Best Things to Do in Shibamata: A Retro Tokyo Day Trip
If you’re looking for a lesser-known area in Tokyo, I would highly recommend a visit to Shibamata (柴又). This historic neighborhood in Eastern Tokyo will make you feel like stepping back in time, with its retro shopping street, traditional sweets shops, a beautiful Buddhist temple and more.
Shibamata is a true hidden gem little-known by international travelers and is one of the places I highlighted in my Tokyo Hidden Gems article. Keep reading if you’d like to know why Shibamata makes a super interesting half or full day excursion to add to your Tokyo travel plans.
How to Get to Shibamata
Shibamata is easy to reach: you can get to Shibamata Station on the Keisei Kanamachi Line in about 30 minutes by train from Asakusa station.
Best Things to Do in Shibamata
1. Learn about Tora-san
Shibamata is closely tied to the long-running “Tora-san” film series (Otoko wa tsurai yo), a nostalgic favorite across Japan. As soon as you step out of Shibamata Station, you’re welcomed by a bronze statue of Tora-san alongside his younger sister Sakura. It’s a popular photo spot, especially among Japanese visitors who grew up with the films. From there, references to the series appear throughout the neighborhood. A good starting point is the Shibamata Information Centre, where you can pick up a map and spot displays dedicated to the character before exploring further.
If you’d like to know more about Tora-san, there is even a dedicated museum in Shibamata, the Tora-san Museum (葛飾柴又寅さん記念館) with actual props from the movies. I didn’t get to visit this museum, but based on pictures it seems like a cool little museum, although the explanations seem to be entirely in Japanese.
2. Explore the Shops at Taishakuten Sando
Leading from the station to Taishakuten Temple, Taishakuten Sando (帝釈天参道) is a charming street lined with traditional shops. As you stroll along, you’ll pass family-run stores selling local snacks, handmade sweets, and nostalgic souvenirs. You should definitely try kusa dango (made with mugwort), a local specialty often associated with the Tora-san films, or other snacks like kuzu mochi or fresh senbei rice crackers. It’s also a great place to buy souvenirs and lucky charms like darumas. I had fun taking my time exploring each shop along the way.
3. Stop at Shibamata Retro Sweet Shop and Toy Museum
A store you cannot miss as you stroll through Taishakuten Sando is Shibamata Haikara Yokocho (柴又ハイカラ横丁). This retro sweets shop is full of nostalgic snacks (called dagashi), vintage arcade games as well as cool stationary and toys. The place truly captures the atmosphere of the Showa era and takes you back in time. You can also visit for a small fee a small toy museum on the second floor, the Shibamata Toy Museum (柴又のおもちゃ博物館). I haven’t been to the toy museum as it was closed on the day I visited, but maybe you’ll want to check it out.
4. Visit Shibamata Taishakuten
Shibamata Taishakuten (柴又帝釈天) is a must-visit when exploring the area. Founded in the 17th century, the temple is especially known for its intricate wooden carvings, which line the walls and depict detailed scenes from Buddhist teachings. They’re truly stunning up close. It’s well worth paying the small ¥400 entrance fee to see the gallery and access the inner areas, including the beautifully landscaped Suikeien Garden (邃渓園). I particularly enjoyed sitting down to enjoy this peaceful garden and paying attention to all its details.
5. Relax by the Edogawa River
In spring and summer, it’s lovely to enjoy a picnic on the banks of the Edogawa river nearby. You can even cross the river on an old traditional boat, connecting Shibamata to Matsudo city in Chiba prefecture (it is called Yagiri-no-watashi on Google Maps, and the one-way crossing costs ¥300).
Other Things to Do Around
You can also visit Yamamoto-tei (山本亭), a traditional house with a beautiful Japanese garden open to the public for a small entrance fee of ¥100. For an additional fee, you can also stay for a cup of matcha tea and sweets while gazing at the garden.
Experience Ideas in Shibamata and Asakusa
To Conclude
I spent such a lovely day in Shibamata, soaking in its retro atmosphere through all the little details, from the old shopfronts to the local snacks and nostalgic touches tied to Tora-san. If you’re looking for an easy, rewarding day trip with a quieter pace and a glimpse into Tokyo’s past, Shibamata is well worth it.
Planning your trip to Tokyo? Don’t miss my Tokyo Hotel Guide and explore my other Tokyo articles for itineraries, local tips, and inspiration on what to do in this amazing city.
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