因开发的食品销路不畅，年近半百的高桥晃一（水谷丰 饰）被调往位于东北地区岩手县的分公司担任科长，此举无疑是对他的降职处分。但是乐观的晃一不以为意，他在乡下租了一栋足有两百年房龄的老宅，带着母亲澄代（草笛光子 饰）、妻子史子（安田成美 饰）、女儿梓美（桥本爱 饰）和儿子智也（滨田龙臣 饰）过起了回归田野的简单生活。起初的生活并不令人满意，史子和梓美因无法融入乡下的圈子而苦恼，澄代似乎又出现了老年痴呆的症状。除此之外，家里还接二连三发生奇怪的事件。高桥一家渐渐察觉，除了他们之外，这栋老宅还居住着一个民间传说的神话妖怪——座敷童子。他们的命运由此发生了改变…… 　　本片根据作家荻原浩的同名原著改编。

When Koichi Takahasi (Miutani) is transferred from Tokyo to a small village in Iwate Prefecture, they set up hoe in a two-hundred year-old farmhouse. The family is split between those who hate the move and those who are happy. Fumiko (Yasuda), the wife, is unhappy at the change and doesn’t get on with her elderly neighbours, Azumi (Hashimoto) is sad about having to transfer to a new school. Koichi’s mother, Sumiyo (Kusabue), rather likes the new community while young Tomoya Takahashi (Hamada) really enjoys the new move because he can play outdoors. Koichi takes note of the split in the family but finds himself struggling at his new job. Thankfully the house has Zashiki Warashi (yokai) living there who will unite them with their antics. Judging by the poster these antics won’t be terrifying.

父親の転勤により、東京から岩手県の古民家に引っ越した一家とその家に住みついた座敷わらしとの交流を描く。

Un padre de mediana edad no puede encontrar su lugar en el trabajo o en casa. Él se transfiere a Iwate desde Tokio. El padre lleva a su esposa, dos hijos y una madre con él. Se establecen en una casa de 100 años de antigüedad. Allí, en el campo se reúnen a un Zasikiwarasi…