I enjoyed this story about connections, as told through the stops on a train line near Osaka. The interconnecting characters were endearing (for the most part) and their stories were told in a clever way. I particularly enjoyed their ruminations on the meaning of a symbol made on an embankment and the various ways it affected the passengers. A couple of the sections were a little disjointed/repetitive, though this was probably a result of this being an ARC. I received a free copy of this book on kindle from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This review also posted on goodreads.

This is a cozy, pleasant slice of life story set in Japan. Each chapter takes place around one station on the Hankyu rail line near Osaka, and a cast of characters' stories weave in and out of each other on the outward journey and then six months later in the other direction. They mostly focus on changing some pattern in life that hasn't served the characters, whether timidity or anger or underestimating oneself.
I really enjoyed a cozy Japanese book in translation that isn't focused on some element of magical realism (no time travel or cats); as a three-month visitor to Japan, there are a lot of details that feel very true to my brief experience (teen girls being into Muji, propriety on the train, swallows nests, etc). I could picture everything, and really enjoyed being transported back to the country.
Just a couple of minor complaints: Shoko's anger towards "the other woman" is a little regressive; clearly the ex bears the vast majority of the blame, but there wasn't much reflection. I'm not sure this is the book to get into full analysis of the failure of a relationship, but it could have dialed back on the woman-hating. Second, the language was occasionally a little awkward compared to other Japanese translations but I have no way of knowing whether that's the original language or the translation (e.g. it's not commonly said that someone who is pondering something is "ponderous").
All in all, I really enjoyed the visit to Japan. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

3.5 stars, rounded up.
This early book by Hiro Arikawa (author of the popular The Travelling Cat Chronicles) has now been translated into English. The story moves in and out of the lives of some passengers on the mountainous Hankyu Line train. It's quiet and contemplative, yet it tackles heavy subjects. It's reminiscent of the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series and What You Are Looking For Is in the Library. I genuinely enjoyed it, though I didn't find it as compelling as other similar Japanese novels. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC. This book will be released on June 3.

thank you Netgalley & Berkley Publishing Groupfor the ARC of this book!!

this gave me major Before the Coffee Gets Cold vibes. As someone who always ‘people watches’ and makes up their stories and personalities, reading about different characters and their lives who in someway come together was so right up my alley. i loved the slight connections all our characters also had with each other, it was so well written.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a book in one sitting but this book did it for me. I’m so fond of a tender interconnected story. The pacing wasn’t too fast or too slow so it really felt like I was a part of the story and watching the different scenarios play out. I loved how this shows the different roles that a stranger can play in your life. Really enjoyed the story coming full circle and readers getting a nice wrap up of each person we got to encounter and experience.

Love Actually, but set on a commuter train in Japan. We follow multiple people as they travel to and from work, parties, errands, etc. Whether it’s a meet-cute, a dissolving relationship or a grandmother with her granddaughter as she contemplates her next chapter; each story is filled with heart and compassion. I loved how each is slowly interwoven into the next. Felt like a play and the ending leaves you with a serene feeling.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The story takes place in Japan on the train lines that go through to mountain cities. It is like many stories with all the people who ride the trainlines to work, home, library and shopping in the areas. One of the stories warmed my heart, a young man meets a young woman in the central library. So they have reading in common. The people on the train may totally surprise you, their behavior and how they treat others.

I really wanted to read the book because I saw a dachshund on the front cover. To the many of you who are dachshund enthusiast, the little mini black long hair dachshund does not show up till Loc 2104 at 86% into the book. And does not stay in the story for very long. Usually when I see a dachshund on the cover I assume it is in the story for awhile. Not so this time..

I would like to thank Net Galley and Penguin Random Books for the opportunity in this read.

This book was so sweet and so so interesting! I also absolutely loved the cover of this book and I was hooked!

I read this courtesy Berkley and NetGalley. Vignettes of passengers on a train line, their lives, and how they occasionally interact. This lovely book reminded me a lot of The Bridge on San Luis Rey and Canterbury Tales, and the characters are distinctive and made me want to tag along in their lives. The couple who meet first at the library when she takes out a book he was reaching for, and then they meet again on the train; a stunning woman wearing a bridal dress board the train, but she is alone; a young woman who’s finally getting the courage to leave her bully of a boyfriend; a grandmother considers adopting a dog with her granddaughter (and why she’s only deciding now), and others. This book made me want to sit on a train station and people watch, dreaming about their lives.
#ThePassengersontheHankyuLine #Berkley #NetGalley

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC of The Passengers on the Hankyo Line by Hiro Arkiawa.

I was attracted to this book because I’m in the middle of planning a trip to Japan and love the insight into the culture and people I can gain by reading a novel that was originally written in Japanese and published in Japan. The book cleverly uses the device of a small commuter train line to connect the lives of several otherwise unrelated characters.

We meet the characters all traveling in one direction and 6 months later, meet them again traveling in the opposite direction. Each of their lives has changed. It’s a delightful, quiet book about mostly likable characters living their lives and making life decisions. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

I did struggle at times with the translation. It sometimes got wordy and overly descriptive when discussing certain characters thoughts and motivations. I think this was due to the differences between Japanese and Western norms, but this could be smoothed over for a cleaner reading experience.

I’m rounding this one up from 3 1/2 to 4 stars.

This was a quirky and cute Japanese story. It was a quick and easy read. I found it a bit hard to follow and get into. The characters were often unnamed or referred to with only subtle references so it was hard to follow the story lines and connect with the characters. I would have preferred if each story line was fully developed in its own section, rather than broken up and interwoven with the other story lines throughout the book.

Along Japan's Hankyu Line, we're introduced to a number of characters from various backgrounds, in different stages of their life. The Passengers on the Hankyu Line shares their interactions with one another (oftentimes as complete strangers passing through on a train or in a train station) and demonstrates how seemingly simple acts or words can have profound impacts on others. This was exactly the kind of gentle, feel-good book I needed to remind myself of the importance of kindness when things feel overwhelming and dark. While there's certainly some insight into Japanese society and cultural norms throughout the book, the relationships and the ways in which we can be generous with others are universal. 4.5/5

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the e-arc translation.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book before it’s released! I really had a good time read The Passengers on the Hankyu Line by Hiro Arikawa! Each character stayed with me through each chapter! It was a very cozy, heartwarming and powerful read. The Hankyu Line takes you through the scenic countryside of Kyoto and Osaka and that’s where you’re introduced to all of our characters! Your introduced to 6 different people all at varying stages of their lives and all dealing with something different. I loved reading about what each character was going through and finding out what happens with them! At first it was a little confusing to keep up with each character but once you’re introduced to all of them its pretty easy to follow along! Each character is struggling with their own emotional dilemmas. The novel explores themes such as kindness, connection and personal growth. I truly believe you’ll feel connected to at least one of these characters. I can’t wait to read more books from Hiro Arikawa!

Five main characters from all different walks of life and ages have nothing in common except they ride the same train as it travels from one end of the Hankyu line to the other. Each carries their emotional baggage with them as they stare out the windows at the beautiful country landscape or busy themselves with whatever they can so they don’t have to interact with the other passengers. Yet circumstances cause them to do just that and as time goes on the strangers become friends and help each other discover the real purposes in their lives. A satisfying ride that ended all too soon. 4 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the sort of book that is perfect for a rainy Saturday afternoon. A collection of braided lives brought together by the Hankyu Line.

Unlike other sort of lighthearted Japanese literature, this one had moments of serious discussion: domestic violence, age gaps, death. I kind of feel like it was a little bit awkward but I think that’s because the book and the cover felt so lighthearted. It was a bit of a shock to discover these topics.

I enjoyed this book but it wasn’t my favorite. I felt that it was a little bit too long and too many characters. I wish that there had been a main character to cheer on instead of so many peeks into different stories.

The Passengers on the Hankyu Line by Hiro Arikawa
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A gentle, tender, and quietly powerful journey through everyday lives.

In The Passengers on the Hankyu Line, Hiro Arikawa invites us aboard one of Japan’s most romantic and scenic railway routes—not just to admire the view, but to glimpse the quiet transformations happening in the hearts of those who ride it. With warmth, subtle humor, and a keen eye for emotional nuance, Arikawa delivers a cozy, interconnected story that celebrates the small, serendipitous moments that shape us.

Each character’s story feels like a delicate thread, woven into a tapestry that stretches across two train rides—six months apart. A missed library book leads to a sweet connection. A woman in a wedding dress carries sadness rather than joy. A grandmother considers adopting a dog. These vignettes are at once ordinary and deeply touching, showing how brief encounters can ripple across time and lead to unexpected healing, growth, and change.

And yes, there’s even a dachshund who’ll steal your heart.

What makes this novel shine is its gentle pacing and the way it finds meaning in the everyday. It’s not about grand twists or high drama—it’s about people quietly moving forward. Perfect for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold or The Little Paris Bookshop.

Final thoughts:
This book is a warm cup of tea on a rainy day—a reminder that even the smallest acts of connection can carry us through. Thoughtful, charming, and deeply human.

Unfortunately I think a lot got lost in translation. The novel focusing on short snippets of interweaving lives between people commuting on a passenger line in Japan. I wanted to love the characters and stories but they were missing depth and fell slightly flat.

I think this could have been so much better and I wonder if I had read it how the author intended (in Japanese) if it would have resonated deeper with me.

This was a wonderful book ! A slice of life for people on a train in Japan. Romance and minor conflicts arise. The people are very relatable.
I found myself looking up a few Japanese words. I like a book that gives you words to research. It’s translated and works very well. Very much enjoyed it.
Thanks for the opportunity to read

This was my first book by Hiro Arikawa, and I was drawn in by the premise and the quiet charm it seemed to promise. I’ve read Before the Coffee Gets Cold before, and while I found that one slow but magical and emotional, The Passengers on the Hankyu Line delivered a similar quiet emotional resonance—just with a different kind of journey.

That said, I did struggle a bit with the writing, or rather, the translation. Some of the vocabulary felt oddly formal or unfamiliar, with phrases like “teetotaler” and “objet d’art” that pulled me out of the story. I’m not sure if this was a UK-style translation, but words like “innit” or “y’all’ve” also threw me off. It’s not that I couldn’t figure them out, but they didn’t always flow naturally with the tone or setting. I sometimes wondered if the book was just too advanced for me—or if the language choices created unnecessary distance from an otherwise relatable story.

But the story itself? So good. I absolutely loved meeting each character and watching how their lives briefly intertwined. The non-bride girl? Petty as hell—and I lived for it. The tough grandma? Total badass. She stood up to bullies, supported a young woman in leaving an abusive relationship, and genuinely brought people together in the most unexpected ways. Honestly, every character had something special—it was tough to pick just a few to talk about.

Even though I struggled with the writing at times, the emotional core and the character arcs made it all worth it. If you’re into reflective, character-driven stories about unexpected connection, this one’s worth the ride.

The Passengers on the Hankyu Line follows the stories of various train passengers through, largely, two different time periods set about 6 months apart. During the first half of the book, each vignette follows one train passenger who observes, overhears, speaks to, or comes into contact with the next passenger and provides a glimpse into a life changing moment. Romantic connections are made and broken, passengers make decisions about the course of their future, and small moments of self-discovery occur. The second half of the book checks back in with the passengers as they again ride the Hankyu Line and we see the ways in which their lives have changed since those fateful first trips.

All in all, this book is a tough one to rate. Hiro Arikawa wrote one of my favorite books, The Travelling Cat Chronicles, and with each successive book I hope that they will live up to the splendor of the first, but they don't quite manage to do so. Part of the problem may lie with gap between Japanese culture and Western culture, or potentially with the translation. The style of writing comes across as very formal and removed from the characters themselves. Even their inner dialogue is stilted and adheres to a rigid societal structure and mindset that's difficult to understand as a Western reader. The characters within this book go through interesting changes over time and alter their lives in positive ways, but it all feels distant and unconnected to the reader.

This style of writing worked well in The Travelling Cat Chronicles where the narrator of the tale was a street cat who emphatically did not want to become a house cat. Naturally a rigid and formal narration style fit that speaker immensely (anyone who has owned a cat knows that boundaries must be maintained at times), but it does not work as well with human narrators in this book. The sweet dachshund on the cover of the book made me hope that another animal would narrate, but alas, that was not the case.

At the end of the day, I cared more about some characters than others, but never felt close to or connected to any of them. I would love to feel the kinship I felt in Arikawa's first book again in the future, but it wasn't to be with The Passengers on the Hankyu Line.

3.5 stars for this book and a thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.