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The statue of "Tora-san"
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Shibamata is in Katsushika ward of East Tokyo where you can experience traditional downtown atmosphere of Edo period. Popular Japanese comedy movie series "Tora-san"in the 1969-1995 located in this area. So you see the bronze statue of Tora-san in front of the Shibamata station.
When you get out of the station you are already on the approach to the Taishakuten temple, many shops sell traditional Japanese snacks and gifts are lined on both side.
Fresh water fish and mugwort-flavored rice dumplings are famous local foods of Shibamata.
Taishakuten temple is a Buddhist temple of Hokkeshu -sect founded in 1629 which enshrine wooden board of Taishakuten (Indira) image on one side and the other side with wooden print block of the odaimoku carved by St. Nichiren.
In this temple, the reliefs which narrate the teach of Lotus Sutra and the garden view with long corridor are superb.
After the Taishakuten, walked to the Eodogawa river, ride on Yagiri-no-Watashi, ferry boat established by Tokugawa government in the early Edo period is available for visitors to across the Edogawa river.
The Taishakuten temple area and Yagiri ferry crossing have been selected by the Ministry of the Environment in their choice of "100 Best Places of Delight Sounds in Japan".
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| approach to Taishakuten temple |
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| Taishakuten - temple |
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| The relief of Taishakuten |
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| The garden of Taishakuten |
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| The garden of Taishakuten |
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| Exuviae of cicada at Taishakuten |
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| Ferry "Yagiri-no-watashi" |
Again coming back to the Shibamata side by the ferry, there is a Tora-san museum on the river bank. Even you don't know the stories of the Tora-san films, you can enjoy seeing the settings.
On the way to heading back to the station we took a rest at Yamamoto - tei. It is the house of Yamamoto Einosuke, a businessperson in the Taisho era. It opened to the public in 1991 with a Cafe inside. Drinking green tea in the traditional style Japanese house as watching the beautiful Shoin-style garden gives you very relaxing time calms mind.
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| Sets at Tora-san memorial Museum |
