I'm a big fan of stories that have multiple stories within them that are interconnected with one another. This is why I picked this book up and I was pleasantly surprised. I found the individual stories interesting enough to capture my attention, and the transitions from one person's story to the next seamless. I appreciated the parallels of reading about how peoples' paths cross on the Hankyu line, while also understanding that the Hankyu line itself was a reflection of this idea. I would definitely recommend this book!

The Hankyu Line is a train line in Japan that really exists, and that connects the cities of Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. In this novel, the author takes the reader on her on the train, and we meet a cast of characters that step on and off the train.

We meet a young man, who sees a woman with a Mickey Mouse tote bag, who visits the same library as him frequently and who always seem to borrow the books he want to read so he always misses out on them. In this book, the woman and he start talking and dating.

Then there is the woman who just returned of a wedding from a coworker friend. Not knowing that where a white bridal dress is not good etiquette at the wedding. She boards the train in a sad mood, and we read about her background and why she is so sad.

Then there is the girl who boards the train with her abusive boyfriend. During the ride she is more and more convinced she can't tolerate his behavior anymore, and leaves without him.

And then there is the young girl who boards the train with her grandmother. The granddaughter truly wants a dog, and discusses this with her grandmother.

During the story, the characters see each other on the train, or notice each other, or start talking with one another.

The Passengers on the Hankyu Line is a very charming and cute new novel by the the author of the Traveling Cat Chronicles. You truly can imagine the train, the surroundings and cities in Japan where the train passes through in the story. But the focus of this novel are the characters. Some of the characters are more developed than the others. The characters of the young man and the woman who love going to the library, and the young girl and her grandmother where the characters that had the most depth and development and who where the most interesting. The characters of the university student who leaves home for the first time and the woman in the bridal dress, and the girl who leaves her abusive boyfriend felt more like side characters. I really liked that the characters noticed each other on the train.

Overall I truly liked this new novel by Hiro Arikawa that truly takes you abourd a train ride in Japan!

The following review was posted on Goodreads on 6.30.25:

I'm not sure exactly how to review a translated book. It's tough to know how much of a story's voice, style, and nuance is lost in translation. I'm guessing a lot. THE PASSENGERS ON THE HANKYU LINE has been described over and over as an utterly heartwarming and charming read. And it is overall, but it also felt choppy, stilted, and didactic to me. It's a short novel so the characters don't have much depth. Their dialogue is stiff and generic. There's also no real plot to the story. I do like the glimpses into people's lives (which I always wonder about when I'm using public transportation) that the tale gives as well as the idea that even quick chance encounters with other people can totally change the trajectory of our lives. Several important life lessons are learned on these train rides and it was interesting to see how the characters' lives changed over time. THE PASSENGERS ON THE HANKYU LINE is a short, easy, upbeat read, but I wasn't as charmed by it as I'd hoped to be. I'm guessing this is mostly due to something being lost in translation...

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for language (1 F-bomb, plus milder invectives) and mild sexual content

I found this to be such a delightful, people watching type of book! The Passengers on the Hankyu Line gives us brief glimpses into the different lives of the commuters, and how these strangers can influence each other with their short time together on the train. I love how some of the stories intertwined with each other. As someone who is unfamiliar with the region of Japan the story is set in, I did find it a little hard to keep track of which train line went where and how they connected. But I still very much enjoyed reading about how each stop was different to the last, and seeing the area or neighborhood the line ran through.
I think healing fiction might be one of my new favorite genres to dive into, they always feel like a warm hug of reassurance while reading them. If you like cozy, slice of life stories, I recommend picking this one up!

This book was almost like a non graphic novel slice of life. We get a little bit from the passengers as they are on the train, maybe a bit after they depart, and a check in a few months later with some. It leaves you somehow both wanting to know more, yet satisfied with what you do know. I would read more books from this author.

Thanks to Net Galley, who gave me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very earnest and mellow read, filled with characters trying to live more honestly, more authentically, and with more joy. Against the moving backdrop of the Hankyu train line in the Kansai region of Japan, the cast weave in and out of each other's stories as bystanders, catalysts, and sometimes friends.

Life is hella stressful right now y'all-- this book will slow down your heart rate and remind you to look around as you move through the world.

Check this out if you like slow-paced, low stakes fiction with intertwined vignettes in the vein of We'll Prescribe you a Cat; What you are Looking for is in the Library; and Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop.

Review also posted to goodreads

The interconnected lives of passengers on one train in Japan. It was fun to see how each story overlapped with the other. Each path cross in a different way and then in reverse a few months later. Life has progressed for all and the impact from the other passengers even without the others knowing.

Reading this felt so calm and soothing. A soulful read that really made me miss my time in Japan, especially the quiet moments on the train. I look forward to reading more by Hiro Arikawa!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a multi-narrative translated from Japanese about a group of passengers whose lives intersect on a train. There are young enemies-to-lovers who begin with a library book rivalry. There's an elderly woman and her granddaughter who both very much want the older woman to get a dog. The older woman dispenses wise advice to another younger woman who just left (and cursed) her ex-fiance at his wedding reception to another woman whom they worked with. And there is a woman who learns a lesson about hanging out with the wrong sorts of friends, snobbish and rude.
This book is perfect for fans of Japanese culture (and those who want to learn more about it), multiple perspectives, or interesting characters whose lives intersect.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are solely mine and do not reflect the author, publisher, or affiliates.

You know how sometimes you just need a book that feels like settling into your favorite armchair with a warm cup of tea? Well, if that's what you're craving, then "The Passengers on the Hankyu Line" by Hiro Arikawa is absolutely perfect. It's not about big, dramatic explosions or solving a mystery; it's about the quiet moments that make up life, all unfolding on a charming little train in Japan.

The whole story takes place on the Hankyu Line, a train that rolls between two lovely towns. What's so neat is that as the train chugs along, you get to peek into the lives of the various passengers. It’s a gentle reminder that we're all on our own journeys, often closer than we realize.

You'll meet all sorts of folks: a young man and woman who keep finding themselves reaching for the same library book (a sweet, subtle connection), a bride who boards the train looking quite forlorn (makes you wonder, doesn't it?), and a university student just going about their day. There’s also a thoughtful older woman considering adopting a dog with her granddaughter – and yes, there's even a rather distinguished dachshund making an appearance! It's a wonderful collection of everyday people, each with their own quiet struggles and hopes.

The book has a clever structure, too. You see these characters on an "outward" journey, catching glimpses of their dilemmas, and then, six months later, you revisit them on the "return" trip to see how things have evolved. It’s quite satisfying to watch their stories gently unfold and sometimes intertwine.

This book is truly a comfort. It's heartwarming, with just the right touch of gentle humor, and it leaves you feeling good about humanity. It reminds you that even in our busy lives, there are these small, interconnected moments that are truly special. If you appreciate quiet, character-driven stories that simply warm your heart, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. It’s a lovely escape.

This was a very enjoyable book to read. It was a mystery in terms of the fact that passengers interacted with each other just due to their proximity to each other on the train or platform. Neither we nor they knew when these interactions would occur. Thought provoking in terms of how "chance" interactions can have a profound impact on our own point of view and our reaction to what one individual says at a moment in our lives. Would be a great book group book.

Thank you to Berkley Books and NetGalley for an advance readers copy of this book.

While the structure of this short Japanese novel is intriguing – having passengers unknown to each other circle back and forth on a train line and sometimes interact, returning six months after they first appear – the writing and content seem at a junior high school level.

Most of the stories are about romance, starting, ending, abusive, possible. The writing is stilted and simplistic, as if being literally translated from the Japanese. And the details about the places on the train line are unknown and obscure to this American reader.

Altogether, a very disappointing read.

The Passengers on the Hankyu Line was actually sweet, charming interconnected meet-cute vignettes. I found it awkward at times, maybe due to translation.

I really liked the 1st half - meeting the characters in their daily lives on a notable Japanese train line. I loved the bits of scenery descriptions and local culture. I loved finding out how all the characters would intertwine. Surprisingly, I was happier knowing less, and found the 2nd half a little slow as they delved deeper.

The book was filled with heartwarming random acts of kindness and sticking up for someone you don't even know. It was a light and fun read that made me want to see all of the Japanese cities!

I'd like to thank Berkley/Penguin Random House & NetGalley for advancing the Kindle edition in exchange for an honest review.

Do you ever watch people on a train or plane and wonder what their life is like?The Passengers on the Hankyu line was a breezy read about the people of Japan going about their daily lives. We learn about them and what is on their mind. It was enjoyable to see some of the differences in our cultures. But basically they have the same issues as Americans. And now I want to visit Japan and ride the train!

The Passengers on the Hankyu Line by Hiro Arikawa
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On the Hankyu train line in Japan, we meet several people who get on and off the train. Two young people who share a love of reading, a spurned woman, a grandma and her granddaughter, and a couple who have a disagreement.

It was very interesting to see how these people have seemingly minor interactions with each other that go on to cause them to take a deeper look at their lives.

I read this book pretty quickly and it was sweet and thoughtful. It also makes me wish that their was a better system of public transportation where I live. I would love to just hop on the train to get around town.

3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

An adorable, light story of strangers passing on a train. The overheard conversations and small exchanges with each other change the trajectory of their lives.

Don't expect much development or deep meaning in this story. This is a breezy, sweet read. Each chapter leaves you longing for more of their interesting chats. You want to see what results in each of their lives.

I enjoyed this dear story and its precious characters. Their personalities were witty and charming.

Thank you, NetGalley, and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is so charming and wholesome! I loved the stories of the passengers on the train and how they all intertwined. It was wonderful to catch up with them 6 months later to see how their lives had evolved since their first journey. I loved the whimsy and care given to each of the stories that read like a series of interwoven vignettes.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A short story about several passengers and their current lives as they ride the Hankyu Line between the towns of Takarazuka and Nishinomiya, a very pretty area in the mountains of Japan. I enjoyed the stories as they were charming and cozy. I loved the descriptions of Japan. It made me want to be on that train, enjoying the scenery around me as well as enjoying the passengers on the train and their every day lives.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hiro Arikawa, and Berkley Publishing for allowing me this e-arc.

I liked the premise of this translated book centered around passengers on a train line, getting on and off at various stations on the line and/or transferring to a different train line. It’s a lovely slice of daily life and brought back fond memories of my daily train commute from years ago where I would see familiar faces and create stories in my mind about those passengers! Here we run into a few characters living their lives dealing with everyday issues - a cheating fiancé, a grandmother and granddaughter, a high schooler, couples, a group of young housewives. I liked how these separate but related episodes captures the local setting and culture, as well as the universal behaviors - of kindness and rudeness - of people no matter where they live. While I enjoyed the book, the writing was a bit simplistic for me and didn’t work as well as the author’s other book I’ve read - The Travelling Cat Chronicles - which I loved. Overall a three-star read. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

i loved the sweet language of this book, and the way the stories of these commuters entwined with each other. by the end, i found myself wanting to spend a bit more time with each character, but overall this was a fun, soothing read.