2025-06-26 / Last updated : 2025-07-04 Sylvain Sightseeing

Suwa Lakeside Culture and Quiet History Just Beyond Matsumoto

Just about a 20-minute train ride from Matsumoto, Suwa offers a refreshing change of pace. Centered around the wide and shimmering Lake Suwa, this small city blends nature, tradition, and craftsmanship in a way that feels both relaxed and deeply rooted. Learn more about Suwa Lakeside Culture and Quiet History Just Beyond Matsumoto. Suwa Lake View Lake Suwa is the heart of the city. Encircled by walking and cycling paths, it’s a popular place to unwind, whether you’re soaking your feet in a lakeside hot spring, watching waterbirds come and go, or simply enjoying the mountain views. In winter, the lake often freezes, occasionally cracking and rising to form a […]

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 […]

2023-12-18 / Last updated : 2023-12-18 Kevin Kato Sightseeing

Handmade Soba, Simple Hiking & Hot Springs, All in Asama Onsen

The hot spring village of Asama sits quietly in northern Matsumoto. It’s an easy twenty-minute bus ride from the station, or just a bit longer by bike. Once you’re there you’ll find a compact pocket of regional history hemmed in by modest mountains and packed with handmade soba, simple hiking and storybook hot springs. From a distance it’s easy to miss. Up close you’ll discover a lot. Hot Springs The onsen village of Asama is said to have been established in the earliest stages of Japan’s history as a nation. Known originally as Tsukama-no-Yu, the hot springs here attracted nobility and samurai from the Kamakura Era right down through the […]

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 […]

2021-03-09 / 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 […]