He hangs it on the wall over Stanley's bed, but during the night the board falls from the wall, flattening poor Stanley in his sleep. He survives and makes the best of his flattened state. He can enter locked rooms by sliding under doors and plays with his younger brother by being used as a kite. Stanley even helps catch some art museum thieves by posing as a painting on the wall. But one special advantage is that Flat Stanley can now visit his friends by being mailed in an envelope.
Last Saturday, a warm and sunny spring day, Auntie Laura opened her mailbox. To her surprise Stanley jumped out of his envelope and stretched out his folded body. He had just arrived in Japan after a long trip from Mrs. Amos’ grade 3 class in Canada. Auntie Laura straightened out his blue and green tie, so perfectly coloured by Haley-chan.“What are we going do tomorrow?” asked Stanley.
“Well, just you wait,” replied Auntie Laura. “I have a fun day planned, but first you need a good night sleep.”
The next morning they woke up very early and walked to the train station near Auntie Laura’s house. Stanley had never been on a train in Japan and was amazed at how clean and fast it was. He even got to sit near the front of the train and watch the conductor drive the train.
Stanley and Auntie Laura met a happy boy named Hamish on the train. “We’re going to Kyoto today. Would you like to come with us?” they asked. “Sure!” replied Hamish the happy boy.They soon arrived at Arashiyama Station. Arashiyama is one of the most famous places in Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan. Together the three friends set out to discover Arashiyama.
“I’m hungry,” cried Stanley.“Ok,” replied Hamish. “There’s a Mini Stop convenience store right over there, let’s get some breakfast and something for our hike up Atago Mountain.”
“A mountain, we’re going to climb a mountain, I’d better have a good breakfast so that I’ll have the energy to make it all the way up!” shouted Stanley.
Auntie Laura and Hamish walked crossed the Kamogawa River Bridge. Stanley, the lucky little boy, got a ride in a traditional carriage pulled by a young man.On the other side of the river they checked the bus schedule. They hopped on bus 72 – destination Kiyotaki – and 20 minutes later arrived at a small village. “Welcome to Kiyotaki!” exclaimed the bus driver.
The three friends checked the map. It was a long way to the top of the mountain, but they were determined to make it all the way to the top. They climbed stairs, stopped to see the jizou (mini Buddha statues), pray at the small jinja (shrine) and admire the sake (Japanese rice wine) barrels. “Wow, this is hard work!” said Stanley. “It’s worth it,” replied Hamish. “The view from the top of the mountain is amazing.”So up and up they went, climbing one step at a time. They passed many people on the way up: families, grandparents, school children and even pilgrims.
“We’re almost there!” exclaimed Auntie Laura. “I can see the bright orange tori gate. That’s the entrance to Atago-jinja, the shrine at the top of Atago Mountain.”
“Wow!” shouted Stanley. “This place really is beautiful! I’m so glad we made it all the way to the top. But now I’m hungry. Is it lunch time yet?”“Definitely!” said Hamish. “Would you like to try some of my rice ball and hot tea?” “Yum!” said Stanley, “Japanese rice is so tasty. Is that why you eat rice every day?” Auntie Laura and Hamish smiled.
The wind started to pick up and the three friends started to get cold. “It’s time to keep going Stanley,” Auntie Laura and Hamish said together. So down the mountain they went. They passed some tanuki on the way. “What are tanuki?” asked Stanley. “They’re like raccoon dogs, and are known to be very mischievous. But we like them in Japan and think of them as our protectors, so we have many statues of tanuki around our shrines and sometimes even around our homes,” explained Hamish.
An hour later the three friends reached the bottom of the mountain. They walked back into town and once again Stanley was… hungry. So Auntie Laura and Hamish took Stanley to a traditional okonomiyaki restaurant. “That looks like a big omelette!” exclaimed Stanley. “Exactly!” said Oji-san, the restaurant owner. “Our okonomiyaki is like a big, fried omelette.
Inside are cabbage, pork, squid and octopus. Once the okonomiyaki is fried, we top it with a sweet sauce, mayonnaise, fish flakes and nori. Nori is seaweed and very tasty!” Stanley looked surprised, “Well, I’m not sure about okonomiyaki. I’ve never had it before, but I’ll give it a try.”With the help of his ohashi (chopsticks) Stanley took one bite of the big omelette in front of him. “Amazing!” he bellowed. “I told you so,” laughed Hamish.
After their bellies were full, the three friends walked through the narrow streets back towards the train station. They tried some mochi, sweet Japanese rice cakes for dessert, stopped to look at kokeshi, wooden Japanese dolls and became friends with some pretty Japanese girls in kimonos, traditional Japanese clothes.
Near the station, the three friends decided to visit the monkey temple. Unfortunately, the monkeys were getting ready for dinner, so they weren’t accepting any more visitors. However, Stanley was lucky enough to make a wish on a wish card. What do you think he wished for?As the sun set on the Kamogawa River, the three friends walked back to Arashiyama train station. They had a great day together discovering a special part of Kyoto. As soon as the train started moving they fell asleep and dreamt of all the new adventures to come.
