The Passengers on the Hankyu Line

Hardback Published on: 05/06/2025; Language: English, Japanese (Original language of a translated text)
Price: £14.99
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Bookseller Reviews

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The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
A wonderful little read
Stepping into an Arikawa book is like stepping into a sweet shop. It’s comforting, nostalgic and delicious. Get ready to cater to your sweet tooth!!
Maylan Murray
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
Soft Charm!
This book has a certain charm about it. The overall concept/ idea for the book is very interesting, however the contextual chapters does not delivery t... READ MORE
Gwen Seward
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
Gentle, tender, and brilliant.
The best comparison I have for this book is like devouring an entire pint of ice cream after a particularly long and difficult day. It's an absolutely tran... READ MORE
Benjamin Anuworakarn
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
A stunning read!
I absolutely loved The Travelling Cat Chronicles so I knew I would enjoy this story too, and I was right! The Passengers on the Hankyu Line is a stunning r... READ MORE
Emma at Waterstones Blackburn
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
A Gentle Read
Seeing this was by the same author of The Travelling Cat Chronicles, I knew this was one I had to read! Set on a railway line that author knows well (and ... READ MORE
Amy , Watford
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
All Aboard the Hankyu Line!
I loved Hiro Arikawa's previous works, so when I found out she had another book out I had to read this one! We follow few different passengers on their ... READ MORE
Cat, Inverness
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
All aboard...
From the author of 'The Travelling Cat Chronicles' comes another heartwarming tale of Japanese life. On the Hankyu Line, a private railway line operating i... READ MORE
Alan M

Synopsis

Famously scenic, the Hankyu commuter train trundles daily through Japanese landscape unaware of the heartaches of the passengers it carries.

On the outward journey we are introduced to the emotional dilemmas of five characters as we puzzle out how they will unravel; on the return journey six months later, we watch them resolve:

- a man meets the woman who always happens to borrow a library book just before he can take it out himself
- a woman in a white bridal dress boards looking inexplicably sad
- a university student leaves his hometown for the first time
- a girl prepares to leave her abusive boyfriend;
- an elderly widow discusses adopting the Dachshund she has always wanted with her granddaughter.

As the seasons come around, so the Hankyu line trundles on carrying the lives and loves of its passengers ever forwards.

Publisher information

  • Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd
  • ISBN: 9781529934915
  • Number of pages: 240
  • Dimensions: 205 x 138 x 23 mm
  • Weight: 300g
  • Languages: English, Japanese (Original language of a translated text)

Customer Reviews

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The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
Cozy and relatable
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line is a cozy take on how simple interactions can change lives. The characters are adorable, relatable and interconnected in ... READ MORE
Dee Hancocks
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
Just delightful
This is a delightful story that will leave every reader satisfied. The translation is well done and the story is past paced and fun to follow.
WendiReviews
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
Beautiful story
This book honestly just felt like a warm hug. The way the lives of the characteres intertwined was done so effortlessly, and the story was so wholesome. I ... READ MORE
Pati
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
A lovely cosy read
Another cosy Japanese translation. The Hankyu Lines runs from Takarazuka and Nishinomiya and is known for its burgundy livery. We follow the train in one d... READ MORE
Liz
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
Beautiful
I was really pleased to pick up a copy of this as The Travelling Cat Chronicles is probably one of my favourite Japanese fiction books. Whilst this book do... READ MORE
Samantha Schofield
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
A slight disappointment
‘The Passengers on the Hankyu Line’ tries to bring to life the game you play when you’re riding a train and you try and imagine the lives of all the other ... READ MORE
Megan Carr
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
One Line, So Many Lives
Just finished The Passengers on the Hankyu Line by Hiro Arikawa, and wow — what a quietly beautiful read. Each chapter peels back another layer of a momen... READ MORE
Oluwatofunmi Gbenedio
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
Slices in time that really mean something
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line by Hiro Arikawa This little book is chock full of learning experiences, life lessons, and cuteness. I have two mini da... READ MORE
marilyn wiese
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
I loved this.
Another lovely story from Japan. It follows certain passengers on the Hanku Line and shows a little insight into their lives. and how they interconnect. ... READ MORE
Mikimoo
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
Wonderful
Absolutely charming. An easy read that made me smile with such beautifully crafted characters. A real joy.
Jane Wynne
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
ok read
This one fell flat for me. Not the feel-good Japanese novel I enjoy. That's my opinion! All the interactions felt forced to me, and there wasn't a single c... READ MORE
june.reads
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
Perfect intersecting slices of life
Arikawa provides small slices of life from the points of view of several passengers on a local train. Their lives all intersect in some way, creating a nic... READ MORE
recycledwords
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line is a cozy take on how simple interactions can change lives.
The characters are adorable, relatable and interconnected in amazing ways. The writing is quirky, witty and engaging. I loved following them and seeing the... READ MORE
Dee Hancocks
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line is a winner
I really enjoy cosy books like this and have a small stockpile of them whenever I need a calm and relaxing read. The Passengers on the Hankyu Line is a win... READ MORE
Hannah Weyh
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