Pray, Snack, Sip: Old-Tokyo Shibamata Done Right -

Have you ever heard of Tora-san? Tora-san (寅さん) is a main character in a movie that is one of the most popular in Japan. The movie depicts daily life in the Showa era. Today, I’m going to share places where you can still sense a Showa vibe. And, of course, I won’t forget to give information about a nice beer stand in the end. If you are in Tokyo, you can get to Katsushika-ku (葛飾区) without any hassle. Let’s get started!

1. Meet Tora-san (寅さん)

*A guy wearing a hat, holding a bag is traveling all over Japan. He is called “Tora san” by neighbors. Then, he falls in love with someone, always breaks up with them, and then goes back to his hometown, Shibamata.

When you come tof Shibamata St.,the first thing that meets your eyes is the statue of Tora-san. He’s a main character from a long series of movies called “Otoko wa Tsuraiyo (男はつらいよ) directed by Yoji Yamada. The title means “being a man is hard.” Kiyoshi Atsumi starred in the movies as Tora-san (寅さん). The series of movies made it into the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest series of movies. They are comedy dramas. Tora-san is a no-good man, but he’s a very warm-hearted person. Every time, he breaks up with someone and then leaves for his hometown. Through the movie, you can learn how people lived in the Showa era. Also, there is a statue right next to him, his younger sister, Sakura, she always watches over him. Why don’t you take a photo of them?

2. Shibamata Taishakuten

*This place is not a shrine. For praying, do not clap your hands, just press your palms softly together and bow. You can follow others. Remember, clapping your hands is only done at a shrine.

Shibamata Taishakuten dates back to the Edo era in 1629. It’s been around for four hundred years. Originally, Taishakuten was a god of Indian Brahmanism, and later became a deity protecting Buddhism. I’m glad to hear that a god from India traveled all the way to an old town in Tokyo. There’s a beautiful garden and a sculpture gallery. It’s well worth paying for.

*Suikei-en Garden is a Japanese traditional garden that construction began upon in 1929, and took 40 years to complete. Just sit on the bench and feel the vibe.

*The sculpture gallery: You must be amazed at how intricate these sculptures are. All of them are themed Lotus Sutra, one of the Buddhist scriptures. It’s been around a hundred years. You can appreciate the exquisite craftsmanship. It’s a must-see spot.

3. The Art of Tabe-Aruki

*Shibamata Taishakuten Sando is a street from Shibamata St. to Shibama Taishakuten.

In general, we don’t eat while walking in the streets. This is because it’s bad manners. That’s what I was taught by my parents. However, Taishakuten-Sando (帝釈天参道) is an exception! You must enjoy grabbing food and hopping between street vendors. I’m going to share places I went to the other day.

First things first…

*I can’t remember the last time there was a local festival without craft breweries, so craft beer is taking Japan by storm. You might spot your favorite beer. Noroshi Brewery is located in Chiba Prefecture. It had a good bitterness and subtle orange flavor.

Age-Mochi (揚げ餅)

*Age-mochi is fried mochi with seaweed. It tastes a bit like sweet and savory soy sauce. It pairs well withbeer.

Next beer

*This is from Shiokaze Brewery in Chiba Prefecture. The staff said you can drink this beer every day because it’s alcohol isn’t that high. It was 6.2% though.

Find Tora-san

Here’s quick tips! You might know some restaurants only accept payment in cash,especially street vendors. One of the reasons is that each item is very cheap, so they can’t cover the margin of electric payments. Most tourists understand that they must bring cash, but they only have a big bill like 10,000JPY. One of the smartest ways is to prepare some coins and 1,000 JPY bills before visiting. You can buy something at convenient stores. Small business owners will make sure to appreciate you. You’re not first-timers any more.

Bonus Round

Finally, I want to share a nice beer bar close to Shibamata Taishakuten. It takes 20 minutes by train. The bar is located on Keisei Koiwa St. (京成小岩駅).

*It takes just a few minutes from Keisei Koiwa, but it is tucked away from the main street. It seems like a hidden gem. The bar is a bit tiny, but there is a good selection of beers that the owner purchased. You might find a rare beer here. Of course, the food is really good, they never let you down.

京成小岩クラフト酒店
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Last But Not Least

How was that? I think Shibamata is a nice place to see how local people relax and enjoy themselves. Today’s itinerary is only half a day. If you have free time in Tokyo, you might want to visit here. Nowadays, you must be amazed at how many micro breweries are out there. Each brewery has unique tastes and does a great job. As a big fan of IPA beers, I can’t stop being excited. Why don’t you give it a shot? Thanks for taking time to read my article to the end. See you in my next article!

Kazu. K

I worked at a trading company for many years. I live in Tokyo with my wife. Love skiing, traveling, IPAs, wine , X-treme sports, fashion, and learning English and Chinese.

Pray, Snack, Sip: Old-Tokyo Shibamata Done Right

1. Meet Tora-san (寅さん)

2. Shibamata Taishakuten