If you are looking for somewhere less busy, you can relax in Shibamata (柴又) and travel leisurely through the town that keeps their old charm alive. Instead of developing high rise buildings, Shibamata retains the Shitamachi feel, and you can see the symbol of Shitamachi, Tora from ‘It’s tough being a man’ (Otoko wa tsurai yo), the longest running movie in Japan, at various spots in Shibamata. There is also a museum dedicated to the movie series and next to it, the museum for the director of the series. When travelling becomes tiring, you can take a break from the heat or cold in these spots.
Shibamata Street Food & Snacks
The Shibamata Haikara Yokocho is a street lined with shops in an old, traditional shitamachi environment.
One of the shops we recommend in Shibamata is Ishii (い志ゐ). The shop sells various mochi, dorayaki and other snacks. Takagiya Rouho (高木屋老舗) is also one which travelers should try when visiting. The word Rouho (老舗) indicates that the shop is well established. Local sweets such as Kusa dango, Shibamata Mochi (柴又餅) and seasonal wagashi (Japanese sweets) can be bought at Takagiya. The Shibata Mochi is usually chilled, so it would be nice to eat in summer.
Rice Rolls
These rolls are made from a mix of glutinous and non-glutinous rice which are slowly receding from the spotlight. They are still considered one of the must-try items at Ishii. There is so much cream in the roll, and the sponge layer is absolutely soft! This roll won the best sweet of 2013 in the Tabelog app.
Warabi Mochi
Soft, sticky and tasty, warabi mochi (わらび餅) are dusted with kinako, they are a great treat to have on a hot day. Those who would like to try something unique should pick this up as this snack is slightly different from the usual mochi. Besides this type of mochi, the botamochi is also worth trying. Both mochi are available at Ishii.
Dorayaki
Doraemon’s favourite go-to snack, the dorayaki is basically two fluffy pancakes stacked together with a sweet filling in between. What makes the Ishii red bean dorayaki different is the additional cream. There are also different flavours like salty, ice cream with dorayaki, matcha cream or Belgium chocolate at Ishii. Different Dorayaki flavours are also available at Takagiya.
Spot information
- Spot name: Ishii
- Address: 7-6-20 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo
- Access: Reach the shop by walking 4 minutes from Shibamata Station.
Spot information
- Spot name: Takagiya Rouho
- Address: 7-7-4 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-0052
- Access: Reach the shop by walking 3 minutes from Shibamata Station.
Rice Crackers (Senbei)
If you don’t have a sweet tooth but want to find something to sink your teeth in, rice crackers are the perfect snack to chew on. Rice crackers known as senbei are sold at many shops, so you can simply enter most snack shops in Japan to find a large variety. For a shop specializing in senbei, try Tachibana Senbeiten (立花屋煎餅店). You can also find senbei at Takagiya.
Spot information
- Spot name: Tachibana Senbeiten
- Address: 7-7-6 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-0052
- Access: a 3-minutes walk from Shibamata Station.
Biscuit (ビスキュイ)
A stylish, classy patisserie which serves delicate sweets and desserts in Shibamata. Biscuit is famous for their beautiful desserts which are so cute. Make sure you take pictures of all their delicious sweets to post on your social media and to share with your friends and family.
Suggested sweets to try: Montblanc, strawberry tart and baumkuchen (easy to carry and eat). If you like cheese, there are also small shibamata cheesecakes, 126 yen each.
Spot information
- Spot name: Biscuit
- Address: 4-32-16 Shibamata, Katsushika, Tokyo
- Access: a 9 minute walk from Shibamata Station.
Shibamata Taishakuten
Shibamata Taishakuten (帝釈天), a beautiful and unique Buddhist temple founded in 1629 during the Kan-ei period. Japanese people often visit the temple on New Year. The site, including its ferryboat, was designated as one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan and 100 Landscapes of Japan (Heisei era).
Spot information
- Spot name: Shibamata Taishakuten
- Address: 7-10-3 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-0052
- Access: 4 minute walk from the Shibamata Station.
Shibamata Fu Ten Bed And Local
Maybe this popular guesthouse could be the answer to your “Where to stay tonight?” question. Shibamata Fu Ten Bed and Local recently upgraded in May 2018, and now they have new 14 Artist Rooms which are rooms which have been modified by artists. These artsy concept rooms are designed by 14 Japanese and artists from other countries like Korea or Mexico.
Room rates start from 5,000 yen and may vary according to demand. It’s affordable and they encourage travelers to mingle with locals.
Spot information
- Spot name: Shibamata Fu Ten Bed and Local
- Address: 7-12-19 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-0052
- Access: 7 minutes walk from Shibamata Station.
Shibamata Station
You’ll be greeted by the bronze statues of Tora-san and his sister Sakura outside the Shibamata Station. The station is where many of the scenes where Tora-san returns from his trips were filmed.
Spot information
- Spot name: Shibamata Station
- Address: 4-8 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-0052
- Access: If you’re travelling from Narita Airport, take the Keisei Line train and then switch to Keisei-Kanamachi Line at Keisei-Takasago Station to head towards Shibamata Station. The trip will take around an hour.
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