Urashima Taro stayed in the Dragon Palace for what felt like a dream without end. Every day brought joy — feasts with creatures of the sea, music that echoed through coral halls, and long walks beside Princess Otohime through gardens that glowed with light from deep below.
But over time, something began to stir in Urashima’s heart. At night, as the palace quieted, he found himself thinking of home — the soft waves against the shore, the smell of the sea breeze, the faces of his parents, and the village he once knew.
One evening, he sat silently beside Otohime, staring out into the dark ocean beyond the palace walls.
“You miss your home,” she said gently.
Urashima nodded. “It’s been wonderful here. More than I ever imagined. But… I don’t know how long I’ve been away. My parents, my village... I feel I must see them again.”
Otohime did not argue. Instead, she smiled sadly and brought him a small, ornate box wrapped in silken cloth.
“This is the tamatebako,” she said. “Take it with you. But promise me—whatever happens, do not open it.”
Urashima took the box with both hands. It was warm and light, as if it held something more than just air. He bowed deeply.
“Thank you—for everything.”
And so, with a heart full of gratitude and longing, Urashima Taro left the palace of dreams and returned to the sea’s surface, carrying a gift he did not understand.