2025-12-23 / Last updated : 2025-12-23 Elodie Suzawa Culture

Matsumoto’s New Year Fire Festival: San-ku-ro

Each winter in Matsumoto, after the New Year holidays quiet down, fires appear in fields, riverbanks, and parks. This is San-ku-ro (三九郎), a local New Year fire festival that marks the end of the season. It is part of the same family of rituals that other regions call dondoyaki: a bonfire where decorations and charms from the New Year are returned to the flames. Discover everything about Matsumoto’s New Year Fire Festival. Meaning and rituals San-ku-ro is usually held in early to mid-January. Communities bring their New Year decorations such as kadomatsu (pine arrangements), and shimenawa (sacred ropes). But also other seasonal items including old charms or daruma dolls. These […]
2025-12-22 / Last updated : 2025-12-23 Elodie Suzawa Culture

New Year in Matsumoto: Traditions and Festivities in Japan

New Year in Matsumoto – Japan, known as ‘Shōgatsu’, is one of the most important times of the year, marked by traditions that run deep in everyday life. In Matsumoto, a city in the heart of the Japanese Alps, the season unfolds quietly between family rituals, shrine visits, and local customs. The atmosphere stretches from the end of December into the first weeks of January, as decorations go up, bells ring, and daily routines slow down. New Year Foods in Matsumoto Preparations begin several days before December 31. Households do a major year-end cleaning, ōsōji, clearing out dust and clutter as a kind of practical and spiritual reset. On New […]
2025-12-12 / Last updated : 2025-12-12 Sylvain Sightseeing

What To Do around the Snow Monkey Park

Nestled in the mountains of northern Nagano prefecture, Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park has become world famous for its unique inhabitants. While watching Japanese macaques soak in the hot springs is a great experience, it is not the only place worth visiting in the area. From historic onsen towns and charming rural villages to cultural experiences in Nagano City, the region offers the visitor many ways to spend a memorable day. Shibu Onsen: Step into the Past and Soak your Cares Away Within walking distance of the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park is the traditional hot spring town of Shibu Onsen. With its narrow cobblestone streets and historic wooden ryokans, Shibu Onsen […]
2025-12-10 / Last updated : 2025-12-10 Sylvain Art

The Craft of Magemono in Kiso’s Mountain Towns

Walk through Narai-juku on a quiet morning and you’ll spot them in shop windows: wooden bento boxes with elegant curved sides, their grain visible through a honey-colored lacquer finish. These are magemono, bentwood containers made using techniques that have served the Kiso region for over four centuries. Discover the craft of magemono in the Kiso valley. Forest Protection and Economic Adaptation The craft connects to a particular moment in Japanese history. In the early 1600s, after the Tokugawa Shogunate consolidated power, castle construction and urban development stripped Kiso’s mountains of timber. The Owari domain, a branch of the Tokugawa family which controlled the valley, watched forests disappear at an alarming […]
2025-12-03 / Last updated : 2025-12-08 Sylvain Sightseeing

Day Trip from Hakuba: Discover the best of Nagano Prefecture

Hakuba, nestled in Nagano Prefecture’s northern valleys, is famed for its powdery slopes and alpine views, a legacy from the 1998 Winter Olympics. Yet, beyond the ski runs, it’s an ideal base for day trips. Explore the region’s cultural heart, combining ancient temples, historic castles, and natural wonders. With good roads and trains connecting to nearby cities, a one-day escape offers a refreshing contrast to mountain adventures. Dip into local traditions and flavors like handmade soba noodles. See what to do on a day trip from Hakuba. Nagano City Area Start in Nagano City, about an hour’s drive from Hakuba, where you can explore Zenkoji Temple on a peaceful walking […]
2025-12-01 / Last updated : 2025-12-01 Sylvain Seasonal Topics

Top 3 Winter Illuminations in Nagano Prefecture

Winter in Nagano Prefecture brings snow to temple grounds and castle moats, and with it, a tradition of evening illuminations. As temperatures drop, historic sites across the region install carefully designed light displays that transform familiar landmarks. These installations run through the coldest months, offering a great reason to venture out after dark. Here are the top 3 winter illuminations we feel are worth planning an evening around. Matsumoto Castle Illumination Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan’s few remaining original castles, receives a seasonal light treatment each winter. Colorful projections and illumination are projected on the black walls and multi-tiered keep, with reflections spreading across the surrounding moat. The display typically […]
2025-11-28 / Last updated : 2025-11-28 Sylvain Notification

2025-2026 Winter Holiday Hours: Matsumoto & Nagano Area Attractions

During the New Year holiday season, many attractions, museums, breweries, and restaurants will be closed or operate on reduced schedules. Below is important information about closures and adjusted 2025-2026 winter holiday hours for popular destinations in the Matsumoto and Nagano areas. General Information Standard Closure Pattern: Most public museums and cultural facilities follow December 29 – January 3 closures. Commercial Operations: Breweries, farms, and restaurants may have varying schedules. Always confirm directly. Weather Considerations: Winter weather in the Japan Alps can affect accessibility and operating hours, particularly for mountain locations. Advance Planning: We recommend checking official websites or contacting facilities directly closer to your travel dates to confirm current operating […]
2025-11-25 / Last updated : 2025-11-25 Sylvain Other

Nightlife and Going Out in Nagano Prefecture

In Japan’s central highlands, Nagano Prefecture offers a quieter approach to evenings. Historic sites such as Matsumoto Castle and Zenkoji Temple glow under careful lighting, and local izakayas welcome regulars and travelers alike. The region’s mountain setting shapes its after-dark culture: less about late-night crowds, more about illuminated landmarks, unwinding in sake bars, and quiet walks through temple grounds. Discover the nightlife and and where to going out in Nagano Prefecture. Matsumoto’s Evening Charms Around Matsumoto Station, the evening scene centers on intimate bars offering craft cocktails and local brews. For a reflective close to the day, climb to Joyama Park’s viewpoint, where city lights spread below the Alps. Matsumoto […]
2025-10-28 / Last updated : 2025-10-28 Sylvain Events

Matsumoto Castle Week and Citizens Festival

Matsumoto Castle Week runs from November 3rd-10th 2025. The Citizens festival will be held during this week, on November 3rd  2025. There will be many events held in the downtown core and castle grounds. Admission is free. Matsumoto Castle Week Held every year in November, Matsumoto Castle Week celebrates the iconic castle that sits in the heart of Matsumoto City. This year marks 70 years since the major restoration which was completed in 1955. There are many events scheduled throughout the week including a Chyrsanthemum display running from October 28-November 12 from 8:30Am-5pm daily. The main events coincide with the Citizen’s Festival on November 3rd. But the most significant event […]
2025-10-20 / Last updated : 2025-10-20 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 […]
2025-10-14 / Last updated : 2025-10-14 Sylvain History

Zenkoji Temple: From the Meiji Era to the Present (from 1868 to now)

In Nagano’s quiet temple district, a massive wooden gate marks the entrance to something extraordinary. Zenkoji Temple has been welcoming visitors for over 1,300 years, making it older than most European cathedrals and one of Japan’s most enduring pilgrimage sites. What sets it apart isn’t just its age, it’s the radical idea that still guides it today: everyone belongs here. Discover the history of Zenkoji Temple from the Meiji Era to the present. Following up on the first article, Zenkoji’s story didn’t end with the Edo period. The temple has navigated government pressure, war, and rapid modernization while maintaining its role as Japan’s most welcoming pilgrimage destination. Surviving Government Reform […]
2025-10-11 / Last updated : 2025-10-14 Sylvain History

Zenkoji Temple: Origin and History of the Sacred Temple (from 642 CE to 1868)

In Nagano’s quiet temple district, a massive wooden gate marks the entrance to something extraordinary. Zenkoji Temple has been welcoming visitors for over 1,300 years, making it older than most European cathedrals and one of Japan’s most enduring pilgrimage sites. What sets it apart isn’t just its age, it’s the radical idea that still guides it today: everyone belongs here. Discover the origin and history of the sacred Zenkoji Temple. Most Japanese temples belong to specific Buddhist sects, often restricting access based on gender, social class, or religious affiliation. Zenkoji broke that mold from the beginning. The temple established an open-door policy that drew pilgrims from across the country. To […]