A community with the atmosphere of an old-fashioned temple town
Shibamata is a place that has been honored as a temple town with the ancient Taishakuten Temple in Katsushika Ward, Tokyo. Its fame has also spread due to it having been the setting for the “Otoko wa Tsurai yo” movies, and from Tokyo Station, it’s easily accessible by train in 40 minutes. In front of Shibamata Station, there is a statue of the star of “Otoko wa Tsurai yo”, Tora-san, from where you can continue along the sando path toward the temple filled with the air of shitamachi (old-style downtown). Along Shibamata Taishakuten Sando Street, there are establishments such as restaurants and souvenir shops where you can purchase the Shibamata specialties of eel, carp and loach dishes, sample the famous rice dumplings of the area, and buy souvenirs of wood carvings and other handicrafts. The symbol of Shibamata, Taishakuten Temple is also known as a temple of carvings and has a long history of close to 400 years, with a Buddha statue personally carved by Saint Nichiren enshrined as the principal object of worship. The Sculpture Gallery is also a highlight with embossed carvings associated with the sermon of the Lotus Sutra.
Enjoy a historical building and a Tora-san tour
Once you leave the temple, there is Yamamoto-tei, notable for its architectural style blending Japan and the West especially in the construction of its parlor and built at the end of the Taisho era. It was designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property after which it was opened to the public, and there you can sip some tea while enjoying the view of the beautiful garden. You can also tour the inside of the building which was designed in the then-popular modern Western style from which you can view the Japanese garden. Next to Yamamoto-tei is the Tora-san Museum which reveals the world of “Otoko wa Tsurai yo”. There is also a landing where you can board the only intra-metropolitan ferry boat along the Edogawa River, and it has become a popular tourist spot where you can experience an old-fashioned means of transportation on the river from Katsushika Ward to the other side which is Chiba Prefecture.