Shibamata Temple and Shotengai

Akiko suggested we go to this temple and the shotengai that runs right from the temple entrance. It's famous in Japan because there was a series of movies collectively known as Tora-san. You can read all about the series here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otoko_wa_Tsurai_yo
This temple and the connected shotengai featured in some of the movies, so it all seems familiar to many Japanese people.

It was a long drive from Setagaya, where Akiko lives and where we are staying. We went to the temple first. It has many features common to Japanese temples, but also other features we hadn't seen before, such as big, round, blue barrels. Neither had Akiko, so she couldn't explain them.

Next, we walked along the shotengai, which is short and has shops that Tora-san fans would recognize from the movies. It looks very old-fashioned, with small shops selling souvenirs and street food. It was very photogenic, despite, or because of, the rain. It was very cold and rainy, until we were in the car going back to Setagaya, when the rain finally stopped.Read more