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Gorgeous Shibamata, a Retro Japanese Townscape in Tokyo
With its 400-year-old temple, retro shopping street and exquisite Japanese gardens, Shibamata is a true hidden gem nested in Katsushika Ward, Tokyo. A popular film series from the late 1900s titled Otoko wa Tsurai yo ("It's tough being a man") is set here, and the district is often featured in movies and dramas.
Here's an in-depth guide to Shibamata and its wonders, hoping it will inspire your visit!
Address: 7-1-5 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 9:30am - 4:30pm
ShibamataTaishakuten was founded in 1629 and boasts some 400 years of history. It has been featured in Otoko wa Tsurai yo and other Japanese movies and dramas, and even in works by writer Natsume Soseki.
Here you can pray for your trip's safety and try your fortune by drawing an omikuji fortune telling sheet.
Shibamata Taishakuten is also known as 'the carving temple', because its outer walls are covered in beautiful wooden carvings. They depict a number of Buddhist tales with impressive detail three-dimensionality. The area where you can see the wooden carvings has an entrance fee, but we thought it was more than worth it.
The entrance fee is 400 yen and it will give you access to the carving gallery and the Japanese-style garden Suikeien. After admiring the wooden carvings, continue on and enter the Japanese garden Suikeien.
The view of the garden changes depending on the place you view it from. You can take a break and sit on the benches or lazily stroll along the corridor while admiring the scenery.
Address: 7-10-3 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 9:00am - 6:00pm (garden closes at 4:00pm)
Holidays: none (the garden is closed from December 28 to January 3. The carving gallery stays open.
Entrance fee: free for the temple grounds. Garden and carving gallery entrance fee: adults 400 yen, children 200 yen (during garden closure the entrance fee is half price)
Yoshinoya makes fresh yomogi dango every day. It comes in a huge lump from which the staff forms it into little balls. It has a strong mugwort aroma and a chewy texture. It's topped with anko bean paste, that adds just the right amount of sweetness. You can get the number of dango you want delivered in a plastic pack, so you can either eat them on the spot or bring them home. One dango is 54 yen (tax included).
Yoshinoya | 吉野家
Address: 7-6-18 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo | Hours: 10:00am until sold out | Holidays: irregular
Other shops selling yomogi dango are Kameya Honpo, Takagiya and Toraya.
The senbei are sold by the bag but you can also purchase them singularly. Perfect for people who want to try a bit of everything.
Kanekoya | 金子屋
Address: 7-7-5 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo | Hours: 10:00am - 6:00pm | Holidays: Irregular
Want to try even more senbei? Also check out Asanoya and Tachibanaya.
You can choose between unaju (3,780 yen, tax included) and the deluxe jo-unaju (4,500 yen, tax included). Prices are tax-exclusive. The dish in the picture is jo-unaju.
Another great option is the freshwater fish meal, where you can taste unagi and other kinds of fish. The price is 2,700 yen (tax included) and it comes with a small unagi rice bowl, carp sashimi - a dish you rarely see elsewhere - and miso soup.
Yebisuya was established more than 230 years ago in the Tenmei era (1782-1788). Their delicious unadon is loved by both locals and visitors.
Yebisuya Sando Shop | ゑびす家参道店
Address: 7-3-7 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo｜Hours: 11:00am - 7:00pm｜Holidays: irregular (four times a month)
There are many freshwater fish cuisine restaurants in the Shibamata area. Other ones are Tanakaya, Kawajin.
Japanese people get all nostalgic when they see a dagashi-ya, a store selling old-style Japanese candy. Enter Shibamata Hi-kara Yokocho and you'll get an idea of what the atmosphere was back in the Showa era (1926-1989). The shelves are packed with all kinds of colorful treats. So cheap that you can easily fill a whole basket without spending more than a few hundred yen.
But it's not only candy! There are also several retro games inside, including a shooting game.
Shibamata Hi-kara Yokocho | 柴又ハイカラ横丁
Address: 7-3-12 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo｜Holidays: Closed on Tuesdays
Appreciated both in Japan and overseas, the property has undergone many extensions and alterations between 1923 and 1933, which brought it to its current state. The traditional Japanese residential architecture meets some elements of western architecture in an exquisite modern Japanese style.
Here you can enjoy gazing at the beautiful garden while sipping on a cup of matcha tea. The tea set includes a traditional sweet and is 600 yen.
Address: 7-19-32, Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Holidays: every third Tuesday of the month (if it's already a holiday closes on the following weekday) / in December closes on the third Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday *stays open on New Year
Fee: adults 100 yen. 500 yen if purchased with the entrance for the Tora-san Museum
©Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum ©Shochiku Co.,Ltd.
Tora-san is the protagonist of the film series Otoko wa Tsurai yo ("It's tough being a man"). This museum showcases sets and props that have been used in the films.
©Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum ©Shochiku Co.,Ltd.
Even if you haven't seen the movies you can enjoy the recreation of a street of Shibamata from 1955. The carefully created models and sounds are also very interesting.
©Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum ©Shochiku Co.,Ltd.
Address: 6-22-19 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Holidays: every third Tuesday of the month (if it's already a holiday closes on the following weekday) / in December closes on the third Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday *stays open on New Year
Fee: adults 500 yen, elementary and middle school students 300 yen (collective ticket for the Tora-san Museum and the Yamada Yoji Museum)
ⓒYamada Yoji Museum ©Shochiku Co.,Ltd.
Address: 6-22-19 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo
Hours: every third Tuesday of the month (if it's already a holiday closes on the following weekday) / in December closes on the third Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday *stays open on New Year
Fee: adults 500 yen, elementary and middle school students 300 yen (collective ticket for the Tora-san Museum and the Yamada Yoji Museum)
Address: 2F Culture Tourist Information Center Building B, 6-22-19 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm (closes at 4:00pm from November to February)
Holidays: Closed Monday to Friday (open if a holiday), New Year
Fee: high-school students and above 400 yen, middle school and below 200 yen
Access: Near Edo River bank Kanamachi Water Purification Plant (1-1 Kanamachijosujo, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo)
Here's a video of Yagiri no Watashi and Shibamata's sightseeing spots!
Address: 7-18 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo
Hours: summer: every day 10:00am - 4:00pm / winter: weekends, holidays and Koshin day only 10:00am - 4:00pm
Fee: adults one-way 200 yen, children one-way 100 yen
Aside from the regular rooms, there are 14 special rooms on the 4th floor. These rooms have been decorated by Japanese and foreign artists, and each room has a unique and feel. Every artist has depicted their interpretation of Shibamata in in their own style after actually visiting the town.
Address: 7-12-19 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo
Website: https://global.shibamatafuten.com/en-gb
*This article is based on a coverage made on August 10th, 2018.
*Data for this article was updated March 2020.
*Availability and prices are subject to change. Menus differ for each restaurant.
For the latest information on Katsushika tourism
(machine-translated English only) http://www.katsushika-kanko.com/
Read other articles about Katsushika here!
Information and articles about Katsushika
Here's an in-depth guide to Shibamata and its wonders, hoping it will inspire your visit!
Easy Access From the Tokyo Skytree
From the closest train station to Tokyo Skytree, Oshiage, you can ride the Keisei Line to Shibamata in 30 minutes. As soon as you exit the station you'll be greeted by a statue of Tora-san, the protagonist of Otoko wa Tsurai yo.The Tourist Information Center
In front of the station is the tourist information center. Here you can find maps and pamphlets of Shibamata, the Katsushika Ward and Tokyo. Stop by to find out about the latest attractions, events and info.Information
Shibamata Tourist Information Center | 柴又観光案内所Address: 7-1-5 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 9:30am - 4:30pm
Start With a Visit to Shibamata Taishakuten Temple
From the station you'll enter a shopping street called Taishakuten Sando. A 'sando' is the road that leads visitors to a temple or shrine. And sure enough, if you follow this path you'll end up right at the gates of the Taishakuten Daikyoji Temple, Shibamata's popular spot. The temple is affectionately known as 'Shibamata Taishakuten'.ShibamataTaishakuten was founded in 1629 and boasts some 400 years of history. It has been featured in Otoko wa Tsurai yo and other Japanese movies and dramas, and even in works by writer Natsume Soseki.
Here you can pray for your trip's safety and try your fortune by drawing an omikuji fortune telling sheet.
The entrance fee is 400 yen and it will give you access to the carving gallery and the Japanese-style garden Suikeien. After admiring the wooden carvings, continue on and enter the Japanese garden Suikeien.
The view of the garden changes depending on the place you view it from. You can take a break and sit on the benches or lazily stroll along the corridor while admiring the scenery.
Information
Taishakuten-Daikyoji (Shibamata Taishakuten) | 帝釈天題経寺（柴又帝釈天）Address: 7-10-3 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 9:00am - 6:00pm (garden closes at 4:00pm)
Holidays: none (the garden is closed from December 28 to January 3. The carving gallery stays open.
Entrance fee: free for the temple grounds. Garden and carving gallery entrance fee: adults 400 yen, children 200 yen (during garden closure the entrance fee is half price)
Now You're Ready for Some Street Food Along Taishakuten Sando!
Taishakuten Sando has what you would call a Japanese retro atmosphere. The street is lined with restaurants and souvenir shops, and it's great to just stroll around trying a bit of every food and taking pictures.■ Try Shibamata's specialty, Yomogi Dango (Yoshinoya)
Shibamata's local specialty is yomogi dango, little mochi balls made with Japanese mugwort (hence the green color). While many shops offer this typical sweet, we decided to stop at a place called Yoshinoya.Yoshinoya makes fresh yomogi dango every day. It comes in a huge lump from which the staff forms it into little balls. It has a strong mugwort aroma and a chewy texture. It's topped with anko bean paste, that adds just the right amount of sweetness. You can get the number of dango you want delivered in a plastic pack, so you can either eat them on the spot or bring them home. One dango is 54 yen (tax included).
Yoshinoya | 吉野家
Address: 7-6-18 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo | Hours: 10:00am until sold out | Holidays: irregular
■ Pick your favorite senbei (Kanekoya)
When talking about traditional Japanese snacks, we can't leave out those delicious rice crackers called senbei! Kanekoya is a store with a nostalgic feel that sells senbei in all kinds of flavors: soy sauce, sesame, shrimp… there are so many it can be hard to choose!The senbei are sold by the bag but you can also purchase them singularly. Perfect for people who want to try a bit of everything.
Kanekoya | 金子屋
Address: 7-7-5 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo | Hours: 10:00am - 6:00pm | Holidays: Irregular
■ Treat yourself to a juicy piece of unagi (Yebisuya)
Yebisuya is a long-established restaurant that server freshwater fish. The specialty here is unagi (freshwater eel) and the popular dish is unaju, unagi-topped rice served in a square bowl. Every soft bite will overwhelm you with umami and you won't be able to put your chopsticks down!You can choose between unaju (3,780 yen, tax included) and the deluxe jo-unaju (4,500 yen, tax included). Prices are tax-exclusive. The dish in the picture is jo-unaju.
Another great option is the freshwater fish meal, where you can taste unagi and other kinds of fish. The price is 2,700 yen (tax included) and it comes with a small unagi rice bowl, carp sashimi - a dish you rarely see elsewhere - and miso soup.
Yebisuya was established more than 230 years ago in the Tenmei era (1782-1788). Their delicious unadon is loved by both locals and visitors.
Yebisuya Sando Shop | ゑびす家参道店
Address: 7-3-7 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo｜Hours: 11:00am - 7:00pm｜Holidays: irregular (four times a month)
There are many freshwater fish cuisine restaurants in the Shibamata area. Other ones are Tanakaya, Kawajin.
■ Go back in time AND eat candy (Shibamata Hi-kara Yokocho)
Japanese people get all nostalgic when they see a dagashi-ya, a store selling old-style Japanese candy. Enter Shibamata Hi-kara Yokocho and you'll get an idea of what the atmosphere was back in the Showa era (1926-1989). The shelves are packed with all kinds of colorful treats. So cheap that you can easily fill a whole basket without spending more than a few hundred yen.But it's not only candy! There are also several retro games inside, including a shooting game.
Shibamata Hi-kara Yokocho | 柴又ハイカラ横丁
Address: 7-3-12 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo｜Holidays: Closed on Tuesdays
Bonus: Yoi Koshin, an Event Held Every 60 Days
Shibamata Taishakuten Temple holds a ceremony called Yoi Koshin, meaning Eve of Koshin Day. In the evening before Koshin day there is a parade where a 12kg matoi (a decorated pole) is carried and waved around along the Taishakuten Sando street. The next Koshin days in 2021 will be on January 12 and March 13, May 12, July 11, September 9, November8th.Admire an Idyllic Japanese Garden While Sipping on Matcha at Yamamoto-Tei
If you've been exploring for a while it might be time to slow down a little. A 5-minute walk from Shibamata Taishakuten temple is Yamamoto-Tei. Their Japanese garden has been in the top rankings of the American magazine 'Journal of Japanese Gardening'.Appreciated both in Japan and overseas, the property has undergone many extensions and alterations between 1923 and 1933, which brought it to its current state. The traditional Japanese residential architecture meets some elements of western architecture in an exquisite modern Japanese style.
Information
Katsushika-ku Yamamoto-Tei | 葛飾区山本亭Address: 7-19-32, Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Holidays: every third Tuesday of the month (if it's already a holiday closes on the following weekday) / in December closes on the third Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday *stays open on New Year
Fee: adults 100 yen. 500 yen if purchased with the entrance for the Tora-san Museum
Enter the World of Japanese Films! Katsushika Shibamata Tora-San Museum
After enjoying the main attractions of Shibamata Taishakuten and the Taishakuten Sando, there are plenty of spots to explore in the surroundings. At the Tora-san Museum you can immerse yourself in the world of Japanese movies.Tora-san is the protagonist of the film series Otoko wa Tsurai yo ("It's tough being a man"). This museum showcases sets and props that have been used in the films.
Even if you haven't seen the movies you can enjoy the recreation of a street of Shibamata from 1955. The carefully created models and sounds are also very interesting.
Information
Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum | 葛飾柴又寅さん記念館Address: 6-22-19 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Holidays: every third Tuesday of the month (if it's already a holiday closes on the following weekday) / in December closes on the third Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday *stays open on New Year
Fee: adults 500 yen, elementary and middle school students 300 yen (collective ticket for the Tora-san Museum and the Yamada Yoji Museum)
Yamada Yoji Museum
With the ticket from the Tora-san Museum you can also access the neighboring Yamada Yoji Museum. Aside from Otoko wa Tsurai Yo, director Yoji Yamada is also famous for the movie The Yellow Handkerchief and Tokyo Family. Here you'll find information about Yoji Yamada, the film he used for filming and previews of future works.Information
Yamada Yoji Museum | 山田洋次ミュージアムAddress: 6-22-19 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo
Hours: every third Tuesday of the month (if it's already a holiday closes on the following weekday) / in December closes on the third Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday *stays open on New Year
Fee: adults 500 yen, elementary and middle school students 300 yen (collective ticket for the Tora-san Museum and the Yamada Yoji Museum)
Explore Shibamata on a Bike
At the space under the Yamada Yoji Museum is a bike rental service operating on weekends and holidays.Information
Bike Rental CenterAddress: 2F Culture Tourist Information Center Building B, 6-22-19 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm (closes at 4:00pm from November to February)
Holidays: Closed Monday to Friday (open if a holiday), New Year
Fee: high-school students and above 400 yen, middle school and below 200 yen
Look for the Red Brick Tower in the Edo River
Near the Tora-san Museum is also the Edo river. Walking toward Kanamachi you'll come across a cute structure that looks like a pointy hat. This intake tower was completed in 1941 and appeared in the movie Otoko wa Tsurai Yo and in the manga Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo ("This is the Police Station in Front of Kameari Park in Katsushika Ward"). Getting up close you'll actually be surprised by its size.Information
Kanamachi water purification plant intake towerAccess: Near Edo River bank Kanamachi Water Purification Plant (1-1 Kanamachijosujo, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo)
An Experience You Can Only Have in Shibamata, Yagiri No Watashi
Yagiri no Watashi was a river crossing service operating during the Edo Period (1603-1868). The only place where this is still in use is Shibamata. Here you can get on a wooden boat and be taken to the other side of the river in Matsudo city, Chiba. The weather was good on the day of our visit so we were able to see the Tokyo Skytree.Here's a video of Yagiri no Watashi and Shibamata's sightseeing spots!
Information
Yagiri no Watashi | 矢切の渡しAddress: 7-18 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo
Hours: summer: every day 10:00am - 4:00pm / winter: weekends, holidays and Koshin day only 10:00am - 4:00pm
Fee: adults one-way 200 yen, children one-way 100 yen
Shibamata's Recommended Lodging! SHIBAMATA FU-TEN BED & LOCAL
If you feel like spending the night here and exploring Shibamata at a slower pace, this unique hostel is the place for you. Opened in March 2017, FU-TEN is a stylish hostel inside a renovated worker's dormitory.Aside from the regular rooms, there are 14 special rooms on the 4th floor. These rooms have been decorated by Japanese and foreign artists, and each room has a unique and feel. Every artist has depicted their interpretation of Shibamata in in their own style after actually visiting the town.
Information
SHIBAMATA FU-TEN BED ＆ LOCALAddress: 7-12-19 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo
Website: https://global.shibamatafuten.com/en-gb
Discover the yet Undiscovered in Shibamata
Despite all it has to offer Shibamata is still relatively unknown. We explored the wooden carvings of Taishakuten, the picturesque Taishakuten Sando, the delicious food, the beautiful nature, the lively festival and the Tora-san Museum; there are just so many ways to enjoy this town. It's only a 30 minute train ride away from Ueno and the Skytree, so we can't but recommend you include it in your itinerary!*This article is based on a coverage made on August 10th, 2018.
*Data for this article was updated March 2020.
*Availability and prices are subject to change. Menus differ for each restaurant.
For the latest information on Katsushika tourism
Katsumaru Guide
(machine-translated English only) http://www.katsushika-kanko.com/Access information from Tokyo Skytree, Ueno, Narita Airport
(machine-translated English only) http://www.katsushika-kanko.com/access/Read other articles about Katsushika here!
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THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM 08 31,2018 Author：DiGJAPAN! Editorial Team
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