Tora-san Memorial Hall & Yoji Yamada Museum – Immerse Yourself in Showa-Era Masterpieces!
Hello, fellow travel lovers!
This time, I’m sharing my experience of visiting the Tora-san Memorial Hall and the adjacent Yoji Yamada Museum in Katsushika Shibamata!
The Tora-san series is famous, but aren’t there a lot of people who’ve never actually watched it properly?
I decided to do a little homework and watched a few of the films on YouTube.
Showa-era dramas are so entertaining!
As expected from a series with 50 films! Showa-era dramas really are something, and they're so entertaining.
At the entrance of the museum, you’ll find Tora-san himself putting up the sign! One of his sandals is lying on the ground, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at the attention to detail.
The World of Tora-san in Full Swing with Shibamata Scenery and Dioramas!
As you enter the museum, scenes of Katsushika Shibamata from the time when Tora-san was active are projected on the walls.
It’s nostalgic, yet comforting to see that the scenery hasn’t changed even now.
In the next area, a moving diorama with narration by Sakura introduces Tora-san’s childhood, his fights with his parents, running away from home, his wandering life, and his return to Shibamata. The diorama is so cute that I couldn’t help but get absorbed in it.
Photo Time with the Movie Set!
As you go further, you’ll find actual movie sets on display, where you can freely take photos anywhere!
The diorama of the Taishakuten Sando is so realistic that you can almost hear the voices of the shopkeepers.
At the model of the station and train carriage, you can sit and take pictures, letting you experience the feeling of being Tora-san.
The Mysterious Charm of Tora-san
To be honest, Tora-san is kind of a pain, selfish, and not exactly handsome. But for some reason, he’s a character you can’t help but be drawn to. And the mystery of why he keeps attracting beautiful Madonnas one after another... That’s part of Tora-san’s charm, I guess.
The Posters of All 50 Films Are Truly Impressive!
Near the exit, there’s a lineup of posters from all 50 films of It's Tough Being a Man!
It’s nothing short of impressive. After touring the museum, you start to understand why these films have been loved for so long.
Yoji Yamada Museum – Discover the Behind-the-Scenes of the Films!
After leaving the Tora-san Memorial Hall, you’ll find the Yoji Yamada Museum right next door. With a combined ticket, you can enter directly.
Here, filming equipment and film used in production are on display.
The cameras from that time are huge!
Just thinking about filming with these makes my back hurt from their size (haha).
If you're a Tora-san fan or someone who wants to immerse yourself in Showa-era classics, be sure to visit when you go to Shibamata!
The journey continues... Wishing you all a wonderful trip! – TabiJun
Duration of stay here: 60 minutes
