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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 […]
2025-10-20 / 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 […]
2025-06-10 / 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 […]
2024-09-17 / Last updated : 2024-09-17 Sylvain Other

Luggage Storage at Matsumoto Station: Where to Find & How to Use them

When travelling to Matsumoto you will almost certainly be carrying luggage with you and may, for the sake of convenience, want to store it for a period of time. The easiest place to do so is at Matsumoto Station, where you will find five locations with lockers of varying size. Matsumoto Station is small and easy to navigate with all luggage storage lockers within a short distance of the ticket gates on the second floor of the station. JR East Matsumoto Station Map Arrival & Departure Area of Matsumoto Station / 2nd Floor When arriving in Matsumoto by train and passing through the ticket gates, you will find yourself on […]
2023-11-27 / Last updated : 2023-11-27 Sylvain Other

United in Friendship: Matsumoto’s Sister Cities Within Japan

Matsumoto has forged strong connections with sister cities around the world including Salt Lake City in the United States, Grindelwald in Switzerland and Kathmandu in Nepal. Established to foster cooperation and exchange, these relationships are also replicated within Japan through Matsumoto’s sister city arrangements with cities including Fujisawa, Himeji and Takayama – with each relationship serving slightly different purposes. Fujisawa / Kanagawa Prefecture Established in 1961, Matsumoto’s sister city relationship with Fujisawa was created to promote tourism between the two cities. Fujisawa is a coastal city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, known for its surfing and as the “Miami Beach of the East”. As such, the beach lifestyle of Fujisawa contrasts […]
2023-07-14 / Last updated : 2023-07-14 Kevin Kato Other

Shinshu Matsumoto Airport: Gateway to the Center of Japan

Shinshu Matsumoto Airport is a modest affair. There’s just one gate, one luggage carousel, and one runway for the twelve flights going in and out daily. But dive in and you’ll see not only why at least one person thinks this is the world’s greatest airport, but why this quiet strip of asphalt has earned the nickname Gateway to the Center of Japan. Anatomy of an Airport in the Highlands Shinshu Matsumoto Airport sits at 657.5 meters above sea level, making it the highest commercial airport in Japan. When it was built back in the 1960s the layout of the airport didn’t require much deliberation; with mountains to the east […]
2023-06-21 / Last updated : 2023-11-27 Sylvain Other

Global Connections: The International Sister Cities of Matsumoto

Considered an effective way to connect people and promote cultural and commercial ties across countries, the concept of international sister cities has been popular in Japan from the second half of the twentieth century. The first such relationship was established in 1955 – between Nagasaki in Kyushu Prefecture and St. Paul in Minnesota in the United States – with an intention to promote peace and understanding. Since 1958 our home town of Matsumoto has forged multiple international relationships with the first of those, with Salt Lake City in the United States, being the first such agreement of any place in Nagano Prefecture Salt Lake City / Utah / United States […]
2023-04-25 / Last updated : 2024-08-31 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 […]
2022-06-10 / Last updated : 2022-07-02 Kevin Kato Other

Yamaga FC: The Spirit of Matsumoto, All Over Town

Here in Matsumoto we’re mighty proud of our soccer team, Yamaga FC. All over town the streets are dripping in the green and white of the team. Banners hanging from lampposts. Flags rippling in the breeze. Posters in shop windows. Decals on cars. The team mascot, Gans the Ptarmigan, smiles at everyone from vending machines and manhole covers and souvenir shop shelves. The Spirit of Matsumoto. You can’t miss it! The Start of Something Big Soccer in Matsumoto began in 1965 when a non-profit organization called the Alwin Sports Project established a team of players representing Nagano Prefecture in a low-level regional league. From the beginning they called themselves the […]
2022-05-01 / Last updated : 2024-01-10 Kevin Kato Other

Make Time for the Minute Details of the Matsumoto Timepiece Museum

I’d read somewhere that the huge pendulum clock on the Matsumoto Timepiece Museum was one of the largest of its kind in the world. Its pendulum was supposedly even longer than the one on London’s Big Ben. The museum’s own website claims it is the largest pendulum clock in Japan. But, failing to find an independent source to corroborate the claim, I decided to make time to go down and inquire directly. Thanks to museum manager Nishizawa-san, who pointed out various minute details of the exhibits during his gracious, impromptu personal tour, I now have answers to questions I didn’t even know I had – plus the one I had […]
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 […]