Shibamata: day trip into the shitamachi(old town) of tokyo

There are actually several neighborhoods in Tokyo that are still very traditional where you can experience Edo, or old Tokyo. Some are very touristy and super crowded, but I found a shopping street in Shibamata that turned out to be a fun leisure afternoon. There weren't a ton of foreign tourists, and it wasn't too big of an area. perfect way to spen the warm afternoon.
This is where Torasan, an old Japanese comedian from post war to around the 50's or 60's, is from. There's a famous statue that everyone takes photos in front of.

This is the entrance to the Shibamata Shitamachi (old down town)

Like I mentioned before, all the shops are really old and don't sell the junk touristy gifts. Each shop is famous for one specific thing.

We went to the famous Takagi-ya and had dango for a snack. This is charbroiled dango with shoyu ajitsuke and nori. Laurel had the dango with tare on it. they were pretty good.

Torasan's famous tora-ya dango.

Making fresh senbei in the back of a store.

A street performer twirling a box shaped cup on an umbrella

Balancing a bowl-full of water on his chin.

This was the craziest tree I've ever seen. It was spread out all around the temple.

Each needle is carefully sorted and shaped.



We saw a family scrubbing a statue.

On our way back, we strolled through Meiji Shrine. It's really quiet there and the trees are amazing.

They had an ikebana exhibition.