2023-04-25 / Last updated : 2023-04-25 Kevin Kato Other

Craft Beer: The Latest Addition to Matsumoto’s Brewing Tradition

Taking in Matsumoto’s rich history is an experience to savor. Add a pint of great craft beer and it’s even tastier. Here’s where to go to drink in some of the best suds around. Matsumoto Brewery During the Edo Era (1603-1868) two important roads, the Nomugi-do and the Zenkoji-do, met to form a T-intersection in the middle of the castle town of Matsumoto. Today that same intersection sits lorded over by the shiny, modern Media Garden Building where, up on the third floor, you can find an impressive variety of excellent craft beer (and some finger-licking sides to pair it with) at the Matsumoto Brewery. The menu of brews changes […]
2023-03-17 / Last updated : 2023-03-17 Kevin Kato Outdoor Activities

Renting a Bicycle: A Great Way to See & Share More of Matsumoto

Downtown Matsumoto is a great place to get your Instagram on. From the grandeur of the castle backed by Mt. Jonen to the funky details of Frog Street there’s no end to the pics you can post. But if you’re looking for a great way to see and share more of Matsumoto, we highly recommend renting a bicycle and heading out of town. With e-Bikes available and a million roads to roll down, taking in the mountains and the countryside is a cinch. To make it even easier to find that perfect shot, let’s take a quick tour. Heading East Pedal this way and you’ll find yourself slowly rising toward […]
2023-03-07 / Last updated : 2023-03-07 Sylvain History

Local Wine Tasting around the Hayashi Castle’s Ruins

Matsumoto City is not confined to just its historic city center. Leave the downtown, and a unique journey into the Japanese countryside and passage back through time awaits you. And who can pass up our great wineries! Enjoy a local wine tasting around the Hayashi Castle’s ruins, brought to you by Welcome-Matsumoto and the Matsumoto Tourism Association. This new experience is coming very soon! Satoyamabe Area Located in the eastern part of Matsumoto City, Satoyamabe is easily accessible by electric bike. The district has many interesting sites, including a historic school built by the same architect who built the Kaichi School, listed as a National Treasure. The Ruins of Hayashi […]
2023-02-06 / Last updated : 2023-02-06 Sylvain Local Food & Drinks

Sushi experience in a real Japanese cuisine

Sushi is one of Japan’s most popular dishes and yet places where you can make your own are rare, especially alongside a real Sushi Master. But thanks to Welcome-Matsumoto and the Matsumoto Tourism Association, soon it will be possible to have that Sushi experience in a authentic Japanese cuisine! One of the city’s best sushi restaurants will open its kitchen doors between services for your introduction to the world’s most unique culinary art! Shinshu Salmon It may seem surprising that a city and a region without direct access to the sea offers a sushi experience! However out of all our local specialties, Shinshu Salmon is one of the highest ranked […]
2023-01-30 / Last updated : 2023-01-30 Kevin Kato Culture

Feast Your Eyes on Some Silky, Colorful Temari – Traditional Japanese Toy & A Symbol of Matsumoto

As you explore this castle town you may notice a recurring round image. Something like a ball but just as much a work of art, these colorful spheres that pop up almost everywhere you look are called temari, and are both a traditional Japanese toy and a symbol of Matsumoto. The Temari Origin Story The name temari – written 手毬, meaning ‘hand ball’ – is said to have come from the term kemari (‘kick ball’), which referred to a toy brought to Japan from China over 1,300 years ago. Originally made of simple cloth ribbon wrapped around silk swaths of old kimono, temari eventually became objects of art, the rough […]
2022-12-29 / Last updated : 2022-12-29 Sylvain Experience

A Guide to Matsumoto: Not to be missed

Matsumoto is not just limited to its castle and historic downtown. The areas surrounding the city offer picturesque landscapes both natural and historical. Hop on a bicycle and explore the Japanese countryside. Or stroll along the legendary Zenkoji kaido road which was once traveled by the lords of Matsumoto Castle. Let’s not forget a night tour of the city’s best Izakaya, finishing with an unforgetable view of the illuminated castle. Discover all the possibilities available to you with a guide to Matsumoto of things not to be missed! eTour of Matsumoto: e-cycling around the city Matsumoto is at its heart a country town where you can enjoy the tranquility of […]
2022-12-22 / Last updated : 2022-12-23 Sylvain Culture

Explore Matsumoto Castle in a traditional Kimono

In our dedication to offering new experiences which highlight our historic castle and Japanese culture, Welcome-Matsumoto and the Matsumoto Tourism Association will soon present an exciting way to explore Matsumoto Castle in a traditional Kimono. On the menu of this new tour: Traditional Tea Ceremony, Kimono Walking Tour and Photo Session in front of Matsumoto Castle. This is a great way to discover the best of Japanese culture while enjoying a local jewel also registered as a National Treasure! Tea Ceremony Before your walking tour around the castle, don your kimono and enjoy partaking in a traditional tea ceremony. Enter inside an authentic tea house as an honored guest: The […]
2022-12-07 / Last updated : 2022-12-07 Sylvain Translation

Zenko-ji Kaido Route – Japanese / English Translation

Welcome-Matsumoto is comprised of a team of local residents, both Japanese and foreigners, in partnership with many local and international partners, working for the same purpose. Our linguistic and professional knowledge gives us the ability to translate all kinds of documents from many different fields and transcribe them into many different languages. Read the first part of “Our multilingual and multi-domain translation solutions” file featuring our recent translation of “The Zenko-ji Kaido Route”. About the Author The original text is written by Shigeki Tamura, a climbing guide and practitioner of “Shugendo“, which is a form of devout mountain worship comprising of Shintoism, Buddhism, and traditional folk lore. Shigeki is, along […]
2022-11-24 / Last updated : 2022-11-24 Sylvain Experience

Things to Do in Matsumoto: Fun Cultural Activities in Nagano

The city of Matsumoto offers much more than just a tour of its historic castle.  The walls of this fortress date back to feudal times and contain a spirit that still has an imprint on the city’s cultural life today. Be amazed by the rich gourmet history of the area! Miso, Soba, Sake, Samurai and Taiko drumming, these foods and activities of Matsumoto will emersed you with the local atmosphere. Discover the best things to do during your stay in the city of Matsumoto! Matsumoto Castle Tour and Samurai Experience The Matsumoto Castle Town was built around its historic castle. The history of this feudal era is closely linked to Samurai […]
2022-10-31 / Last updated : 2022-10-31 Sylvain Sightseeing

Visit Matsumoto: Sightseeing in the heart of Nagano Prefecture – Japan

Matsumoto City is located just a few hours from Tokyo and has all the charm of a countryside town. Sightseeing in Matsumoto provides a variety of tours for you to discover within an authentic Japan off of the usual tourist beaten path. From its history, culture, cuisine and nature to its ancestral traditions, a visit to Matsumoto is an authentic getaway into the heart of Japan. Matsumoto Discovery: Castle and Historic Districts The city’s National Treasure is a true architectural and historical marvel.  Matsumoto Castle is one of only five castles in Japan listed as a “National Treasure” and is worth a visit on its own! The castle attracts tourists […]
2022-10-28 / Last updated : 2022-10-28 Kevin Kato Local Food & Drinks

Shinshu Soba: The Best of Japan’s Simple Brown Noodle

The simple brown Japanese noodle known as soba has a long and lumpy history as well as the local Shinshu Soba. It is said that soba was introduced to Japan from China during the latter part of the Jomon Period, which ended around 300BC. There are written records of soba being grown in Japan during an 8th Century famine. A century later En-no-Gyoja, the founder of the ascetic mountain worship practice of Shugendo, introduced soba to the people inhabiting the places he visited, including the famed Togakushi mountains in northern Nagano. Yet it wasn’t until the Edo Era (1603-1868) that soba began to be served in noddle form. Until then […]
2022-09-22 / Last updated : 2022-09-22 Kevin Kato History

The Matsumoto Scale Museum: 1,300 Years in the Making

Among the iconic kura warehouses of Nakamachi Street sits an intriguing repository of Matsumoto’s past. Centuries of commerce and trade, A once-thriving sericulture industry. A couple of extra buildings out back and a collection of fuzzy photos from 1888. At a glance the range of exhibits appears quite eclectic. But there’s a common thread that winds through the Matsumoto Scale Museum, a part of town 1,300 years in the making. Keiichiro Tanaka’s Weighty Aspirations Born in the 19th Century in what is now the City of Ina, Keiichiro Tanaka came to Matsumoto in 1902. He opened up the Takeuchi Weights and Measures Shop. More than a retailer, Tanaka managed to […]