2022-02-25 / Last updated : 2022-03-16 Sylvain Sightseeing

Architecture and Historical Buildings of the Castle Town

Matsumoto City is famous for its feudal castle, whose achitecture and history represents all the greatest things that characterize Japan. But this ancient castle and its architecture is only one of many historical buildings within the city. Discover the architecture and the very tangible historical buildings of the castle town. Matsumoto Castle Year of construction: 1593 With over 400 years of history, Matsumoto Castle is 1 of only 5 castles designated a “National Treasure” of Japan. Matsumoto Castle’s architecture is characteristic of the Sengoku period (Warring States Period). The castle tower’s elegant, imposing appearance and dominant black outer walls earn it the nickname “Crow Castle”. The castle’s history is intrinsically […]
2022-01-27 / Last updated : 2022-02-01 Kevin Kato Events

New Twists on the 2022 Matsumoto Castle Ice Sculpture Festival

The mountaintops to the west are buried in several meters of snow. At night the temps in town are dipping well below zero. Yes, winter has taken over our world again – but we’re not hibernating, we’re celebrating, with a few new twists to an annual event. Welcome to the 2022 Matsumoto Castle Ice Sculpture Festival! Breaking the Ice The fun began last Friday evening as dark descended on the town. In front of the train station and Nawate Street, at the Hana-Tokei (“Flower Clock”) Park and on the grounds of Matsumoto Castle, artists wielded chisels and chainsaws, turning rectangular blocks of ice into works of shapely, frozen splendor. These […]
2022-01-13 / Last updated : 2022-01-13 Kevin Kato Events

Lasers Light Up Matsumoto Castle in the City’s Latest Spectacle

In Matsumoto you’ll find an array of entertaining events going on throughout the year. From the Ice Sculpture Festival in winter to the summertime Bon-Bon Dance Festival, it seems there’s always something going on. Yet the good people here are always looking for new ways to spice things up, and this winter they’ve done it again. So dress warm and come out to watch as lasers light up Matsumoto Castle in the city’s latest spectacle. Firing Lasers at Japan’s Oldest Castle Tower I’ll admit I was a bit skeptical when I first heard about it. Maybe I’m old-fashioned (or boring), but spraying our town’s greatest treasure with a bunch of […]
2021-11-12 / Last updated : 2021-11-12 Kevin Kato Seasonal Topics

4 Places to Check Out Matsumoto’s Spectacular Fall Colors

Seeing Japan’s famed cherry blossoms in Spring is on the bucket list of many a traveler. But no less brilliant is the autumn season when the entire country blazes with color. Here in the higher altitudes of the leaves change color a bit later than most of the rest of the country, but the wait is well worth it. Of course, you’ll see the leaves changing wherever in town you go, but there are a few pockets of intense and extraordinary allure. Here are four places to check out Matsumoto’s spectacular fall colors. Yohashira Shrine An arching stone bridge leads from the centuries-old atmosphere of Frog Street to the serenity […]
2021-11-05 / Last updated : 2021-11-05 Kevin Kato Outdoor Activities

Easy Hiking & A Bit of History in Asama Onsen Village

Asama Onsen village, up in the northern fringes of Matsumoto, is a great place to go for an authentic Japanese hot spring experience. But this quiet enclave offers more than just a lot of hot water. With Daionji and Gotenyama above and a sprinkling of pretty sights below, Asama Onsen is the perfect place to mix in some easy hiking a little bit of history with your onsen. Here are three paths you can enjoy, all right there on the eastern edge of the town. Daionji-yama Daionji was the name of a temple that once stood at the foot of these mountains. That temple was abandoned in 1868 and has […]
2021-10-14 / Last updated : 2022-03-16 Kevin Kato Seasonal Topics

Rice Harvesting in Matsumoto: The Beauty of the Season

In a landscape dominated by mountains, among forests that cover 80% of Nagano’s terrain, Matsumoto may not seem well-positioned for an abundance of agriculture. But the farming industry here is alive and well, and it is that time of year once again to enjoy the sight of rice harvesting in Matsumoto – and the beauty of the autumn season. Of course, the harvest is just the culmination. Let’s backtrack a bit… In Spring Rice-planting in Matsumoto takes place in late April to early May. Farmers flood their fields with the clean mountain snowmelt. And, now most often with specialized machinery, plant the young rice shoots they cultivate in greenhouses in […]
2021-09-29 / Last updated : 2022-03-16 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 […]
2021-09-23 / 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 […]
2021-09-09 / Last updated : 2021-09-29 Sylvain Other

10 days with the French Paralympic Cycling Team

In Tokyo, the original organizers of the 1964 Olympics and the more recent Summer Olympic Games, are hosting the Paralympic Games from August 24th to September 5th, 2021. Matsumoto had the honor of welcoming the French Paralympic Cycling Team from August 15th to 25th as part of the preparations for these games. The athletes were able to utilize the exceptional setting of the city for their training. Welcome-Matsumoto was present with them during those 10 days as they prepared for the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Join us as we explore the day-to-day lives of these top athletes as they prepared for the start of the games!  Day 1: Arrival of the athletes […]
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 […]