The famous Tokyo neighbourhood few Australians have heard of
Shibamata is a historic neighborhood in Tokyo that gained fame through the long-running film series featuring the character Tora-san. The area, founded in 1629, has a rich street market culture and is known for its traditional foods. Visitors can explore the picturesque streets and enjoy local delicacies while experiencing a slice of old Tokyo.
- ▪Shibamata is the filming location for the Tora-san movie series, which ran from 1969 to 1995.
- ▪The neighborhood features a distinctive street market culture and traditional foods like Kusa-dango and Unaju.
- ▪A bronze statue of Tora-san greets visitors at the Shibamata station, highlighting the area's cinematic heritage.
Sydney Morning Herald publishes from Australia and files mainly under world. We currently carry 3,219 of its stories.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","dateModified":"2026-05-17T19:00:00Z","datePublished":"2026-05-17T19:00:00Z","description":"A record-breaking Japanese movie star put this area on the map through a series of 48 films. Visiting it is like stepping back in time to a Tokyo long gone.","headline":"The famous Tokyo neighbourhood few Australians have heard of","keywords":"Japan, Asia, North-East Asia, Tokyo","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Kerry van der Jagt","jobTitle":"Travel…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at SMH Traveller.