# Night on the Galactic Railway — Picture book > Interactive music picture book based on a classic Japanese children's novel. (iPhone/iPad app by takeshi sainen.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/night-on-the-galactic-railway/id460813938 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [takeshi sainen](https://appshunter.io/developer/427775174) - Category: Books, Education - Price: $2.99 - Rating: 5.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 17.0 · 70 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2011-09-18 - Data updated: 2026-06-05 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/night-on-the-galactic-railway/id460813938/reviews.md ## What is Night on the Galactic Railway? Bringing music and picture books together. Music picture books, or "sound novels," combine picture books with high-quality music. With over 40 gorgeous illustrations and 15 toytronica music tracks, you will feel like you are watching a movie as you read. Reading with the lights off in your room and headphones will result in an even more immersive experience. --------------- Story The main character, a young boy named Giovanni, learns about the galaxy at school during class. That night, he gets on a steam train that suddenly appears on top of a hill. The steam train's destination as it runs along the Milky Way is the Southern Cross at the end of the galaxy. Giovanni meets many people during his journey, including his classmate Campanella, intelligent but mysterious adults, and young children. The story is a tale of growth, with Giovanni thinking about the meaning of life as the train travels south along the Milky Way. --------------- - Number of pages: 272 pages (You can read it in 40 minutes.) - Beautiful sliding text - Clear prose - A rotating pop-out planisphere menu - An experience akin to watching a movie (A key point is that you will not skip the text.) --------------- Author: Kenji Miyazawa A Japanese literary scholar and poet of children's literature. Night on the Galactic Railroad is a famous work that has sold a total of over 6 million copies. Translator: Roger Prior Born in England.Translator and university lecturer. Music: Moskitoo Provided by a composer who mainly focuses on electronica. Illustration, design and production: Takeshi Sainen Programming: Tom --------------- ## Key features - Music picture book format - Over 40 gorgeous illustrations - 15 original music tracks - Immersive cinematic experience - Sliding text animation - Rotating planisphere menu ## Frequently asked questions about Night on the Galactic Railway ### What is Night on the Galactic Railway? Night on the Galactic Railway is a music picture book that combines a classic Japanese story with illustrations and original music. It offers an immersive, movie-like reading experience. ### What is the story about? The story follows a young boy named Giovanni on a magical train journey through the galaxy. It explores themes of growth and the meaning of life as he meets various characters. ### How long does it take to read Night on the Galactic Railway? The book is 272 pages long and can be read in approximately 40 minutes, offering a concise yet engaging experience. ### What devices does Night on the Galactic Railway support? Currently, Night on the Galactic Railway is supported on iPad devices. ### What is the age rating for Night on the Galactic Railway? The app has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for young children and families. ### How often is Night on the Galactic Railway updated? The app was last updated on September 3, 2024, indicating ongoing support and potential for future improvements. ### Does Night on the Galactic Railway have ads? No, Night on the Galactic Railway does not contain advertisements, providing an uninterrupted reading experience. ### What makes the reading experience immersive? The app features over 40 illustrations, 15 music tracks, and sliding text animation to create a cinematic and engaging experience, encouraging users to read every word. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 3.1 — 2024-09-03 Bug fixes and performance improvements ### 3.0 — 2021-10-10 Compatible with newer versions of iOS. ### 2.0 — 2018-08-08 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. Compatible with the latest version of iOS. ### 1.2 — 2015-04-22 · Compatible with the latest version of iOS. · A video preview is available on the APP STORE. ### 1.1 — 2012-05-06 Bug fix of the newest iOS was performed. ## Apps similar to Night on the Galactic Railway | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Bookclubs: Organize & Connect](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookclubs-organize-and-connect/id1485140274) | 4.9 (18) | Free | Books | | [Omoi: Manga Reader](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/omoi-manga-reader/id1545075904) | 4.7 (564) | Free | Books | | [Manga Webtoon: Endless Stories](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manga-webtoon-endless-stories/id6738404603) | 4.5 (32) | Free | Books | | [Boundless](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/boundless/id6449712082) | 4.4 (18,192) | Free | Books | | [pixivコミック](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixiv/id975414811) | 4.8 (22) | Free | Books | | [MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manga-plus-by-shueisha/id1442476536) | 3.6 (1,684) | Free | Books | ## More apps by takeshi sainen - [音楽絵本・銀河鉄道の夜](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id427775171) - [音楽絵本・銀河鉄道の夜 (ポケット)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id483857766) - [音楽絵本・にんぎょひめ (ポケット)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id591177646) All apps by takeshi sainen: https://appshunter.io/developer/427775174 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-05.*