34-year-old Motoko, an employee at a credit union, is stunned when she learns her best friend and co-worker, Mariko, has embezzled 300 million yen and disappeared. Motoko, still un-married, lives at home with her parents and has no future plans or goals. Tired of her monotonous, mundane lifestyle, she decides to move out and live on her own. She happens upon a beautiful old geshuku, or lodging house, called "Happiness Sancha."