Hajime Komoritani

In a cone-shaped land named Kikyōgahara in Shin Province, there lives a girl named Hana. She is a gentle girl, who always thinks of her family, in particular her great-grandmother Chiyo, whom she affectionately calls "Granny." One day, a traveling entertainment troupe named the Natsugawa Genzaemon Troupe happens by, and the villagers welcome them warmly. Upon finishing their performance and receiving their acclaim, the troupe's leader spots Hana with some "oyaki," his favorite food, and transforms into a fox in his excitement. It turns out that the leader Genbanojō, and his companions O-Natsu and Shinzaemon, are all foxes who have taken on human forms. Genbanojō hastily negotiates with Hana, telling her that in exchange for keeping their secret, he will grant her one wish. She answers, "I want to let my Granny see the cherry blossoms."

まる子が暮らしている静岡県清水に、世界5か国の子供たちが訪れる。言葉も違えば、考え方も違う個性的な彼らに、まる子をはじめとするクラスメートは興味津々。その後イタリア人少年のホームステイ先がまる子の家に決まり、家族は大慌て。さらにまる子は、少年からのある一言に驚いてしまう。そして、彼らとまる子たちは、大阪・京都旅行に出ることに。生まれて初めて訪れる町の風景に胸をときめかせる一行だったが……。