Shibamata Shotengai, Shibamata, Tokyo Japan

 For those into Japanese Film History, Otoko Wa Tsurai Yo (It's Rough to be a Guy) is a comedy classic and notably in the Guinness Book of World Records: LINK

Yes, I grew up watching these films in Los Angeles. My parents owned a Japanese restaurant called Beni Basha. The local Japanese Movie theaters would come around once or twice a week to ask to put the newest movie poster up on our window. in exchange we would get several movie tickets. My Mom and Dad and I would go to these films. I grew up watching samurai movies, comedies and many of the Otoko Wa Tsurai Yo or we would call them Tora-san, the name of the main character. I really enjoyed these films and they shaped my love for narrative and that Showa period aesthetic.

The Shibamata Shoten Gai is the center piece of each of these Tora-san movies. It was remarkable to walk down that series of vintage shops. You can practically hear the theme soung to the movie and voices of the iconic characters of the film.

About a 1/4 of a mile away is the Tora-san Museum which i will post about in a different post.

Among the wealth of things to buy here was this Dorayaki. Butter? I had to try it and also I loved the graphic of the packaging. At first, it sounded a little heavly but actually it was not. It's really delicious.

If you are ever in Tokyo, I highly recommend visiting the Showa paradise as well as the Tora-san museum. It's so worth it. The Shibamata train station is right there. Make sure that's what you aim for. My GPS sent me to another train station and I ended up walking for 20 minutes to this area. It was a great walk and i got a haircut along the way but maybe you should avoid that.