Long, long time ago, Urashima Taro, the fisherman, saw some kids hurting a turtle. He stopped the kids. Grateful for this action, the turtle invited Taro to the Dragon Sea Palace.
Riding the turtle, Taro dove under water to the Dragon Sea Palace. At the palace, the beautiful Princess Otohime recieved Taro and welcomed him with dancing maids, incarnations of various fishes.
Time flew and it was time for Taro to go home. Princess Otohime handed Taro a Tamate-box as a souvenir, but told him never to open it.
Back on land, many years and months had past, and there was nobody left whom Taro knew. Taro was completely lost, and opened the Tamate-box. White smoke rose, and Taro was transformed into a white-bearded old man in an instant.