Urashima Tarō is the protagonist of a Japanese fairy tale, who, in a typical modern version, is a fisherman rewarded for rescuing a turtle, and carried on its back to the Dragon Palace (Ryūgū-jō) beneath the sea. There, he is entertained by the princess Otohime as a reward. He spends what he believes to be several days with the princess. But when he returns to his home village, he discovers he has been gone for at least 100 years. When he opens the forbidden jewelled box (tamatebako), given to him by Otohime on his departure, he turns into an old man.
Urashima Tarō and princess of Horai, by Matsuki Heikichi (1899)
Urashima Taro encounters children on the beach who are "toying with" a turtle.―Jinjō shōgaku kokugo tokuhon (the 3rd edition of Kokutei tokuhon) (1928)
Urashima saves the turtle.―From an Otogizōshi picture scroll in the Bodleian Library collection, late 16th or early 17th century.
Mizuenoe no Urashima riding a turtle with flowing tail (mino game). Depiction of him riding a turtle appeared quite late, in the early 18th century. —Ogata Gekkō, Gekkō zuihitsu (1887).
Ryūgū-jō or Ryūgū is the supernatural undersea palace of Ryūjin or Dragon God in Japanese tradition.
The Spring side of the palace, cherry blossoms on the trees
The Summer side of the palace, Urashima and Otohime walking on a bridge
The Autumn side of the palace, Urashima and Otohime watching deer
The Winter side of the palace, with a light snow on the garden
