Among the iconic kura warehouses of Nakamachi Street sits an intriguing repository of Matsumoto’s past. Centuries of commerce and trade, A once-thriving sericulture industry. A couple of extra buildings out back and a collection of fuzzy photos from 1888. At a glance the range of exhibits appears quite eclectic. But there’s a common thread that winds through the Matsumoto Scale Museum, a part of town 1,300 years in the making. Keiichiro Tanaka’s Weighty Aspirations Born in the 19th Century in what is now the City of Ina, Keiichiro Tanaka came to Matsumoto in 1902. He opened up the Takeuchi Weights and Measures Shop. More than a retailer, Tanaka managed to […]
Yayoi Kusama, world-famous artist and native of Matsumoto, has her colorful and distinctive works displayed permanently at the Matsumoto City Museum of Art. But this summer the museum has put on a special exhibition, Yayoi Kusama Hanga-no-Sekai, that brings us down the road of her life as it leads us past her thoughts, represented in “hanga” prints and pieces that could have been created by no one else. Yayoi Kusama’s Work Yayoi Kusama is perhaps best-known for her red polka dots and her yellow spotted pumpkins works. But her work goes far beyond these. On permanent display are expressions of various media: lights and mirrors and three-dimensional objects of material soft […]
The rhythmic sounds of a hundred drums filled the warm, humid evening air recently as the people of this castle town were treated to one of the most heart-pounding events of the year: the annual Matsumoto Castle Taiko Drum Festival. The Perfect Setting for a Rousing Tradition Once again the inner garden of Matsumoto Castle was transformed into the most dramatic musical venue this side of Mt.Fuji. Normally accessible only via entrance fee, on July 30th and 31st the inner ‘honmaru’ was open to the public. As the sun fell toward the northern alps and the air cooled (slightly) the crowds gathered, spread out on blankets on the ground where […]
For the first time this year, Welcome-Matsumoto and the Matsumoto Tourism Association conducted a Monitor Tour in which we explored the local cuisine in the countryside around Matsumoto. The main event was tasting wild plants from the Nagawa countryside in deep-fried tempura, which can be a delicious experience for vegetarians and Japanese food lovers. In addition our guests enjoyed Shinshu Salmon, the same fish served at the 2019 G20 Environment Ministerial Meetings in Karuizawa! Nagawa Countryside Nagawa is a region located just a few kilometers from Matsumoto City. It is in a remote valley between the Norikura Highlands and the famous Kamikochi National Park. The Nagawa Valley offers spectacular mountain scenery and […]
Here in Matsumoto we’re mighty proud of our soccer team, Yamaga FC. All over town the streets are dripping in the green and white of the team. Banners hanging from lampposts. Flags rippling in the breeze. Posters in shop windows. Decals on cars. The team mascot, Gans the Ptarmigan, smiles at everyone from vending machines and manhole covers and souvenir shop shelves. The Spirit of Matsumoto. You can’t miss it! The Start of Something Big Soccer in Matsumoto began in 1965 when a non-profit organization called the Alwin Sports Project established a team of players representing Nagano Prefecture in a low-level regional league. From the beginning they called themselves the […]
Japan fascinates and attracts many visitors, some of whom wish to have a deeper experience here. Thus, many people dream of living and working in Japan, whether as part of a simple work experience abroad or the full makings of a true expatriation. To reach this goal, any useful information is good to have! This is fortunate, because this is exactly what the latest issue of Japan Magazine offers with their special documentary “Going to Work in Japan”! They went to work in Japan Japan Magazine’s Léa Van Cuyck meets not only with people who have lived in Japan before, like Jean Christophe and Vincent, but also people still living […]
