Shiver is a small black crow with bright curious eyes. He spends most of his days under an old stone bridge in the city, collecting shiny treasures and listening to the river water flow. But lately, Shiver has been dreaming of a place far away, to a place called Japan. He’s never flown that far before, but in his little heart, he imagines what it would be like to wander through quiet streets, cozy diners, and peaceful hot springs.
One place Shiver really wants to visit is a small Japanese diner. Not like the American diners with huge booths, clinking forks, and syrup-covered pancakes he sees through windows in the city. Shiver imagines tiny cozy Japanese diners with wooden counters and just a few seats lined up, kind of like those family-run sushi places. He pictures an old chef quietly frying up fresh fish, the smell of miso soup floating through the warm air, and steam floating up around the lights. It feels personal to Shiver. Like it’s not just a place to eat but a place to feel safe, warm, and at home.
Another place Shiver wants to see is their small train stations. Now for a crow who flies everywhere, it seems funny to want to sit at a station waiting for a train. But to Shiver, it sounds peaceful. Not like the busy echoey stations in America, but those quiet little stations he sees in dramas, with wooden benches, vending machines humming softly, and maybe a gentle breeze blowing through as the sun sets behind the tracks. He thinks it would be nice to perch on a rail, watching the trains roll by and seeing people come and go, carrying stories he’ll never know.
Then there are the onsen hot springs. Shiver has never even seen a hot spring before. The idea of sitting in naturally warm water outside, surrounded by mountains and trees with steam rising into the cold air, feels peaceful. He imagines closing his eyes, feathers puffed up in the warm steam, letting his small body rest. Huh? Shiver can’t go in an onsen?
And of course, cat cafes. Shiver thinks it would be funny to see humans sipping coffee while fluffy cats roam around their tables. He’s heard you’re not supposed to approach the cats but rather let them come to you. That sounds like something a crow could understand. He thinks it would be a cozy place where time slows down and everyone forgets about the busy world outside.
In the end, Shiver knows he might never really fly to Japan, but just dreaming about these little places fills him with hope. He realizes it’s not always the big flashy spots that make a place special. Sometimes, it’s the cozy diners, clean subways, hot springs, and quiet cafes that makes living in this world a little more softer.
Sources
Takagaki no Sushi | Restaurant Reservation Service in Japan
Photo for Izakaya Nana
Hikyō station – Wikipedia
https://www.japan.travel/national-parks/plan-your-visit/guides-and-stories/guide-hot-springs-japans-national-parks/
Fashionable cat café / MONTA
Traditional Japanese Music – E. music ▪ [No Copyright Music]
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