In the Japanese countryside, a rambunctious young girl named Shinko (Mayuko Fukuda) spends her days pretending she lives in the past. According to her grandfather, a thousand years ago her rural town was the site of a lavish imperial capital. Joining Shinko on her fantastical adventures is Nagiko, a timid newcomer from Tokyo. As the girls' friendship deepens and their daydreams of royalty become more elaborate, they learn some tough lessons about growing up.