CONTENTS
ITINERARY 3
ITINERARY 1 p.6 p.8
Map
p.30 Osaka p.14
Asakusa
Tokyo Tower vs Tokyo Skytree
p.13 Shinjuku
p.10 Akihabara p.11
Ueno
p.12 Shibuya
p.27
Odaiba
Japan in Celebration
p.32 p.16
p.38 Ninja vs Samurai
Nara
p.42 Miyajima
p.38
p.44 Owakudani
p.20 Fushimi Inari Taisha p.24 Nishiki Market Kiyomizu-dera p.22 Yōkai Spirits
p.40 Map p.46
p.26 Arashiyama
p.21
Himeji Castle
p.34 Kobe
ITINERARY 4
ITINERARY 2 p.18 Map
p.28 Map
Mount Fuji
a!
Sa
ar n ō y
p.47
CONTENTS
ITINERARY 3
ITINERARY 1 p.6 p.8
Map
p.30 Osaka p.14
Asakusa
Tokyo Tower vs Tokyo Skytree
p.13 Shinjuku
p.10 Akihabara p.11
Ueno
p.12 Shibuya
p.27
Odaiba
Japan in Celebration
p.32 p.16
p.38 Ninja vs Samurai
Nara
p.42 Miyajima
p.38
p.44 Owakudani
p.20 Fushimi Inari Taisha p.24 Nishiki Market Kiyomizu-dera p.22 Yōkai Spirits
p.40 Map p.46
p.26 Arashiyama
p.21
Himeji Castle
p.34 Kobe
ITINERARY 4
ITINERARY 2 p.18 Map
p.28 Map
Mount Fuji
a!
Sa
ar n ō y
p.47
ITINERARY 1
AKIHABARA Are you ready to step into a science‑fiction movie? Nicknamed the “ELECTRIC TOWN,” Akihabara is one of Tokyo’s most astonishing neighborhoods. Next to the main street, Chūōdori, you find streets lined with tall, colorful buildings that house hundreds of TECH‑RELATED SHOPS: computers, video cameras, electronic components, and gadgets of every kind. The whole area is lit by huge screens and neon signs that make the neighborhood bright and busy day and night!
• Inside an anime
Akihabara is not only the kingdom of electronics. It is also a place much loved by fans of ANIME, MANGA, AND VIDEO GAMES who can explore shops full of comics, action figures, cards, cosplay costumes, and collectibles that look like they came straight out of a Japanese cartoon.
HOW ABOUT GOING INTO THE ANIMATE STORE? I’D LIKE TO BUY MYSELF A TOTORO COSTUME!
UENO After such a hectic time, let’s slow down a little! Just a few minutes from Akihabara is Ueno Park, one of the five oldest parks in Japan. This garden, as big as 75 soccer fields, is famous for its CHERRY BLOSSOMS that in spring turn it into a marvelous pink expanse. In summer, it’s the water lilies and lotus flowers of Shinobazu Pond that enchant visitors!
• Not just plants and flowers
The Park is home to no fewer than six museums, including the National Museum of Nature and Science, where you can find dinosaur skeletons and animals from all over the world, and the Tokyo National Museum, WHERE YOU CAN SEE ANCIENT SAMURAI ARMOR AND OBJECTS FROM JAPAN’S HISTORY.
10
11
ITINERARY 1
AKIHABARA Are you ready to step into a science‑fiction movie? Nicknamed the “ELECTRIC TOWN,” Akihabara is one of Tokyo’s most astonishing neighborhoods. Next to the main street, Chūōdori, you find streets lined with tall, colorful buildings that house hundreds of TECH‑RELATED SHOPS: computers, video cameras, electronic components, and gadgets of every kind. The whole area is lit by huge screens and neon signs that make the neighborhood bright and busy day and night!
• Inside an anime
Akihabara is not only the kingdom of electronics. It is also a place much loved by fans of ANIME, MANGA, AND VIDEO GAMES who can explore shops full of comics, action figures, cards, cosplay costumes, and collectibles that look like they came straight out of a Japanese cartoon.
HOW ABOUT GOING INTO THE ANIMATE STORE? I’D LIKE TO BUY MYSELF A TOTORO COSTUME!
UENO After such a hectic time, let’s slow down a little! Just a few minutes from Akihabara is Ueno Park, one of the five oldest parks in Japan. This garden, as big as 75 soccer fields, is famous for its CHERRY BLOSSOMS that in spring turn it into a marvelous pink expanse. In summer, it’s the water lilies and lotus flowers of Shinobazu Pond that enchant visitors!
• Not just plants and flowers
The Park is home to no fewer than six museums, including the National Museum of Nature and Science, where you can find dinosaur skeletons and animals from all over the world, and the Tokyo National Museum, WHERE YOU CAN SEE ANCIENT SAMURAI ARMOR AND OBJECTS FROM JAPAN’S HISTORY.
10
11
ITINERARY 1
SHIBUYA
SHINJUKU Look up, dear kodomo, you might spot a gigantic dinosaur head popping out of a rooftop!
Welcome to the most astonishing crosswalk in the world!
Shibuya is one of Tokyo’s liveliest neighborhoods, known above all for the energy of its streets. This is where you’ll find the most famous and well‑known intersection in the world, SHIBUYA CROSSING, where every time the light turns green hundreds of people cross together from every direction! All around there are giant screens, lights, and buildings full of shops; it almost seems like the entire neighborhood is moving to the rhythm of sounds and lights! I prefer to watch it from up on the walkway between Shibuya Station and Mark City! ARE YOU COMING WITH ME OR DO YOU WANT TO JUMP INTO THE CROWD?
• Japan’s most faithful dog
In the 1920s, an Akita dog named HACHIKŌ accompanied his owner every day to Shibuya Station and came back to wait for him at the time of his return. When his owner suddenly died, Hachikō kept going to the station every day, waiting faithfully for almost nine years. His story deeply moved all of Japan, and Hachikō became a symbol of loyalty and friendship. Just a few steps from the crossing there is his STATUE.
12
Walking through Shinjuku is a bit like sliding into a science‑fiction movie! There’s GODZILLA, Japan’s most famous monster, who seems to watch over the neighborhood from above, and also, HEE-HEE, a gigantic three‑dimensional cat meowing from a bright screen, coffee cups as tall as a house, animated signs that move and change color, and huge screens that transform buildings into aquariums, forests, or planets in space.
LY THE ON GO DO G I NEAR! W! MEOOO
ISN’T IT INCREDIBLE? IN JAPANESE WE SAY SUGOI!
13
ITINERARY 1
SHIBUYA
SHINJUKU Look up, dear kodomo, you might spot a gigantic dinosaur head popping out of a rooftop!
Welcome to the most astonishing crosswalk in the world!
Shibuya is one of Tokyo’s liveliest neighborhoods, known above all for the energy of its streets. This is where you’ll find the most famous and well‑known intersection in the world, SHIBUYA CROSSING, where every time the light turns green hundreds of people cross together from every direction! All around there are giant screens, lights, and buildings full of shops; it almost seems like the entire neighborhood is moving to the rhythm of sounds and lights! I prefer to watch it from up on the walkway between Shibuya Station and Mark City! ARE YOU COMING WITH ME OR DO YOU WANT TO JUMP INTO THE CROWD?
• Japan’s most faithful dog
In the 1920s, an Akita dog named HACHIKŌ accompanied his owner every day to Shibuya Station and came back to wait for him at the time of his return. When his owner suddenly died, Hachikō kept going to the station every day, waiting faithfully for almost nine years. His story deeply moved all of Japan, and Hachikō became a symbol of loyalty and friendship. Just a few steps from the crossing there is his STATUE.
12
Walking through Shinjuku is a bit like sliding into a science‑fiction movie! There’s GODZILLA, Japan’s most famous monster, who seems to watch over the neighborhood from above, and also, HEE-HEE, a gigantic three‑dimensional cat meowing from a bright screen, coffee cups as tall as a house, animated signs that move and change color, and huge screens that transform buildings into aquariums, forests, or planets in space.
LY THE ON GO DO G I NEAR! W! MEOOO
ISN’T IT INCREDIBLE? IN JAPANESE WE SAY SUGOI!
13
YŌKAI SPIRITS
• The Tengu
The mountain guardians TENGU are spirits of the mountains and forests, with red faces and long noses, able to fly among the trees and move as if they belonged to the wind. According to legend, tengu can CHANGE THE WEATHER and influence the wind and storms, adapting the climate to their needs.
YŌKAI are mysterious supernatural creatures born from ancient stories, meant to explain what in the past was hard to understand: noises in the night, strange encounters, odd animals, or natural phenomena. They’re not all bad: some are scary, some are mischievous, and others are even known to help humans. LET’S DISCOVER A FEW!
• The Oni
The scariest ONI are among the most feared yōkai: large demon‑like creatures with horns, red or blue skin, and an iron club. To keep them away, in Japan people use small traditional rituals such as throwing ROASTED SOYBEANS called mamemaki, accompanied by the phrase “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” (“Demons out, fortune in!”) to drive away bad luck and invite good luck.
• The Kappa
The most mischievous KAPPA live in rivers and lakes. They’re as small as children, with greenish skin and a sort of “bowl” full of water on their head that gives them strength. They love cucumbers and ARE FAMOUS FOR THEIR PRANKS. But if treated kindly, they can even become allies!
YŌKAI SPIRITS
• The Tengu
The mountain guardians TENGU are spirits of the mountains and forests, with red faces and long noses, able to fly among the trees and move as if they belonged to the wind. According to legend, tengu can CHANGE THE WEATHER and influence the wind and storms, adapting the climate to their needs.
YŌKAI are mysterious supernatural creatures born from ancient stories, meant to explain what in the past was hard to understand: noises in the night, strange encounters, odd animals, or natural phenomena. They’re not all bad: some are scary, some are mischievous, and others are even known to help humans. LET’S DISCOVER A FEW!
• The Oni
The scariest ONI are among the most feared yōkai: large demon‑like creatures with horns, red or blue skin, and an iron club. To keep them away, in Japan people use small traditional rituals such as throwing ROASTED SOYBEANS called mamemaki, accompanied by the phrase “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” (“Demons out, fortune in!”) to drive away bad luck and invite good luck.
• The Kappa
The most mischievous KAPPA live in rivers and lakes. They’re as small as children, with greenish skin and a sort of “bowl” full of water on their head that gives them strength. They love cucumbers and ARE FAMOUS FOR THEIR PRANKS. But if treated kindly, they can even become allies!
ITINERARY 2
NISHIKI MARKET Dear friends, we’ve finally reached Kyoto’s tastiest stop! Get your chopsticks ready, meooow!
Nishiki Market is a long, covered market made up of over a hundred shops and stalls stretching across FIVE CITY BLOCKS! It’s not just for tourists— Kyoto locals also come here every day to shop or grab a quick bite. In its shops you’ll find an endless variety of LOCAL DELICACIES that show off the full richness of Kyoto cuisine!
• Goodies for every taste
Other treats include MACKEREL SUSHI, made with lightly marinated fish, DASHIMAKI TAMAGO, a fluffy rolled omelet, and Kyoto’s colorful pickles, preserved in salt or vinegar. Don’t miss the GREEN TEA FROM UJI, considered one of the best in Japan. And if you’re as greedy as I am, hee hee, there are MOCHI, soft sticky rice cakes, SENBEI, crunchy rice crackers both sweet and savory, plus soy‑milk ice creams and donuts and many other bites to try along the way.
• A taste of Kyoto
Among Nishiki Market ’s most typical specialties are TOFU and YUBA, two soy‑based foods strongly tied to the local culinary tradition. Yuba is a thin skin that forms on the surface of hot soy milk: it’s eaten fresh and soft, often with a bit of soy sauce, or dried and crispier. Yummy!
CONTROLLARE ABBONDANZA
See ka nd Fin 1 d: 1 re box of dJ
mo ap 1 ca t sn 1 jar anese chi eak l o in f pi ante 3 m g bet ckles rn 1 cu acker ween e t po f gr l sush he sta lls 2 se een i nbe tea i
24
25
ITINERARY 2
NISHIKI MARKET Dear friends, we’ve finally reached Kyoto’s tastiest stop! Get your chopsticks ready, meooow!
Nishiki Market is a long, covered market made up of over a hundred shops and stalls stretching across FIVE CITY BLOCKS! It’s not just for tourists— Kyoto locals also come here every day to shop or grab a quick bite. In its shops you’ll find an endless variety of LOCAL DELICACIES that show off the full richness of Kyoto cuisine!
• Goodies for every taste
Other treats include MACKEREL SUSHI, made with lightly marinated fish, DASHIMAKI TAMAGO, a fluffy rolled omelet, and Kyoto’s colorful pickles, preserved in salt or vinegar. Don’t miss the GREEN TEA FROM UJI, considered one of the best in Japan. And if you’re as greedy as I am, hee hee, there are MOCHI, soft sticky rice cakes, SENBEI, crunchy rice crackers both sweet and savory, plus soy‑milk ice creams and donuts and many other bites to try along the way.
• A taste of Kyoto
Among Nishiki Market ’s most typical specialties are TOFU and YUBA, two soy‑based foods strongly tied to the local culinary tradition. Yuba is a thin skin that forms on the surface of hot soy milk: it’s eaten fresh and soft, often with a bit of soy sauce, or dried and crispier. Yummy!
CONTROLLARE ABBONDANZA
See ka nd Fin 1 d: 1 re box of dJ
mo ap 1 ca t sn 1 jar anese chi eak l o in f pi ante 3 m g bet ckles rn 1 cu acker ween e t po f gr l sush he sta lls 2 se een i nbe tea i
24
25
w
nd lace up your shoes, a k c a p k c our ba y k c Pa most ancient part of Japan! e h t r e discov o t f of e’re
ITINERARY 3 Today we’ll start our adventure in Osaka, a city full of bright signs and unusual specialties… yum! We’ll take part in lively traditional festivals, among flying carp, colorful lanterns, and magic beans, and then we’ll board a cable car hanging between mountains and sea to reach a wonderfully fragrant garden full of herbs, flowers, and spices! Finally, we’ll arrive at a castle that looks like a bird about to take flight, listening to stories of ghosts, ninja, and samurai! Are you ready? Ikimashō! (Let’s go!)
• Code names
3
Himeji Castle
2
In Japan many city names are like clues that hide descriptions of the landscape or features of the place. For example, Osaka means “GREAT HILL,” referring to the Uemachi plateau, which played an important role in the city’s development. Kobe means “GODS’ GATE,” because in the past it was considered an important passageway to sacred places, and Kyoto, in Japanese, is “IMPERIAL CAPITAL,” because it held that role for over a millennium!
• Japanese writing
Kobe 1 Osaka
28
In Japan people write with a system very different from ours, made up of CHARACTERS that often look like little drawings. The most famous are called kanji and come from China: each one doesn’t represent a letter, but an entire word or idea. Cat for example is said neko and written… like this! 猫
29
w
nd lace up your shoes, a k c a p k c our ba y k c Pa most ancient part of Japan! e h t r e discov o t f of e’re
ITINERARY 3 Today we’ll start our adventure in Osaka, a city full of bright signs and unusual specialties… yum! We’ll take part in lively traditional festivals, among flying carp, colorful lanterns, and magic beans, and then we’ll board a cable car hanging between mountains and sea to reach a wonderfully fragrant garden full of herbs, flowers, and spices! Finally, we’ll arrive at a castle that looks like a bird about to take flight, listening to stories of ghosts, ninja, and samurai! Are you ready? Ikimashō! (Let’s go!)
• Code names
3
Himeji Castle
2
In Japan many city names are like clues that hide descriptions of the landscape or features of the place. For example, Osaka means “GREAT HILL,” referring to the Uemachi plateau, which played an important role in the city’s development. Kobe means “GODS’ GATE,” because in the past it was considered an important passageway to sacred places, and Kyoto, in Japanese, is “IMPERIAL CAPITAL,” because it held that role for over a millennium!
• Japanese writing
Kobe 1 Osaka
28
In Japan people write with a system very different from ours, made up of CHARACTERS that often look like little drawings. The most famous are called kanji and come from China: each one doesn’t represent a letter, but an entire word or idea. Cat for example is said neko and written… like this! 猫
29
JAPAN IN CELEBRATION Let’s discover some of Japan’s most fascinating traditional festivals!
• Children’s Day
On May 5th, Japan celebrates Kodomo no Hi, the festival dedicated to all CHILDREN. In front of houses and along rivers people hang big colorful cloth carp called koinobori, which move in the wind as if swimming in the sky. The carp is a symbol of strength and courage because, according to tradition, it can swim against the current, overcoming every obstacle.
• The festival on the water
Tenjin Matsuri is Osaka’s most famous traditional festival and takes place every year at the end of July. For two days the city fills with processions, music, and colorful lanterns. In the evening the parade continues on the river with decorated boats gliding between lights, reflections, and an extraordinary fireworks show!
• Spirits out, luck in
• The cherry blossom festival
Hanami is the traditional Japanese custom of celebrating spring by enjoying the beauty of CHERRY BLOSSOMS. Every year millions of families gather in parks to picnic under the trees, chat happily, and admire a spectacle that’s unique in the world.
Setsubun is celebrated on February 3rd and is a traditional festival marking the arrival of SPRING. On this day many people go to temples to pray and get beans for mamemaki. After the bean‑throwing, the beans are roasted and eaten, and you eat as many as your age plus one! DO YOU REMEMBER HOW THE CEREMONY TO DRIVE AWAY THE ONI WORKS? IF YOU’VE FORGOTTEN, GO BACK TO PAGE 22!
JAPAN IN CELEBRATION Let’s discover some of Japan’s most fascinating traditional festivals!
• Children’s Day
On May 5th, Japan celebrates Kodomo no Hi, the festival dedicated to all CHILDREN. In front of houses and along rivers people hang big colorful cloth carp called koinobori, which move in the wind as if swimming in the sky. The carp is a symbol of strength and courage because, according to tradition, it can swim against the current, overcoming every obstacle.
• The festival on the water
Tenjin Matsuri is Osaka’s most famous traditional festival and takes place every year at the end of July. For two days the city fills with processions, music, and colorful lanterns. In the evening the parade continues on the river with decorated boats gliding between lights, reflections, and an extraordinary fireworks show!
• Spirits out, luck in
• The cherry blossom festival
Hanami is the traditional Japanese custom of celebrating spring by enjoying the beauty of CHERRY BLOSSOMS. Every year millions of families gather in parks to picnic under the trees, chat happily, and admire a spectacle that’s unique in the world.
Setsubun is celebrated on February 3rd and is a traditional festival marking the arrival of SPRING. On this day many people go to temples to pray and get beans for mamemaki. After the bean‑throwing, the beans are roasted and eaten, and you eat as many as your age plus one! DO YOU REMEMBER HOW THE CEREMONY TO DRIVE AWAY THE ONI WORKS? IF YOU’VE FORGOTTEN, GO BACK TO PAGE 22!
NINJA VS SAMURAI • Warriors of honor
SAMURAI were the warriors of feudal Japan. They served their lord, called a daimyō, and lived according to a strict code of honor called bushidō, which means “WAY OF THE WARRIOR.” From childhood they trained in sword‑fighting, archery, and horseback riding.
• Masters of secret missions
NINJA were experts in espionage, disguise, and dangerous missions. Unlike samurai, they didn’t always fight face‑to‑face: their job was to gather information, infiltrate enemy castles, and carry out secret assignments. Stories often show them dressed in black, but they usually blended into the crowd wearing ordinary clothes.
• Ninja vs Samurai
Who would win in a challenge? It depends! In a fair, open duel, the samurai often had the advantage thanks to his training and weapons. But if the mission called for cunning, silence, and clever tricks, the ninja was unbeatable. In fact, ninja and samurai weren’t always enemies: SOMETIMES THEY EVEN WORKED FOR THE SAME LORD!
• Cunning versus honor
Many of the weapons associated with ninja in movies, like throwing stars, really existed, but they were mostly used to distract the enemy. Ninja mainly relied on small, hidden tools like knives, grappling hooks, and blinding powders, counting on cunning and escape. Samurai, on the other hand, fought openly with battlefield weapons such as the katana, their iconic sword, the wakizashi and, in some cases, bows and spears.
AND WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE FOR A DAY: A BRAVE SAMURAI OR A MYSTERIOUS NINJA?
NINJA VS SAMURAI • Warriors of honor
SAMURAI were the warriors of feudal Japan. They served their lord, called a daimyō, and lived according to a strict code of honor called bushidō, which means “WAY OF THE WARRIOR.” From childhood they trained in sword‑fighting, archery, and horseback riding.
• Masters of secret missions
NINJA were experts in espionage, disguise, and dangerous missions. Unlike samurai, they didn’t always fight face‑to‑face: their job was to gather information, infiltrate enemy castles, and carry out secret assignments. Stories often show them dressed in black, but they usually blended into the crowd wearing ordinary clothes.
• Ninja vs Samurai
Who would win in a challenge? It depends! In a fair, open duel, the samurai often had the advantage thanks to his training and weapons. But if the mission called for cunning, silence, and clever tricks, the ninja was unbeatable. In fact, ninja and samurai weren’t always enemies: SOMETIMES THEY EVEN WORKED FOR THE SAME LORD!
• Cunning versus honor
Many of the weapons associated with ninja in movies, like throwing stars, really existed, but they were mostly used to distract the enemy. Ninja mainly relied on small, hidden tools like knives, grappling hooks, and blinding powders, counting on cunning and escape. Samurai, on the other hand, fought openly with battlefield weapons such as the katana, their iconic sword, the wakizashi and, in some cases, bows and spears.
AND WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE FOR A DAY: A BRAVE SAMURAI OR A MYSTERIOUS NINJA?
ady for the grand finale? Are you re
ITINERARY 4 Today we’ll begin our last adventure together by sailing to a SACRED ISLAND, where curious deer stroll among ancient shrines and a huge gate seems to float on the sea. Then we’ll fly above forests and mountains to reach a steaming valley with an “infernal” smell and taste bizarre eggs that are completely… BLACK! And finally, we’ll end our wonderful journey in Japan by climbing a stratovolcano, a legendary mountain that has watched over the country for centuries like a silent giant among the clouds. ount WILL WE GET TO SHOUT BANZAI?
M Fuji
3
1
Miyajima
• The extraordinary phenomenon of the tides
2
Along Japan’s coasts, the sea level changes every day: it rises and falls following a natural rhythm called the TIDE. This movement is caused mainly by the pull of the Moon and, in part, the Sun. In some Japanese areas the difference is so great that it completely transforms the coastline in just a few hours!
Owakudani
40
• Japanese good‑luck charms
In Japan it’s very common to buy omamori at temples and shrines. These are little colored pouches that contain a PRAYER WRITTEN ON PAPER or wood and are believed to protect whoever carries them: there are ones for luck, travel, studying, or health. You hang them on your bag, keep them in your pocket or in the car, and they must never be opened. After a year you take them back to the temple to be replaced!
41
ady for the grand finale? Are you re
ITINERARY 4 Today we’ll begin our last adventure together by sailing to a SACRED ISLAND, where curious deer stroll among ancient shrines and a huge gate seems to float on the sea. Then we’ll fly above forests and mountains to reach a steaming valley with an “infernal” smell and taste bizarre eggs that are completely… BLACK! And finally, we’ll end our wonderful journey in Japan by climbing a stratovolcano, a legendary mountain that has watched over the country for centuries like a silent giant among the clouds. ount WILL WE GET TO SHOUT BANZAI?
M Fuji
3
1
Miyajima
• The extraordinary phenomenon of the tides
2
Along Japan’s coasts, the sea level changes every day: it rises and falls following a natural rhythm called the TIDE. This movement is caused mainly by the pull of the Moon and, in part, the Sun. In some Japanese areas the difference is so great that it completely transforms the coastline in just a few hours!
Owakudani
40
• Japanese good‑luck charms
In Japan it’s very common to buy omamori at temples and shrines. These are little colored pouches that contain a PRAYER WRITTEN ON PAPER or wood and are believed to protect whoever carries them: there are ones for luck, travel, studying, or health. You hang them on your bag, keep them in your pocket or in the car, and they must never be opened. After a year you take them back to the temple to be replaced!
41
ITINERARY 4
OWAKUDANI Let’s ride the Hakone ropeway and fly toward Japan’s most mysterious valley!
Owakudani s a volcanic valley that formed about 3,000 years ago around the crater created by a violent eruption of Mount Hakone. Because of this, even today clouds of gas and steam continuously rise from the ground, creating an ALMOST LUNAR LANDSCAPE!
• The black eggs of longevity
One of the most famous things in Owakudani is kuro‑tamago! These are normal eggs cooked in the sulfurous waters of the hot springs, whose shells turn… BLACK. It’s said that eating one EXTENDS YOUR LIFE BY SEVEN YEARS!
• The volcano’s “perfume”
In Owakudani the air has a very peculiar, strong, and pungent smell… The reason for this “infernal” reek is SULPHUR released by volcanic gases rising from under the ground!
ITINERARY 4
OWAKUDANI Let’s ride the Hakone ropeway and fly toward Japan’s most mysterious valley!
Owakudani s a volcanic valley that formed about 3,000 years ago around the crater created by a violent eruption of Mount Hakone. Because of this, even today clouds of gas and steam continuously rise from the ground, creating an ALMOST LUNAR LANDSCAPE!
• The black eggs of longevity
One of the most famous things in Owakudani is kuro‑tamago! These are normal eggs cooked in the sulfurous waters of the hot springs, whose shells turn… BLACK. It’s said that eating one EXTENDS YOUR LIFE BY SEVEN YEARS!
• The volcano’s “perfume”
In Owakudani the air has a very peculiar, strong, and pungent smell… The reason for this “infernal” reek is SULPHUR released by volcanic gases rising from under the ground!
LAURA RE
DANIELA CELLI
Born in Rome, she attended the Scuola Romana del Fumetto (Roman School of Comics). Later she worked with an‑ imation studios as a character design‑ er, concept artist, and illustrator. After attending the International School of Illustration in Sàrmede, she moved to Milan to complete the Mimaster illustra‑ tion master’s program. There she deep‑ ened her knowledge of publishing and children’s illustration.
She was born in Florence in 1977. After studying piano at the Luigi Cherubini conservatory she moved to New York, where she began to study Criminology. In 1997 she returned to Italy, graduat‑ ed in Law, and also obtained a diploma from the Academy of Dramatic Art. Always passionate about travel, since 2008 she has written a blog about her family’s adventures around the world.
Graphic layout:: Sara Travain Translation: TperTradurre S.r.l. WS whitestar kids® is a registered trademark property of White Star s.r.l. © 2027 White Star s.r.l. Piazzale Luigi Cadorna, 6 20123 Milan, Italy www.whitestar.it Translation: TperTradurre S.r.l. Editing: Michele Suchomel-Casey All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher. First printing, May 2027 ISBN 978-88-544-2247-6 1 2 3 4 5 6 31 30 29 28 27 Printed and manufactured in China
MOCHI loves traveling all over Japan to discover new stories to tell children. He’s curious, gluttonous, and a bit of a scaredy‑cat, especially when he has to look down from the tallest towers! His favorite dish is mochi, soft rice sweets that are sticky and sweet just like him!