Matsumoto isn’t just a city of castles and mountains. It’s also a quiet hub of creativity, where art and culture flourishes both in galleries and in everyday life. From the vivid world of Yayoi Kusama to the delicate, hand-stitched beauty of traditional temari balls, culture here is woven into the very fabric of the town.
Yayoi Kusama, a World-renowned artist
Experience the World of Yayoi Kusama
Matsumoto-born Yayoi Kusama is one of the world’s most celebrated contemporary artists, and her roots still run deep here. She struggled with hallucinations from an early age that would later inspire her art. At the Matsumoto City Museum of Art, her colorful, otherworldly works take center stage, both inside and out. Whether you’re already a fan or simply curious, it’s a rare chance to experience her art in the very city where her creative flame first sparked.
The Matsumoto City Museum of Art – “Maboroshi no Hana” (The Visionary Flowers)
A Window into the Past
Just outside the city center, the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum quietly houses the world’s largest private collection of ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Depicting everything from kabuki actors and samurai to scenes of everyday life in the Edo period, these prints offer a vivid, almost cinematic glimpse into Japan’s past, and a deeper appreciation for the artistry behind what was once considered everyday entertainment.
The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum
The Delicate Beauty of Temari
Temari balls may be small, but they carry centuries of traditionn culture and art in every thread. Once crafted as handmade toys, they’re now cherished as folk art, admired for their vibrant colors and intricate geometric embroidery. In Matsumoto, you’ll find temari not only in craft shops and cultural spaces. But even decorating the city’s manhole covers—beautiful reminders of the care and creativity woven into daily life.
Colorful Temari – Traditional Japanese Toy & A Symbol of Matsumoto