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 […]
The hot spring village of Asama sits quietly in northern Matsumoto. It’s an easy twenty-minute bus ride from the station, or just a bit longer by bike. Once you’re there you’ll find a compact pocket of regional history hemmed in by modest mountains and packed with handmade soba, simple hiking and storybook hot springs. From a distance it’s easy to miss. Up close you’ll discover a lot. Hot Springs The onsen village of Asama is said to have been established in the earliest stages of Japan’s history as a nation. Known originally as Tsukama-no-Yu, the hot springs here attracted nobility and samurai from the Kamakura Era right down through the […]
Due to the annual New Year’s celebration, some of the city’s most notable sightseeing spots including Matsumoto Castle will be closed over the holidays. The following information provides the New Year’s Holiday Closure and revised opening days and times for popular attractions in Matsumoto: Matsumoto Castle Matsumoto Castle is a registered National Treasure and the oldest original castle that remains in Japan. It is therefore a must-see destination on your trip to Matsumoto. The castle will be closed for a few days at the end of December and will then have special opening hours in the beginning of January 2024. Matsumoto City Museum of Art Matsumoto City Museum of Art […]
