Taishakuten Sando Approach

In short

Taishakuten Sando Approach is an approach of about 200 meters leading from Shibamata Station on the Keisei Line to Shibamata Taishakuten Temple. It is lined with shops selling local specialties and with old wooden shops. In 2018, the "Cultural Landscape of Katsushika Shibamata," which includes the approach, became the first in Tokyo to be selected as an Important Cultural Landscape of Japan.

• ​Rows of shops dating from the early Showa period​​: Lines of old, two-story wooden shops continue along the path, including pioneering establishments in front of the gate such as Myogaya.
• ​Shops associated with "Otoko wa Tsurai yo"​​: There are shops that were used as filming locations for Tora-san's family home, as well as a shop considered to be the model for "Toraya."
• ​The Koshin Fair​​: The Koshin Day, which occurs once every 60 days, is the fair day of Shibamata Taishakuten Temple. On Yoi-Koshin, the eve of this day, a large paper lantern reading "Koshin" is hung in front of the Nitenmon Gate.

History and Highlights

​Taishakuten Sando Approach​ is an approach of about 200 meters leading from Shibamata Station on the Keisei Line to Shibamata Taishakuten Temple. Both sides are lined with shops selling local specialties, as well as old wooden shops.

The bustling atmosphere along the approach began with the discovery of the ita-honzon (carved wooden principal image) of Shibamata Taishakuten Temple. This discovery led to a rapid increase in visitors arriving from Edo. As the railway network developed, the area in front of the gate grew even more lively. By the early Showa period, a unified townscape had taken shape along the approach.

On February 13, 2018, the "Cultural Landscape of Katsushika Shibamata," which includes the approach, was selected as a national Important Cultural Landscape—the first such designation within Tokyo. The core of this landscape is Shibamata Taishakuten Temple and the shopping street in front of its gate. Several shops along the approach serve as "important constituent elements" of this landscape.

The approach also served as the setting for the film series Otoko wa Tsurai yo.

Viewing and Experience Points

• ​Aligned eaves and canopies​​: The approach extends straight ahead, flanked on both sides by small and medium-sized shops. For example, Myogaya is a two-story wooden shop that, as a pioneer in front of the gate, has long sold Buddhist and Shinto altar goods and lucky charms. It features a canopy on the front with a signboard placed above the canopy. Not only the individual old buildings, but also the uninterrupted row of shops is treasured.
• ​The white building near Nitenmon Gate​​: On the north side of the approach, at the far end closest to the Nitenmon Gate, stands the Former Ichikawaya. Built in 1937, this two-story wooden structure stands out along the approach with its white plaster exterior reminiscent of a traditional storehouse (kura). Today, it is used as a history gallery for Daikyo-ji of Taishakuten.
• ​Shops associated with "Otoko wa Tsurai yo"​​: Monzen Toraya, known for its kusa dango (mugwort rice dumplings), was used as the filming location for Tora-san's family home from the first through the fourth film of the series. Takagiya Roho, which also makes kusa dango, came to be regarded as the model for "Toraya" because it provided rooms for rest and costume changes during filming.

Walking Tips

In the plaza in front of Shibamata Station stand the statues of Futen no Tora and Sakura seeing him off. Enter the approach from here. At the corner where the approach intersects with Shibamata Kaido Road stands Darumaya, built around 1960, which extends the view of the approach out toward the road.

Both sides of the approach are lined with shops selling dango (dumplings), senbei (rice crackers), handmade candies, and river fish dishes. Passing through the Nitenmon Gate at the end brings you into Shibamata Taishakuten Temple.

The Koshin Day, which occurs once every 60 days, is the fair day of Shibamata Taishakuten Temple. On Yoi-Koshin, the eve of this day, there is a parade of matoi (firemen's standards), and a large paper lantern reading "Koshin" is hung in front of the Nitenmon Gate.

Yamamototei is located about 330 meters east of the approach, and Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum is located about 380 meters east.