Whenever I travel to Tokyo I make it a point to spend at least a good part of one day on a visit to Shibamata in Katsushika Ward. This lovely neighborhood tucked away in the remote northeastern corner of the city on the banks of the Edogawa River still retains some of the flavor of the Edo Period (1603-1867).

It also features two beautiful gardens. One of these is on the grounds of Daikyo-ji Temple. The other is situated nearby at one of the most beautiful traditional-style homes in the city, Yamamoto-tei.

As you exit from tiny Shibamata Station on the Keisei Kanamachi Line — at 2.5 km and with only three stations, one of the shortest railways in Tokyo — you may notice a tall bronze statue of a man wearing a fedora and sports jacket, and carrying a suitcase. This is a piece of local history. We'll come back to him later.