2021-09-29 / Last updated : 2024-09-17 Kevin Kato Local Food & Drinks

Discover the Best Local Food & Drink in Matsumoto

Owing to its long history of provincial living, Japan is a country of countless regions, each with its own dialect, traditions and food. Surrounded by mountains, Matsumoto and the wider Shinshu region are certainly no exception. To make your visit to Matsumoto complete, it is well worth it to seek out the best local food and drink around, made and loved by the people who have lived here for generations. To get you off to a tasty start, here are our top suggestions. Miso Yes, this salty brown bean paste is found all over Japan. Even globally, miso soup is gaining in popularity. But can you take a guess as […]
2021-08-26 / Last updated : 2022-03-16 Kevin Kato Sightseeing

The Agetsuchi-machi Neighborhood: Historical Secrets and Old-Time Appeal

East of Matsumoto Castle, tucked away behind City Hall, you’ll find a stretch of the original outer moat. Just to the south of this remaining section of the ‘sotobori’ is Agetsuchi-machi, a quiet neighborhood with some interesting historical secrets and plenty of old-time appeal. The Origins of “Agetsuchi” The eastern side of Matsumoto Castle’s outer ‘sotobori’ moat used to run right through Agetsuchi-machi neighborhood. Along this eastern stretch was the largest of four “umadashi”, places like small islands designed as pathways for horses used in the protection of the castle. When the moat for this eastern umadashi was dug, the dirt was piled up to prevent people from seeing the […]
2021-07-06 / Last updated : 2021-08-10 Kevin Kato Sightseeing

Matsumoto: The Oldest, Biggest, Highest, First, and Best of Japan

Matsumoto is known to many as the home of Japan’s oldest castle keep. This is something the folks here are certainly proud of, but it is actually just one of our town’s many claims to national supremacy. Matsumoto, and in turn Nagano Prefecture, is the biggest, highest and best in Japan in more ways than you can shake a soba noodle at. Let’s explore! The Biggest Swing Right down the street from the castle you’ll find another of Matsumoto’s title-holders. From the Sensaibashi Bridge you can see it: the largest pendulum clock in Japan, dominating the facade of the Matsumoto Timepiece Museum. (Unverified reports have stated it is – or […]
2021-06-17 / Last updated : 2021-07-14 Kevin Kato Culture

Dōsojin: The Adorable Old Guardians of Shinshu

You’ll see Dōsojin all over as you explore Shinshu: elderly couples, standing arm-in-arm, smiling gently at everyone who passes. They can be found on roads, near bridges, even out in the woods. Say hello if you like, though you won’t get an answer. Because these kindly old folks, who have been watching over Matsumoto for a thousand years, are made of stone. Known as Dōsojin, they are the adorable old guardians of Shinshu. Where to Find Them Dōsojin (道祖神) are a centuries-old tradition particular to the Shinshu (i.e. Nagano) region where Matsumoto is located. Considered a sort of deity, or kami, they are often placed around the outskirts of a […]
2021-05-26 / Last updated : 2022-03-16 Kevin Kato Culture

Fukashi Jinja: Shrine of the Old Castle Town

Long ago the City of Matsumoto was known as the castle town of Fukashi. Much of this old castle town stretched northwest and south from the moats and walls of the castle. Near the southern end of town stood Fukashi Jinja. Established in 1339 by the region’s first ruler, this shrine still stands proud today, and is an integral part of your tour of the history of Matsumoto. Origins The 1333 Seige of Kamakura saw Emperor Go-Daigo wrest control of Japan from the shoguns of the Minamoto clan. To show his gratitude, Sadamune Ogasawara, local warlord and first ruler of Shinano, built Miyamura Daimyojin and enshrined the Shinto deity of […]
2021-04-08 / Last updated : 2022-03-16 Kevin Kato Seasonal Topics

Find the Most Beautiful Cherry Blossoms in Matsumoto

Spring has once again come to Matsumoto! The air is warmer, the evenings are longer, and the trees are exploding in white and pink. Everywhere you turn you’ll see these famous flowers called ‘sakura’. But if you want to find the most beautiful cherry blossoms in Matsumoto, it’s good to know where to look. Lucky for you, we know exactly where to go! Matsumoto Castle – of course! Yes, this is a given! Matsumoto Castle is a beautiful sight on its own. Surrounded by sakura, Japan’s oldest extant castle keep takes on an aura of fairytale proportions. And yet there’s more than just the main castle itself. Take a walk […]
2021-04-07 / Last updated : 2022-03-16 Kevin Kato History

Halls of History in Matsumoto: The Old Higher School Museum

During the Meiji Restoration, Japan established a network of special secondary schools to nurture the country’s best and brightest young minds. There were only forty-one of these ‘Higher Schools’ in Japan. Matsumoto was home to one of them. Most of these schools no longer exist, but you can still walk these halls of history right here in Matsumoto, at the Old Higher School Museum in Agata-no-Mori Park. Life of the Higher Schools When Japan opened its ports to the world in 1868, a deluge of western ideas came pouring in. To more deeply understand the ways of the west, Japan established a network of Imperial universities where students took science, […]
2021-03-09 / Last updated : 2022-03-16 Kevin Kato Experience

Authentic Hot Spring Experience in Downtown Matsumoto: Shioi-no-yu

No doubt one of the most sought-after experiences for any visitor to Japan is a trip to an authentic hot spring. Matsumoto has not one but two onsen villages out on the eastern edges of town. But if you are pressed for time, or want to add a little convenience to your experience, check out Shioi-no-yu. This onsen is located just a few minutes’ walk from Matsumoto Castle. Enjoy an authentic hot spring experience in downtown Matsumoto! The Backstory With the dawn of the Meiji Era came the end of Japan’s feudal system. As Matsumoto Castle fell into disuse, so did the residences of the surrounding samurai district. A man […]
2021-03-05 / Last updated : 2022-06-15 Kevin Kato Sightseeing

Matsumoto’s Other National Treasure: The Historic Kaichi Elementary School

For most people the name Matsumoto brings to mind countless beautiful mountains and one beautiful castle. The mountains are part of Chubu-sangaku National Park. The castle was designated a National Treasure in 1952 – and for over sixty-five years was the only one in town. But in 2019 the Historic Kaichi Elementary School was added to that short list. So after enjoying the famed beauty of the castle, take a walk up the road and check out Matsumoto’s “Other” National Treasure. Japan’s Ministry of Education was created in 1871 by the new Meiji government, and wasted no time getting to work. In 1872 a series of educational system reforms was […]
2021-02-17 / Last updated : 2021-07-07 Kevin Kato Sightseeing

Matsumoto’s Hidden Treasure: The Ikegami Tea House

In the shadow of Matsumoto Castle, our town’s most famous treasure, sits a jewel that few people know about: the Ikegami Tea House. Known more fondly by the name Hyakuchiku-tei, this is one slice of Matsumoto’s history worth endeavoring to see. Explore Matsumoto’s Hidden Treasure with us! The Residence Hyakuchiku-tei means “Hundred Bamboo Place” – a fitting name for the home that Matsumoto merchant Kisaku Ikegami built for himself in 1958. No longer a private residence, Hyakuchiku-tei is open to the public. What’s more, it costs nothing to go in and take a look around. But there is a catch: Hyakuchiku-tei is such a secret that they may seem a […]