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 […]

2021-03-09 / Last updated : 2022-03-16 Kevin Kato Experience

Authentic Hot Spring Experience in Downtown Matsumoto: Shioi-no-yu

No doubt one of the most sought-after experiences for any visitor to Japan is a trip to an authentic hot spring. Matsumoto has not one but two onsen villages out on the eastern edges of town. But if you are pressed for time, or want to add a little convenience to your experience, check out Shioi-no-yu. This onsen is located just a few minutes’ walk from Matsumoto Castle. Enjoy an authentic hot spring experience in downtown Matsumoto! The Backstory With the dawn of the Meiji Era came the end of Japan’s feudal system. As Matsumoto Castle fell into disuse, so did the residences of the surrounding samurai district. A man […]

2021-02-24 / Last updated : 2022-03-16 Mike Stiles Local Food & Drinks

Exploring Matsumoto’s spring water wells

I took a stroll around downtown Matsumoto to visit some of the many Matsumoto’s spring water wells. Just underneath much of Nagano Prefecture lies a subterranean aquifer. Much of this pure natural spring water is tapped by the many wells around the city. Small treasures around each corner In Matsumoto there are around 20 such public wells and dozens more private wells scattered all over the city. Each well, large and small, has its own character. Many of them are picturesque and easily accessible. Clear spring water bubbles up from these wells during much of the year. Prehistoric waters and a centuries old tradition The aquifer is eons old and […]

2020-11-24 / Last updated : 2024-09-17 Mike Stiles Sightseeing

Leisure Time On Nakamachi Street in Downtown Matsumoto

This afternoon I enjoyed a leisure time and a relaxing stroll on Nakamachi Street in historical downtown Matsumoto. It’s a short distance from Matsumoto Station and my workplace. The Market Street Nakamachi Street is a small stretch of about four blocks from Honmachi Street to Ohashi Street. Historically this was the central market for Matsumoto dating back to feudal times. Today it is a great place to visit for tourists and residents alike. A one-way street only for vehicles, there are very wide sidewalks here, so it is easily walkable. I like shopping for gifts, eating a casual meal or just relaxing and browsing the store windows here. Local Foods […]

2020-10-16 / Last updated : 2022-03-16 Mike Stiles Sightseeing

Living and Working in Historical Downtown Matsumoto

The Frog Street There is lots of frog stuff here in Nawate Street. The entrance features frog statues, shops sell frog souvenirs, there’s even a small frog shrine! This pedestrian street sometimes is bustling with visitors or a lively festival, but today was very quiet and relaxed. I do graphic design and photography at a co-working space above a local bakery called Sweet Work. The old wooden market stalls along the stone walled river banks and arching wooden bridges provide plenty of inspiration for an artist like me. Local Foods This street has many small local shops and restaurants. I usually take lunch at a Soba noodle shop or grab a […]