It is mainly used by commuters in the morning and evening, as well as by followers of Tenrikyo, headquartered in Tenri, especially during festivals of the religion.

The Tenri Light Railway Co. opened a 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line from its namesake town to Horyuji on the Kansai Main Line in 1915.

The Osaka Electric Railway Co. acquired the line in 1921, the year it opened the Kashihara Line, which connected at Hirahata.

[1] The following year the line was converted to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge and electrified at 600 VDC.

The Hirahata - Horyuji section closed in 1952, and in 1969 the voltage was raised to 1500 VDC.