Satsuma Bay Line

The Satsuma Bay Line (薩摩湾線) is a railway loop line in Satsuma Province, Yamatai, operated by the Ichioka Rail Corporation. Following the shore of the Satsuma Bay, it is one of the most important and busiest lines in the Greater Niihama Area, connecting several of the metropolitan area's major stations and urban centres, including Ishikawa, Shirada, Satsuma and Miyazaki, with all but eight of its 36 stations connecting to other railway or underground (subway) lines.

The Satsuma Bay Line was first opened in 1885, connecting Satsuma with Shirada and Ishikawa following the northern shore of Satsuma Bay. As the urban centres expanded, the line was extended to Miyazaki in 1905, and to Kanazawa in 1924. In 1972, the decision was made to transform the Satsuma Bay Line into a mass transit loop line to support the entire urban area around the Satsuma Bay, crossing the Satsuma Bay via bridges connecting to Hatoshima and serving the southern reaches of Ishikawa. The connection to Kanazawa was sacrificed in the process, becoming part of the SaMiKaSa Line. Construction began in 1973 and finished in 1985, making the Satsuma Bay Line into the loop line it is today.