A Beautiful Family Moment in Japan | Slow English Practice

Mom's birthday is next week. We need to prepare something special. Maybe we should buy flowers. Or a birthday cake. What about a new handbag? Mom already has many bags. Maybe jewelry? I want this birthday to feel different. Wait. I remember something Mom said before. What did she say? Mom once said she wanted to visit Japan someday. Japan? Really? She wanted to see cherry blossoms. And try real Japanese food. Actually, a trip sounds better than a gift. A birthday trip to Japan? Look at this city! Wow! It looks amazing! Mom would love this place. It looks like a movie scene. We could take Mom sightseeing. And visit beautiful restaurants. We should surprise her at dinner. With a birthday cake? Yes. And flowers, too. Mom loves flowers. Okay, let's check the flights. Are plane tickets expensive? Night flights are cheaper. But daytime flights feel easier. How long does it take to fly to Japan? Around 10 or 11 hours from here. That sounds really long. I might get bored on the plane. That's why a night flight could be better. We can sleep during the trip. Sleeping on a plane sounds cool. Then we wake up in Japan. This flight lands in Tokyo early in the morning. That means we can start sightseeing right away. We could see the cherry blossoms on the first day. And eat ramen at night. Okay, night flight it is. This is really happening. We should book a nice restaurant, too. With a city view! We'll buy the birthday cake in Japan. And surprise mom during dinner. Mom is going to cry happy tears. That's the plan. Dinner is ready. Why are you three so quiet in there? Oh, no! Hide the screen! Quick! We're coming. Nothing suspicious here. Why do you all look nervous? We were just talking about work stuff. That was close. We have to keep the surprise safe. The holiday is coming soon. Do we have any plans yet? Not really yet. We were still thinking about it. Maybe we should travel somewhere this year. That sounds nice, actually. Somewhere far away. Maybe another country. Another country? That sounds expensive. What about Japan? Japan would be amazing. Japan? I would love to visit Japan someday. I want to see the cherry blossoms at night. And I want to walk around Tokyo. The food, the streets, the cherry blossoms. Ha! Everything looks beautiful there. We can eat ramen every day. And visit Japanese restaurants. You two only care about food. Food is important. Flights to Japan actually look okay right now. Really? A night flight might be better. Then we can sleep on the plane. Waking up in Japan sounds amazing. Imagine seeing Tokyo in the morning. We can do that. We're really going to Japan. It still feels unreal. The city looks beautiful from up here. Everything feels so peaceful tonight. I'm getting sleepy. Try to sleep a little. Wake me up when we arrive. I will. Morning already? I think so. The clouds look beautiful. We're almost there. Ladies and gentlemen, we will be landing soon. We're finally in Japan. I can't believe we're here already. Welcome to Japan. This airport is huge. Everything looks so modern here. It feels so clean and quiet here. Yeah, everything looks very organized. I found our suitcase. Finally! These suitcases feel heavier now. That's because you packed too many snacks. We just arrived and you're already joking. This place is so busy. But it still feels calm somehow. Let me call a taxi first. Are we going straight to the hotel? I still can't believe we're in Japan. It feels unreal. How far is the hotel from here? About 30 minutes by taxi. 30 minutes? Wow! The atmosphere feels so different here. That's why people love Japan. The taxis look so clean. Everything here looks clean. I'm excited to see Tokyo. We'll be there soon. Our taxi is here. That was fast! Good morning. We're going to this hotel. Okay. All right, family, here we go. Yo! Tokyo adventure begins. This taxi feels really nice. It's so clean inside. How long will it take to reach the hotel? Around 30 minutes. The roads are so smooth here. And everything looks so organized. I love the buildings here already. Tokyo feels very different. About how much will the ride cost? Around 8,000 yen. That sounds expensive. The city looks huge. There's so much to explore here. Wow. I saw a bullet train. We should ride one later. I don't even know where to look first. Same here. This trip is finally starting. And I already love it here. We're here. Wow, this hotel looks fancy. This place looks beautiful. I already want to see the room. Thank you very much. Thank you. The air feels so fresh here. Everything feels so peaceful. Have a nice day. You too. This lobby is huge. It smells really nice in here. This hotel feels so fancy. Wait until you see the room. Hello, we have a reservation. Welcome to our hotel. Everything looks so modern here. I wish I could read Japanese. Hello, I have a reservation under the name Ben Carter. Certainly. May I see your passport, please? How many nights will you be staying? Four nights. One family room for four guests, correct? Yes, that's correct. Hotels usually check your passport first. So they know who is staying there? Exactly. Please sign here. Sure. This hotel looks very high-tech. Everything feels very organized here. Your room is ready now. Room 1208 on the 12th floor. Thank you very much. Breakfast starts at 7 in the morning. Okay, thank you. They have breakfast too? Hotels always have breakfast. The elevators are over there. Thanks for your help. You're welcome. This place is even nicer than I expected. Wait until you see the view upstairs. The hotel feels so quiet. It feels very relaxing here. This elevator is really fancy. Everything in Japan feels fancy. This hallway looks beautiful. Our room should be near the end. It opened! Welcome to our room! Wow, this view is incredible! You can see the whole city! Everything looks so tiny from up here. The city looks amazing in daylight. I could stay here all day just looking outside. Same, honestly. This bed feels so soft. Don't fall asleep yet. I'm already tired again. We should rest for a few minutes first. We should check the room first. Check for what? Sometimes hotels can have small problems. Checking everything is a good habit. Okay everyone, let's check the room! Mission hotel, check! TV, check! Nice. Bathroom lights, check! Waterworks too, check! Mini fridge, check! Free water bottles, check! Yes, connected! Wi-Fi, check! Fast internet, check! I don't think the air conditioner is working. Yeah, I can't feel anything. Maybe it's broken. I'll call the front desk. Good idea. Front desk. How may I help you? Hi, I think our air conditioner is not working properly. I'm sorry to hear that. May I have your room number, please? Yes, we are staying in room 1208. The air conditioner turns on, but there's no cold air coming out. I understand. Please give me a moment to check the system. Is another room available? Could you change our room for another one? I'm very sorry, but the hotel is fully booked today. Okay. Can someone come and check it instead? Of course. We can send a technician to your room right away. I understand. About how long will it take? Around 10 to 15 minutes. Okay, thank you very much for your help. So, what did the hotel say? They're sending a technician to fix the air conditioner. Are we changing rooms? No, the hotel is fully booked today. At least they responded quickly. Yeah, the service here is really good. The view is still amazing, though. I could stare outside all day. Oh, they're here already. Good morning. I'm here to check the air conditioner. Morning. Thank you for coming so quickly. It turns on, but there's no cold air. Okay, let me take a look. He looks very professional. Definitely. I found the problem. Is it serious? The cooling system was not responding correctly. It should work now. Cold air, check. Finally. Thank you very much for your help. You're welcome. Enjoy your stay. I'm getting hungry now. Same here. The receptionist said breakfast starts at 7. Right, breakfast should be included. Let's go eat before it gets crowded. Good idea. Do you remember which floor the restaurant is on? I forgot, actually. Excuse me, where is the breakfast buffet? It's on the second floor, sir. You can take the elevator over there. Thank you very much. I hope they have pancakes. I want to try Japanese breakfast. Wow, this place looks amazing. There's so much food here. Look at all this sushi. Even breakfast looks fancy here. I want to try everything. Don't take too much at once. I want to try local food first. I'm starting simple. This ramen is really good. Everything tastes so fresh here. Tokyo feels so alive. There's something interesting everywhere. Look at those clothes. They look beautiful. I think those are kimonos. Traditional Japanese clothes. People really wear these outside? Especially in tourist areas and festivals. The patterns are so pretty. They look very traditional. Good morning. Welcome. These are traditional Japanese kimonos. Why are the sleeves so wide? Traditional kimonos often have long sleeves for style and elegance. Wow. What is this belt called? It's called an obi. Do men wear kimonos too? Yes, but men's kimonos are usually simpler. This one is gorgeous. It matches the cherry blossom theme. This kimono would be perfect for photos and sightseeing. That sounds fun, actually. Can we try wearing them? I was about to ask the same thing. Of course. Please follow me. This is going to be so fun. Welcome. You can choose any style you like. There are so many beautiful colors. This fabric feels so soft. Most kimonos are made to feel light and comfortable. Do I look like a samurai? Almost. This outfit feels very different. Traditional kimonos are wrapped very carefully. Wow. I actually love this. You look adorable. We really look different now. We look ready for Japan. Walking in this feels strange. You'll get used to it quickly. We actually look pretty good. Especially you. How much does it cost to rent these? It depends on the style and rental time. The standard rental is for one full day. That sounds reasonable. We should wear them outside. Especially for cherry blossom photos. The rental is for one full day. Okay. That sounds good. You can return the kimonos before 8 tonight. No problem. Thank you very much. Enjoy your time in Tokyo. We actually look like tourists now. Happy tourists. Where should we go first? Cherry blossoms. Definitely. I still can't believe I'm finally here. And the best part is just starting. Let's take lots of photos there. This day already feels magical. Where can we see the best cherry blossoms? Let us ask someone nearby. Excuse me. Where can we see cherry blossoms? Ueno Park is very popular. Ueno Park? That sounds famous. How can we get there from here? You can walk to the station and take the train. Thank you very much. It's only a few stops from here. We're really gonna see cherry blossoms. I've waited for this for years. Let's go. Wow. This place is beautiful. They're even prettier in real life. You finally made it here. It feels like a movie scene. Everything looks magical here. I can't stop looking at them. That's the charm of cherry blossoms. Let's take photos here. This spot is perfect. This spot is beautiful. I wanna stay here all day. You two can stay here and enjoy the flowers. I'll go grocery shopping with Dad. Don't take too long. We'll be back soon. Everything smells so good here. Japanese street food always smells amazing. Can we buy takoyaki? Of course. Dad, look at those keychains. They look really nice. Mom would love these. I was thinking the same thing. Let's surprise Mom tonight. With a cherry blossom keychain. This one looks perfect. Yeah, she'll definitely like it. Thank you very much. Thank you. Mom is gonna be so surprised. We have to keep it secret. Let's get enough food for everyone. Good idea. You're finally back. We bought a lot of food. Everything smells amazing. We bought different things to share. Careful, it's really hot. This sushi looks beautiful. Wow, that's hotter than I expected. I warned you. I think I'm starting to like Japanese sweets. See? I told you. You were right. This park is so clean. Everyone cleans up carefully here. Let's clean everything before we leave. Okay. Even tiny trash matters. Exactly. We should leave the place clean. Better than before, if possible. I think we got everything. Good job, everyone. I'm getting tired now. We walked a lot today. Yeah. I could fall asleep right now. A short rest sounds good. My legs are tired. Mine too, honestly. Wake me up before dinner. Don't worry. Excuse me, can I ask you something? Of course, sir. Do you know any famous restaurants nearby? What kind of restaurant are you looking for? Somewhere nice for a family dinner. I know a few good places nearby. This restaurant is very popular for visitors. It looks perfect. Is there a bakery nearby too? Yes, there's one just across the street. I'd like to buy a birthday cake tonight. That sounds wonderful. Thank you so much for your help. You're very welcome. You're back. Did everyone sleep well? I found a really nice restaurant for dinner tonight. Really? The restaurant has an amazing night view too. It sounds really fancy. Should I still wear the kimono? Maybe wear something elegant tonight instead. Go get dressed. We should leave soon. Okay, now I'm really curious. This place looks so traditional. I thought you would like it. Good evening. Do you have a reservation? Yes, under the name Ben Carter. Yes, your table is ready. Everything feels so peaceful here. This restaurant feels very Japanese. Even the tables are different. Thank you very much. Here are your menus. I don't recognize half these dishes. Same, honestly. This feels like a real Japanese dinner now. That was the idea. What exactly is tempura again? It's seafood or vegetables fried in light batter. Are you ready to order? We need one more minute, please. We'd like two bowls of ramen, please. Of course. And one tempura platter, please. Good choice. Can we also get a sushi set? Sure. And I want extra noodles with mine. Of course you do. Two ramen, one tempura platter, and one sushi set. Is that correct? That's correct. This restaurant feels so cozy. I'm happy you like it here. I'll be right back. I need to use the restroom. Okay. Dad is taking a long time. Maybe the restroom is far away. Your dad always disappears at the strangest times. Yeah, always. Here is your ramen and tempura. Everything smells so good. Enjoy your meal. Everything smells amazing. Let's wait for dad first. Happy birthday, Amy. Oh my gosh, I completely forgot. This whole trip made me forget it was my birthday. That means the surprise worked. We've been planning this for days. Since before we came to Japan. We even bought you a little gift today. You all did this secretly? Thank you so much, everyone. This is the happiest birthday ever. We saw this at the park today. It's beautiful, thank you. I love it. It's so pretty. Just like the cherry blossoms today. Can we eat cake now? Of course.