Introduced into service on 9 January 1996, a total of 29 five-car sets were built between 1995 and 2010 by Tokyu Car Corporation and Nippon Sharyo in six batches for use on the Keio Inokashira Line.

The type entered service on 9 January 1996,[6] and was the first new rolling stock introduced on the Keio Inokashira Line in three decades, after the 3000 series of 1962.

It was the first type on the Inokashira Line to feature 20 m (65 ft 7 in) long cars with four pairs of doors per side.

Third- and fourth-batch sets 1711 to 1715, built between 2003 and 2004,[7][8][9] incorporate system and interior modifications.

[citation needed] A new batch of 14 (batches 5-6) 5-car 1000 series sets (1721–1734) built by Nippon Sharyo and Tokyu Car Corp were delivered between 2008[7] and 2010[10] to replace ageing rolling stock on the Inokashira Line.

[5] Starting in 2016, the original batch of ten sets is undergoing a programme of refurbishment.

[4][needs update] The cab ends are painted one of several different pastel colours as shown below.