by Alpico Holdings Co., Ltd. The company was known as Matsumoto Electric Railway Co., Ltd. (松本電気鉄道株式会社, Matsumoto Denki-tetsudō Kabushiki-gaisha) until its merger with two affiliate companies on April 1, 2011.2 It was founded by Kamijō Shin.1 It is headquartered in Igawajō.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

May 29, 1920Founded1

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Alpico Holdings Head Office
Photo: Tohnass, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons4

Alpico Kōtsū Co., Ltd. (アルピコ交通株式会社, Arupiko Kōtsū Kabushiki-gaisha) is a public transport company in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It is the core company of Alpico Group and is wholly owned by Alpico Holdings Co., Ltd.2

The story

Founded by Kamijō Shin on May 29, 1920.1

May 29, 1920 - Incorporated as Chikuma Railway (筑摩鉄道)

October 2, 1921 - Opens Shimashima Line railway between Matsumoto and Niimura.

May 3, 1922 - Extends Shimashima Line from Niimura to Hata.

September 26, 1922 - Extends Shimashima Line from Hata to Shimashima.

October 31, 1922 - Renamed as Chikuma Electric Railway (筑摩電気鉄道)

April 19, 1924 - Opens Asama Line tramway between Matsumoto and Asama-onsen.

December 2, 1932 - Renamed as Matsumoto Electric Railway

1942 - Merges with Matsumoto Jidōsha (松本自動車) bus company.

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1955 - Renames Shimashima Line as Kamikōchi Line.

April 1, 1964 - Abolishes Asama Line.

September 28, 1983 - As a result of typhoon disaster, suspends a section of Kamikōchi Line between Shin-Shimashima and Shimashima.

December 31, 1984 - Officially abolishes the suspended section of Kamikōchi Line.

April 1, 2011 - Merges with Kawanakajima Bus and Suwa Bus and renamed as Alpico Kōtsū.

From Wikipedia’s article on Alpico Kōtsū, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Leadership

Who has led Alpico Kōtsū, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Products and brands

Railway operation

The company operates the Kamikōchi Line railway, which serves the Kamikōchi tourism area in conjunction with bus service.

The Asama Line, closed in 1964, was a tramway that connected the city of Matsumoto with Asama Onsen hot spa resort.

Bus operation

The company operates highway bus routes and commuter bus routes.

Highway bus routes

Chuo Kosoku Bus

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Matsumoto Bus Terminal - Shinjuku: servicing it in collaboration with Keio Bus

Hakuba - Shinjuku: servicing it in collaboration with Keio Bus

Chuo-do Kosoku Bus

Matsumoto Bus Terminal - Nagoya

servicing it in collaboration with Meitetsu Bus

Matsumoto Bus Terminal - Chubu Centrair International Airport

Alpine Matsumoto Go

Matsumoto Bus Terminal - Osaka

servicing it in collaboration with Hankyu Bus

Misuzu Highway Bus

Nagano - Matsumoto Bus Terminal

Matsumoto Bus Terminal - Iida

From Wikipedia’s article on Alpico Kōtsū, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Timeline

  1. Apr 1, 2011Renamed Name changed to アルピコ交通1
  2. Dec 2, 1932Renamed Name changed to 松本電気鉄道1
  3. Oct 31, 1922Renamed Name changed to 筑摩電気鉄道1
  4. May 29, 1920Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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