Meet “The Modern Urashima”

— Your Guide to the Untouched Japan

In Japanese folklore, there is a legend of a fisherman named “Urashima Taro.” He saved a turtle and was invited to Ryugu-jo, a magical palace under the sea, where he experienced beauty and time unlike anything in the ordinary world.

I am Taro. I may not be a fisherman, but I am an explorer of the “Real” Japan.

I was born in the Japanese countryside, far from the neon lights of Tokyo. As a student at The University of Tokyo, I learned to view the world with logic and intellect. But my true education came from the road. I have circumnavigated Japan three times, traveling thousands of kilometers to uncover the secrets of this island nation.

Through my journeys, I discovered a truth: The real “Ryugu-jo” — the magical paradise — isn’t under the sea. It is hidden in the foggy mountains of rural Japan, in the silent shrines unknown to guidebooks, and in the warm hospitality of local inns.

Most travelers only see the surface. They visit the crowded cities and eat at the famous chains. I created this website to be your “Turtle.” To guide you away from the crowds and take you to the hidden gems that only a local expert — a “Modern Urashima” — knows.

I invite you to open the box of secrets I have gathered. Unlike the legend, this box won’t make you old. It will make your journey timeless.

Welcome to my Japan.

Taro Urashima Founder / UTokyo Student / 3-Time Japan Circumnavigator