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A popular attraction in Shibamata Park that recreates the world of the Otoko wa Tsurai yo film series.
The Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum is a popular attraction in Shibamata Park, about a 3-minute walk beyond Shibamata Taishakuten Temple via the approach from Shibamata Station.
Dedicated to Tora-san, the main character of the Otoko wa Tsurai yo film series, the museum recreates Katsushika Shibamata as it appeared around 1960. Exhibits include Kurumaya, the dango shop to which the free-spirited Tora-san always returns after traveling throughout Japan. The Kurumaya set was actually used in the films and relocated here from the studio. A 1:16-scale model shows the layout of Kurumaya, with Tora-san taking a break on the second floor.
The museum also features an old-fashioned station building evoking Tora-san’s travels, a recreation of a local train, and the contents of the suitcase he always carried on his journeys. For many Japanese people, the world of Otoko wa Tsurai yo evokes a nostalgic hometown of the heart. A visit to the museum offers a glimpse of Japan in days gone by.
Exterior©Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum 🄫Yamada Yoji Museum 🄫Shochiku Co.,Ltd.
Ticket counter©Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum 🄫Yamada Yoji Museum 🄫Shochiku Co.,Ltd.
A playful entrance featuring Tora-san putting up the sign himself©Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum 🄫Shochiku Co.,Ltd.
The entrance hall introduces the filmmaking process and the crew behind the Otoko wa Tsurai yo series©Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum 🄫Shochiku Co.,Ltd.
The Kurumaya set actually used during filming©Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum 🄫Shochiku Co.,Ltd.
Look above the Kurumaya set to see the movements of the lighting and sound crews recreated overhead©Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum 🄫Shochiku Co.,Ltd.
A recreation of President Tako’s Asahi Printing Shop, the setting for many memorable scenes©Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum 🄫Shochiku Co.,Ltd.
Commemorative photo area©Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum 🄫Shochiku Co.,Ltd.
Model of Kurumaya©Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum 🄫Shochiku Co.,Ltd.
A detailed recreation of the approach to Taishakuten Temple around 1960©Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum 🄫Shochiku Co.,Ltd.
Nostalgic station building©Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum 🄫Shochiku Co.,Ltd.
A recreation of a carriage from the Taishaku Human-Powered Railway, which was pushed by people©Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum 🄫Shochiku Co.,Ltd.
A recreation of the face-to-face seating on a local train, an essential part of Tora-san’s travels©Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum 🄫Shochiku Co.,Ltd.
The contents of Tora-san’s trusty travel suitcase are also on display—remarkably, this was everything he owned©Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum 🄫Shochiku Co.,Ltd.
Some reviews are AI-translated.
You can see what life was like for Japanese people in the old days here. The iron office desks and printing machines especially brought back a lot of childhood memories for me.
Even though I didn't really know the story, the videos and model displays helped me get a sense of what life was like for ordinary people back then.
I haven't seen the movie, but from the moment you leave the station, you see Tora-san statues and posters everywhere. Inside the museum, the exhibits really help you understand the era that Tora-san represents.
This museum mainly introduces the 'Tora-san' movies. As soon as you enter, you see a studio modeled after the Taishakuten approach, with shop displays, lighting, and sound effects that make you feel like you’ve stepped back into early 1960s Tokyo. Even though I haven’t seen the films, the detailed exhibits really bring the Showa era to life, letting you experience what everyday life was like back then. Most of the visitors I saw were older Japanese people, probably coming to relive their childhood memories.
I haven't seen the 'It's Tough Being a Man' movies, but the museum really captures the atmosphere of that era. The retro Japanese vibe is strong, and it was a fresh and interesting place to explore!
