Urashima Taro and the Turtle
A tale of a kind fisherman, a magical turtle, and a palace under the sea where time passes differently
Page 1
Long ago, in a fishing village by the sea in Japan, lived a kind young man named Urashima Taro. One evening, walking home along the beach, he saw children shouting by the water. They had found a small turtle and were poking it, stopping it from reaching the sea. "Stop that," Taro called out, walking towards them. "It's only a small creature!" One of the older boys laughed. "It's fun! We are seeing how long it can stay on its back." Taro shook his head. "That is not a kind game. Let it go back to its home in the water." He reached into his pocket for a few coins he had earned, a gesture that made the children stop their teasing and look at him with interest.
Page 2
The next morning, Taro went down to the sea to prepare his boat. As he stood by the water's edge, he heard a voice call his name. He looked around, but saw no one. Then the voice came again, from the water itself. It was the turtle he had saved, but now it was enormous, bigger than his boat, with a wise, ancient face. "Urashima Taro," said the great turtle. "I have come to thank you for your kindness. The princess of the world under the sea, Otohime, wishes to meet you. Will you come with me to the Dragon Palace?" Taro was amazed. He had heard stories of the Dragon Palace, but he never believed they were true. "You can talk!" Taro said, bowing his head slightly. "How can I go with you to a palace under the water?"
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Taro trusted the great creature and climbed onto its broad back. The turtle swam from the shore and dove deep into the ocean, where Taro found he could breathe as if on land. The world below was a silent, magical place, lit by a soft light. "I can breathe!" Taro exclaimed in wonder. "How is this possible?" The turtle's voice was calm in his mind. "You are a guest of the sea. It welcomes you." They passed through forests of swaying seaweed and over gardens of coral. "It is so beautiful," Taro whispered, watching fish of every color swim by. "I never knew." The turtle swam on, steady and sure, deeper into the blue, carrying him towards a world of legend.
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After a long journey, a light appeared in the distance. As they drew closer, Taro saw it was a magnificent palace, grander than any castle on land. The great outer gate was made of red coral and decorated with glittering pearls and emeralds. Strange and beautiful fish, dressed like courtiers in robes of fine seaweed, swam out to greet them, bowing as they passed. "Welcome, Lord Urashima Taro!" they cried in chorus. "The princess has been expecting you." The turtle swam through the gate into a courtyard of white sand. Taro slid from its back, his feet touching the ground of a place from legends. He looked up at the palace, its towers spiraling towards the strange light above. "I cannot believe this is real," he murmured to the turtle. The turtle simply blinked its ancient eyes.
Page 5
Taro was led inside the palace, into a grand hall whose walls shimmered with mother-of-pearl. The floors were as smooth as polished jade, and soft music filled the air. At the far end of the hall, a beautiful princess with long, flowing black hair came to meet him. She moved with the grace of the tide and wore a beautiful gown of sea-green and blue silk. This was the princess Otohime. "Welcome, Urashima Taro," she said, her voice like the sound of gentle waves. "I am so very grateful to you for saving my dear turtle. You have a kind heart, and you are our honored guest." Taro, a simple fisherman, felt shy before such a noble lady. "Princess," he said, bowing low. "It was nothing. I am honored to be here."
Page 6
Taro's days in the Dragon Palace were filled with happiness. He was given fine silk robes and enjoyed feasts and music. The princess often took him to the garden where all four seasons existed at once. In one corner cherry trees blossomed; in another, maple leaves burned red. "How can this be?" Taro asked Otohime, delighted. "A miracle of the sea," she explained with a smile. "Here, it is always the most beautiful day of the year." Taro pointed to the winter section. "But even snow? Under the water?" he asked, laughing. She nodded. So happy was Taro that he forgot all about his home, his parents, and the world above the waves.
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One day, after what felt to him like three happy years, Urashima Taro stood alone on a quiet balcony, looking out at the endless, peaceful sea. As he watched the water, a sudden, sharp memory came to him: the face of his mother, and his father mending his nets. He remembered their small house, the smell of the woodsmoke from their fire, and the village where he grew up. A great homesickness washed over him, so strong it brought tears to his eyes. He knew, in that moment, that he had to go back. When Princess Otohime found him, she saw the sadness in his face. "What is it, my friend?" she asked gently. "Princess," Taro said, turning to her. "You have been wonderfully kind. But I must go home. I must see my parents again."
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The princess was heartbroken to hear this, and tears welled in her eyes. But she did not try to stop him. "I understand," she said softly. "If you must go, then you must. But please, take this with you as a parting gift." She held out a small, beautiful lacquer box, intricately decorated and tied with a red silk cord. "This is a *tamatebako*, a box of treasure. It will protect you on your journey. But I must ask you to promise one thing." Taro took the box carefully. "What is it, Princess?" he asked. "Promise me," she said, her voice serious, "that no matter what happens, you will never, ever open this box." Taro looked at her kind, sad face and promised that he would not. He thanked her one last time and climbed onto the great turtle, who was waiting for him on the white sand shore.
Page 9
The journey back felt much faster than the journey there. The turtle left him on the same beach where they had met, and Taro ran eagerly towards his village. But everything was wrong. The path was different, the houses were not the same, and the faces of the people he passed were all strangers. He could not find his parents' house. It was gone, and another house stood in its place. In a panic, he stopped a very old man leaning on a staff. "Excuse me, good sir," Taro said, his voice trembling. "I am looking for the house of Urashima Taro. Can you help me?" The old man looked at him, puzzled. "Urashima Taro?" he said, squinting his eyes. "I have not heard that name since I was a small boy. My grandfather used to tell a story about a man named Taro who was lost at sea, three hundred years ago."
Page 10
Three hundred years. Taro was filled with a great and lonely sorrow. Everyone he had loved was gone. He walked slowly back to the wide, sandy beach and sat on the sand. "It cannot be true," he whispered to the waves. "Everyone is gone." He looked at the beautiful box the princess had given him. In his despair, he forgot her warning, thinking only that some magic inside might help him. "Perhaps the answer is in here," he said aloud, his voice trembling. He untied the silk cord and lifted the lid. A single puff of white vapor drifted out, washed over him like a mist, and vanished. In that moment, his black hair turned to snow, his face grew deep with wrinkles, and his body became that of a very old man.
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
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