As soon as you step out of the station you know you’ve found someplace special. The easy energy of the center of town draws you in, mini-buses and pedestrians flowing gently past shop windows and wooden storefronts, cut through with side streets quietly urging you to explore at your own easy pace. Explore Matsumoto’s Mountain Town Vibe!
Take in the vibe of our castle mountain town!
Matsumoto’s European Alpine Village Cousins
Peer down Agata-no-mori-dori, the main thoroughfare running straight east from the station. Past the bright, bold colors of the Museum of Art and the serene, green spaces of Agata-no-mori Park, the eastern mountains rise up like gentle guardians, reminding one, perhaps, of Matsumoto’s European alpine village cousins.
Utsukushigahara Highlands – one of the largest and highest plateau in Japan
Take in the vibe of the Historical Streets
Stroll along the Metoba-gawa, the river that slips past the old castle town. Once serving as an extra line of defense against invaders, the grass-lined riverbed now offers habitat to egrets and herons while lending the perfect layer of gentility to the quaint nature of the town. Check out Nakamachi-dori, the old merchant street that harkens back to Matsumoto’s history as the crossroads of the region. Take in the vibe of Nawate-dori, the pedestrian alley better known as Frog Street that began as a quiet path leading to Yohashira Shrine but has since taken on a much more varied and vibrant life.
Nakamachi Street – an historic stopover for travelers on their journey from Edo
Cycling the Countryside
Grab a bicycle and immerse yourself in the quietude of the countryside. Lace up your boots and hike the hills – and mountains – that beckon from every direction. And breathe in the character-laden, one-of-a-kind atmosphere that only a community of locals can create. You’ll definitelty enjoy our mountain town vibe!
Explore the city and its surroundings on a bike tour