The 100 series trains entered service on 1 June 1990 on Kegon and Kinu services from Asakusa in Tokyo to Nikkō and Kinugawa-Onsen, replacing the ageing 1720 series trains operating since 1960.
The two newest-built sets, Ne201 and Ne202, underwent extensive refurbishment at JR East's Omiya Works and Tokyu Car Corporation's Yokohama factory to become 253-1000 series sets OM-N1 and OM-N2 for use on Nikkō and Kinugawa limited express services jointly operated with Tobu Railway from 4 June 2011, replacing the 485 series and 189 series EMUs currently used.