2026-08-17 / Last updated : 2026-08-28 Sylvain Art

Yayoi Kusama: Matsumoto’s Polka Dot Artist

Yayoi Kusama is one of the most widely recognized artists working today, known for her polka dots, net patterns, and mirror rooms. Her life has moved between three places: Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture, where she was born in 1929 and spent her childhood; New York, where she built her early career in the 1950s and 1960s; and Tokyo, where she has lived and worked since the 1970s. The Matsumoto Years Yayoi Kusama was born on March 22, 1929, in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture. Her family ran a plant nursery and seed farm, and she was one of four children. The business was established enough to give the family financial stability through […]
2026-08-04 / Last updated : 2026-08-04 Sylvain Other

Agetsuchi Cinema Museum: From 1917 Theater to Museum

A short walk east of Matsumoto Castle, the Agetsuchi district is lined with early-twentieth-century shop fronts. The area is associated with Taisho roman, the nostalgic look and mood of Japan’s Taisho era. Among those buildings stands a former movie theater that closed in 2008 and reopened in the summer of 2024 as the Agetsuchi Cinema Museum. The building no longer shows feature films, but its interior, collection, and equipment have largely been kept in place. A theater that changed its name for ninety years The theater opened in 1917 in the Agetsuchi district, when residents of central Matsumoto pooled their money to start a cinema called Matsumoto Denkikan. Over the […]
2026-07-27 / Last updated : 2026-07-27 Elodie Suzawa Outdoor Activities

Shirakaba Resort & Lake: A year-round destination for families

At an altitude of more than 1,400 m in the mountains of Nagano, on the shores of Lake Shirakabako, Shirakaba Resort is more than just an amusement park. It is a place where spectacular nature, family activities, seasonal flowers, spa relaxation and lake recreation come together. Whether you’re visiting in spring, summer, fall, or winter, this resort offers rich and varied experiences that suit all ages and paces. Spectacular Colour in Nagano’s Highlands A natural setting that changes with the seasons Lake Shirakabako and its surroundings are a living canvas that evolves with the seasons. In spring, nature awakens: the hills turn green, the woods come alive and walks around […]
2026-07-09 / Last updated : 2026-07-09 Elodie Suzawa Events

Matsumoto Shrine Summer Festival & Fireworks

Located between the city’s two National Treasures, the historic Matsumoto Castle and the Kaichi School, the “Matsumoto Shrine” is also preparing for the summer festivities. Every year on July 10th and 11th , Matsumoto Shrine celebrates Reitaisai (例大祭), its main annual summer festival and fireworks. Held for generations, this event marks the beginning of the city’s summer festival season and brings residents, families, and visitors together around Shinto traditions that are still alive and well. A celebration at the heart of local traditions A stone’s throw from Matsumoto Castle, the history of Matsumoto Shrine is very much linked to its history. Indeed, Matsumoto Shrine is essentially a memorial shrine of […]
2026-06-30 / Last updated : 2026-06-30 Sylvain Sightseeing

Kurobe Dam: Engineering Triumph in the Northern Alps

Kurobe Dam sits wedged into a steep valley in the Northern Japan Alps, one of Japan’s most ambitious postwar engineering projects. The massive concrete arch changed how the country generated power and turned this remote gorge into one of the most striking stops on the Tateyama–Kurobe Alpine Route. At 186 meters tall, it remains Japan’s highest dam, a structure so remote and difficult to build that its construction claimed 171 lives over seven years. Today, visitors come for the roar of the discharge plunging into the gorge, the alpine air, and the rare chance to walk across the crest of something built against considerable odds. A Dam Built Against the […]
2026-05-27 / Last updated : 2026-05-27 Elodie Suzawa Notification

Dredging work at Matsumoto Castle

Matsumoto Castle is one of the few original feudal castles still standing in Japan and a cultural jewel of the city of Matsumoto. Therefore, it continues to undergo essential work to preserve its historical and environmental integrity. Over the past several years, the municipal authorities have embarked on an extensive dredging work and maintenance program of the moats surrounding the Matsumoto castle. It aimed not only at restoring the aesthetics of this national monument, but also at maintaining a healthy and sustainable ecosystem. In 2026, this dredging work will be part of a long-term approach that combines modern techniques and respect for heritage, while consolidating the castle’s role as a […]
2026-05-16 / Last updated : 2026-05-16 Sylvain Art

Everything to Know about the Utsukushigahara Open Air Museum

The Utsukushigahara Open Air Museum sits at 2,000 meters on Utsukushigahra highland plateau next to Matsumoto City in Nagano Prefecture. This is one of the largest and highest plateau in Japan. And the museum is an interesting place to visit with its original and intriguing works of art. Discover everything to know about Utsukushigahara Open Air Museum. Exhibitions at 2,000 Meters The exhibition space is outdoors and the pieces are big. Alexander Lieberman’s “Iliad Japan” stands 14 meters tall and weighs 36 tons. César Baldaccini’s “Thumb” is a three-meter marble cast of the artist’s actual thumb, complete with wrinkles. Susumu Shingu’s “Star Compass” was made for this site, with rotating […]
2026-05-11 / Last updated : 2026-05-11 Elodie Suzawa Other

Regional Mascots in Nagano Prefecture

In Japan, almost every city, prefecture, or village today has its own local mascot called yuru-kyara, a contraction of “yurui mascot character.” These characters are designed to represent local areas, tourist spots, products or events, while arousing the affection of locals and visitors. These regional mascots in nagano are often designed with visual elements directly inspired by heritage, culinary specialties or local nature. And their main purpose is to promote tourism and local culture. Yuru-chara often appear as costumed figures at public events, tourist advertising. Or even as decorations in train stations and souvenir shops. The phenomenon is so popular that there was a major annual competition, the Yuru-kyara Grand […]
2026-04-14 / Last updated : 2026-04-14 Sylvain Events

Shiojiri Wine Tasting Event

Nestled between the Central Alps and Yatsugatake mountain ranges sits Shiojiri, one of the oldest wine regions in Japan. This quaint little city is home to dozens of wine makers, and for three days their wines will be on full display. From May 3rd to May 5th 2026, Shiojiri city will held a wine tasting event where you can taste more than 15 different local wines for just 300 yen per glass! Wine Tasting Event in Shiojiri – Information Dates: May 3rd to May 5th, 2026 (Golden Week) Time: 13:00 – 17:00 Location: Shiojiri City – Tourist Information Center (Shiojiri Station East Exit) Disposable plastic glasses will be sold separately […]
2026-04-07 / Last updated : 2026-04-14 Sylvain Nature

Mount Hikarijo and Nagamine in Azumino

Tucked in the scenic Azumino valley of Nagano Prefecture, Mount Hikarijo and Nagamine rises gently above farmland and rivers, offering a window into the region’s rural charm.  This local peak draws hikers for its views of the Northern Alps and the apple orchards spread across the valley floor. At 933m, the mountain offers accessible trails and seasonal interest, from spring cherry blossoms to winter snow cover, without the crowds of more famous destinations. Reaching the Summit with Ease Getting to Mt. Nagamine is straightforward by car or train. There is free parking at the trailhead near JR Akashina Station. Or you can drive the winding road to the summit during […]
2026-04-01 / Last updated : 2026-04-01 Sylvain News

New Accommodation Tax in Nagano Prefecture

From June 1, 2026, guests staying in Matsumoto City or Nagano City will need to keep a new accommodation tax in mind when planning their trip. It is not a large charge, but it will become part of the cost of an overnight stay in either city. What Travelers Should Know For most guests, the system is simple. If the room-only, pre-tax accommodation charge is ¥6,000 or more per person per night, an accommodation tax of ¥200 per person per night will apply. This rate is scheduled to remain in place for the first three years. From June 1, 2029, the standard amount is set to rise to ¥300 per […]
2026-03-26 / Last updated : 2026-03-26 Sylvain Other

Kissa Yamaga: The Café That Started a Football Club

Matsumoto Yamaga FC has been part of this city since 1965, when a group of Nagano Prefecture football players began meeting at a small coffee shop near Matsumoto Station. The owner, fond of the mountains surrounding the city, had named it Yamaga, combining yama (mountain) with yūga (elegant). The players borrowed the name for their club, and it stuck. The original Kissa Yamaga café closed in 1978 when the station area was redeveloped. But in 2017 the club opened a new version a few minutes’ walk from Matsumoto Castle. J.League: 100-year Vision Today Matsumoto Yamaga FC competes in the J.League’s Hyakunen Koso League, the 100-Year Vision division, which groups clubs […]