Katsushika City of Sightseeing・Hot Springs・Day-trip Bathing Taishakuten Sando

Three Recommended Highlights of the Taishakuten Sando

• 

  1. Exquisite! Taste and compare the famous "kusa dango" (mugwort rice dumplings)

  A local told us, "If you come to Shibamata, you have to start by eating kusa dango." Along the sando, multiple kusa dango shops line the street, each with its own character.
  We first visited Takagiya Shinise, founded in the first year of the Meiji era. One bite and the rich aroma of mugwort fills your mouth. The mildly sweet bean paste highlights the chewy texture of the dumplings. There are seats out front for resting, so you can take your time and enjoy them with tea.
  Next we stopped by Monzen Toraya, which was actually used in the filming of the movie "Otoko wa Tsurai yo" (It’s Tough Being a Man). "This is where Tora-san filmed," the owner told us proudly. Their kusa dango has a firm springiness and becomes more flavorful the more you chew.
  At Yoshinoya, we were able to watch artisans at the storefront rolling each dumpling by hand from a large mass. Freshly made kusa dango is a deep green with an intense mugwort flavor. "We pride ourselves on the strong flavor," one of the artisans said with a smile.
  Lastly, we visited Kameya Honpo, the dango shop closest to Taishakuten. With no off-notes and a gentle taste, it was comforting and delicious, just as the owner said: "We aim for a flavor loved by everyone."
  As you stroll the sando while enjoying the differences in flavor from shop to shop, time flies by.

• 

  2. Immerse yourself in Tora-san’s world

  As soon as we exited Shibamata Station, the statue of Tora-san with his suitcase caught our eye. "You haven’t really been to Shibamata unless you take a photo here," a passing couple told us. Indeed, many visitors enjoy taking commemorative photos with the statue.
  Walking along the sando, we could sense Tora-san’s presence everywhere. In front of Monzen Toraya, we found a sign that read, "This is an actual filming location." Inside the building, the staircase used during filming is said to remain.
  At the Shibamata Tourist Information Center, another Tora-san character statue stands, and the place was bustling with people taking photos while picking up tourist maps. "Even if you’re not a Tora-san fan, once you feel the warmth of this town, you end up wanting to watch the films," a staff member told us with a smile.

• 

  3. Stroll through streets alive with history and culture

  What surprised us as we walked the sando was that wooden buildings constructed from the Meiji through the Taisho periods are still in active use. Selected by the national government as an Important Cultural Landscape under "The Cultural Landscape of Katsushika Shibamata," these streets are truly living history.
  At the end of the sando stood the magnificent Nitenmon gate of Taishakuten (Daikyoji). "It enshrines the plank-honzon image of Taishakuten discovered in An’ei 8, that is, 1779," a local who had come to pray told us. In particular, on "Kōshin Day," which comes once every 60 days, the principal image is unveiled and the entire sando is enveloped in the lively atmosphere of a festival.
  Along the sando, long-established shops that exude history line the street, such as Sanbutsuya, which deals in Shinto ritual implements and Buddhist altars. Taking time to stroll and chat with the shop owners, we could truly feel the depth of the culture and traditions this town has carefully preserved.