The Taimatsu Matsuri Torches Festival, also known as the “Asama Onsen Taimatsu Matsuri”, is a traditional fire festival with a rich history held annually in Matsumoto. This unique event features large torches, or “taimatsu,” and celebrates the local cultural heritage while also serving as a time of prayer for protection against natural disasters. History The Torches Festival has deep roots in ancient traditions. Historically, the burning of large torches was used as a ritual to cleanse the land and ward off evil spirits. It is said that the event was inspired by practices of mountain worship, which were common in the Japanese Alps. In Shinto beliefs, fire is considered a […]
When travelling to Matsumoto you will almost certainly be carrying luggage with you and may, for the sake of convenience, want to store it for a period of time. The easiest place to do so is at Matsumoto Station, where you will find five locations with lockers of varying size. Matsumoto Station is small and easy to navigate with all luggage storage lockers within a short distance of the ticket gates on the second floor of the station. JR East Matsumoto Station Map Arrival & Departure Area of Matsumoto Station / 2nd Floor When arriving in Matsumoto by train and passing through the ticket gates, you will find yourself on […]
Everyone knows that summer in Japan is hot. Very hot. Sitting in a valley between two mountain ranges, Matsumoto is certainly not spared the summer heat with the daytime temperature sometimes rising over 40°C or 104°F and above. Thankfully, evenings typically bring a refreshing breeze and the city is surrounded by a beautiful landscape blessed with pristine rivers and waterways, should you wish to take a dip. Alternatively, you can do as the Japanese do and escape the heat by going to the local Sawamura Public Pool. Matsumoto City Sawamura Pool Located to the north of Matsumoto Station, around 25-minutes walk from Matsumoto Castle, Sawamura Public Pool is open daily […]
All across Japan summer festivals abound. Matsumoto is no exception as thousands of people take to the streets of downtown in early August for the loud and lively Matsumoto Bon-Bon. This festival got its start almost fifty years ago – and is no match for the original Bon Bon, a unique Matsumoto tradition born centuries ago. Coupled with the Aoyama-sama, a ceremonial procession of young boys carrying a miniature shrine through the streets of their neighborhood, the Bon Bon, an elegant and understated festival for young girls, offers a glimpse into a centuries-old Matsumoto tradition. History During the Edo Era, when the Shogun still ruled the country with military might, […]
Among Japan’s many celebrated artforms, “ukiyo-e” stands out as one of the most recognizable yet not necessarily well understood by international visitors. Matsumoto and more broadly the Nagano region are ideal locales in which to explore the rich and seductive world of ukiyo-e. Located in Matsumoto City, the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum houses one of the largest and most important collections of ukiyo-e in the country, with many of its artworks currently on display at a special exhibition hosted by Matsumoto City Museum. These exhibitions – along with the popular Hokusai Museum in Obuse – include many works by Japan’s most celebrated artist, Hokusai Katsushika. A prolific artist who spent his […]
At the beginning of each year, the “Ameichi” Festival takes place in and around Matsumoto. “Ame” is the Japanese word for candy and the “Ameichi” Festival is a market devoted to it. The Ameichi Festival has a long history, one that can be traced back to and connected with the legend of Uesugi Kenshin who ruled Niigata Prefecture during the Warring States Period (1467-1615). The Origins of the Ameichi Festival Ameichi was one of Matsumoto’s largest festivals during the Edo Period (1603-1868) – along with the Tenjin Festival at Fukashi Shrine – and there are records attesting that candy and salt were sold at the New Year market since at […]
