2025-10-20 / Last updated : 2026-02-18 Léa Van Cuyck Other

Currency Exchange in Downtown Matsumoto

When traveling in Japan, it’s important to note that many places still do not accept credit cards, despite the growing use of card and smartphone payments. If you plan to shop at local markets or small stores, having enough cash on hand is essential. In downtown Matsumoto, to avoid inconvenience, be sure to exchange currency or withdraw cash from an ATM in advance. Currency Exchange Location in Downtown Matsumoto If you’re arriving in Matsumoto with your home currency and need to exchange it, there are a few convenient options available in the city: Matsumoto Kaitori-ya (買取屋) Located just in front of Matsumoto Station, near McDonald’s. This shop provides currency exchange […]
2025-06-10 / Last updated : 2025-06-10 Léa Van Cuyck Other

Tattoo-Friendly Onsen and Sento in Matsumoto and Surrounding Region

For travelers with tattoos, finding a bathhouse (sento) or hot spring (onsen) in Japan that welcomes tattooed guests can sometimes be a challenge. While sento tend to be a bit more lenient, many still prohibit tattoos, and onsen often have strict policies against them. To help you enjoy a relaxing soak without any worries, we’ve compiled a short list of tattoo-friendly Onsen and Sento locations in Matsumoto and the surrounding Japanese Alps. Tattoo-Friendly Onsen & Sento in Matsumoto  HOT SPRINGS Biwa-no-yu (Asama-Onsen) Perhaps the most notable of Asama Onsen’s many hot springs is Biwa-no-Yu, founded in the latter part of the 17th Century. Public baths do not allow tattoos, but you can book […]
2022-06-01 / Last updated : 2022-06-01 Léa Van Cuyck WHV in Japan

Working in Japan: Our Interview in Japan Magazine n°13

Japan fascinates and attracts many visitors, some of whom wish to have a deeper experience here. Thus, many people dream of living and working in Japan, whether as part of a simple work experience abroad or the full makings of a true expatriation. To reach this goal, any useful information is good to have! This is fortunate, because this is exactly what the latest issue of Japan Magazine offers with their special documentary “Going to Work in Japan”! They went to work in Japan Japan Magazine’s Léa Van Cuyck meets not only with people who have lived in Japan before, like Jean Christophe and Vincent, but also people still living […]
2021-09-23 / Last updated : 2021-09-23 Léa Van Cuyck Art

3 Japanese Manga and Drama that take place in Matsumoto

Japan is famous for its mangas and dramas. Each literary and cinemagraphic work is a summary of what Japanese culture can evoke in us, each anchored in a unique setting. So let’s discover together 3 Japanese Manga & Drama works that take place in Matsumoto! TAKANO Ichigo’s Orange manga Published in 2012, this work tells us a very human story, where love, friendship, hope and regret are intertwined. It all starts when Naho, a young high school student, receives a letter. It is from her “future-self” who expresses remorse for failing to “save” her friend Kakeru. Then a race against the clock begins! But as Naho strives to use the […]
2020-11-26 / Last updated : 2022-03-16 Léa Van Cuyck Notification

Japan Magazine: Discover Matsumoto while respecting the local life and people

Presenting the release of the new Japan Magazine, discover Matsumoto City through the eyes of Léa Van Cuyck. Her fascinating article “Matsumoto: Discover this region while respecting the local life” perfectly sums up what to expect when visiting Matsumoto. Between nature, tradition and modernity, discover all the secrets of Matsumoto City from your own home, and prepare for your future trip to Japan! Extract from the article Become lost in a field of green which transforms according to the mood of the seasons! Matsumoto is a gateway to Japan’s cultural past. Located in the heart of the Japanese Alps, this rural region has an economy mainly centered on agriculture, from […]