The Frog Traveling to Kyoto: A Japanese Tale of Meeting and Adventure

Brief Description: This tale tells the story of two frogs from different cities who met along their journey and shared their dreams. A funny story with an important lesson about perception and the value of the journey, not just the destination.

Long ago in Japan, there lived a frog named Hana in Kyoto—a beautiful city with ancient temples and gardens. She always dreamed of seeing how people lived in Osaka, famous for its markets and industriousness. Meanwhile, another frog living in Osaka had heard many wonderful stories about Kyoto and also wanted to visit the city.

One sunny day, both frogs decided to embark on a journey. The frog from Kyoto hopped through fields and hills to the south, while the frog from Osaka moved northward. Their paths crossed at the top of a high mountain, which was exactly midway between the two cities.

Exhausted from the long journey, they stopped to rest and, to their surprise, met each other.

— Where are you headed? — asked the frog from Kyoto. — I'm going to Kyoto, — replied the frog from Osaka. — And you? — I'm actually on my way to Osaka! — said the frog from Kyoto. — What a coincidence!

Both frogs decided to chat a bit and share stories about their cities. They learned that Kyoto is renowned for its temples, while Osaka is famous for its cuisine and bustling life. Suddenly, one of them suggested:

— Let's stand on our hind legs and see what our cities look like from this mountain! We'll immediately know if it's worth continuing the journey.

The frogs agreed, stood on their hind legs, and stretched high, but forgot one important detail: frogs' eyes are positioned so that they see what is behind them, not in front. Thus, the frog from Kyoto saw her hometown and thought it was Osaka, while the frog from Osaka saw Osaka and decided it was Kyoto.

— How strange, — said the frog from Kyoto. — Osaka looks just like Kyoto! I think I went on such a long journey in vain. — And I thought Kyoto would be different, — sighed the frog from Osaka. — Maybe there's no point in going further.

They thanked each other for the meeting and went their separate ways. The frog from Kyoto returned home, deciding that she had already "seen" Osaka, while the frog from Osaka was content having "seen" Kyoto. Both were happy, believing they had fulfilled their dreams.

The residents of the cities never knew about the amusing misunderstanding caused by the nature of the frogs and continue to tell this story, laughing at its lessons.

Moral of the Story:

This tale teaches that our perception of the world depends on how we look at it. Sometimes the journey's purpose is not as important as the journey itself and the experiences we gain along the way.

Discussion Questions:

• Why did the frogs decide to embark on their journeys?
• How did their perception of the cities affect their decisions?
• What does this story teach about the importance of the journey and perspective?