A young man from Tokyo, aged twenty, embarks on a reflective journey along the Izu Peninsula during the waning days of summer vacation. His trip is driven by feelings of loneliness and melancholy, prompting him to seek solace in the scenic beauty and quietude of the region. As he makes his way through this coastal area, his path frequently crosses with an itinerant troupe of five musicians—comprised of one man and four women—who are traveling together towards the Mount Amagi tunnel.
Among the group, he is particularly struck by the youngest woman, Kaoru, who carries a large drum on her back. Her delicate, youthful appearance leaves a lasting impression on him, which leads him to follow the troupe as they continue their journey. After passing through the mountain tunnel, the student encounters Eikichi, the group's leader, who strikes up a conversation with him. Eikichi shares that they are from Ōshima Island, and they are on a brief tour before the colder months arrive.
The group spends the night in Yugano, where the narrator learns more about the members of the troupe. Eikichi reveals that Kaoru is his 14-year-old sister, and the troupe includes his wife, Chiyoko, his mother-in-law, and a maid. That evening, the musicians perform at an inn, entertaining local guests with their songs. During this performance, the narrator hears Kaoru play her drum, and he notices her subtle worries about possibly being harassed by her audience, revealing her innocence and vulnerability.
The following day, the narrator witnesses Kaoru emerging from a bathhouse, waving cheerfully at him. Her playful, unguarded gesture brings a smile to his face, reminding him of her youthful innocence amidst the hardships she faces. Although his visit is nearing its end and he plans to return to Tokyo, he chooses to spend one more day with the troupe, accepting their warm hospitality. During a leisurely walk, he overhears Kaoru and Chiyoko discussing what a kind person he is. This moment of kindness and connection begins to lift his melancholic mood and helps him view the troupe—despite their poverty and limited education—with a newfound appreciation.
Eikichi’s mother-in-law later invites the young man to visit their home during his winter holidays, though she also forbids Kaoru from accompanying him to the cinema, highlighting the modest and constrained circumstances of the group. As dawn breaks on his last day, the young man takes a boat from Shimoda back to Tokyo, where he is seen off by Eikichi and a visibly saddened Kaoru. On the journey, overwhelmed by a mixture of sadness and a strange sense of relief, he begins to cry, feeling the weight of farewell but also a quiet sense of liberation from his earlier melancholy.
Throughout this poignant encounter, the film captures themes of innocence, connection, and the fleeting nature of youth and companionship, set against the backdrop of a serene yet transient rural landscape. The characters’ simple lives and unspoken emotions resonate deeply, leaving a lasting impression of quiet beauty and ephemeral human bonds.
