Shibamata is an neighborhood at the eastern edge of Tokyo. It is known as the hometown of a 20th-century movie character "Tora-san" and has a nostalgic atmosphere that remains unchanged for decades.
By walking along the main street lined with traditional "kusa dango" (tansy sweets) shops, you will arrive at the Shibamata Taishakuten Temple.
Also called the "temple of carvings," Taishakuten boasts numerous fine wood carvings that wrap around the architectures. The "Chokoku (carving) Gallery" presents a series of artworks carved on ten thick cypress boards, narrating Buddha's teachings. The carving works are so detailed that they look deeper than they really are, and vivid without any coloring.
The admission fee to the Chokoku Gallery also gives you access to the Suikeien Garden. You will walk along the corridor that surrounds the garden.
A nice short trip from the center of the metropolis for a change of pace.