The Yunoyama Line was originally conceived and built by ) in the 1910s. It was constructed with the purposes of providing access in the city of Yokkaichi and providing tourists access to the Yunoyama area. The line was completed in 1913 and in 1916 an extension from the line's origin, (at that time called Suwa Station and located slightly to the east), to JR was added. However, this extension had a relatively short life as part of the Yunoyama Line as it was sold to Ise Electric Railway (Iseden) in 1927, who used it for the extension of their main line from Yokkaichi to . This made Suwa Station, a hub between three private railways and the biggest station in Yokkaichi, the origin again. Steam engines originally ran on the tracks; in the 1920s the line was electrified, following a trend of many railways in the area.
