Minato Line

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Minato Line Kiha 222 train

The Minato Line (湊線, Minato-sen^?) is a Japanese railway line between Katsuta and Ajigaura, all within Hitachinaka, Ibaraki. This is the only railway line Hitachinaka Kaihin Railway (ひたちなか海浜鉄道, Hitachinaka Kaihin Tetsudō^?) operates. The railway company succeeded the operation of the line on April 1, 2008 from Ibaraki Kōtsū.

The line is variously referred to as Minato Railway (湊鉄道, Minato Tetsudō^?), Minato Railway Line (湊鉄道線, Minato Tetsudō-sen^?), or Nakaminato Line (那珂湊線, Nakaminato-sen^?).

Minato Line was the only railway line of Ibaraki Kōtsū, or Ibakō, whose main business was bus transport. Because of the severe business condition, Ibaraki Kōtsū decided to withdraw from the railway operation. In September 2007, Ibaraki Kōtsū and Hitachinaka City agreed to transfer the line to a third sector (funded jointly by private and private sectors) company, later incorporated as Hitachinaka Kaihin Railway.