local life

2025-06-09 / Last updated : 2025-06-09 Sylvain Sightseeing

Why Go To Matsumoto?

Japan is one of the most harmonious countries in the world, blending modernity with deep-rooted tradition. Japan’s large metropolises such as Tokyo and Osaka, traditional cities like Kyoto and the sumptuous landscapes offered by Mount Fuji and the idyllic countryside make Japan one of the most important tourist destinations in Asia. But why go to Matsumoto? History & Samurai The city’s Feudal Castle is one of only 5 castles in Japan designated as national treasures. It is therefore one of the finest examples of Japan’s cultural heritage and welcomes visitors all year round. Nearby historical Nawate ‘Frog’ Street and Nakamachi Shopping Street are also open to visitors and locals alike for shopping and casual dining. […]
2024-10-10 / Last updated : 2024-10-10 Sylvain Events

Matsumoto “Shinshu Soba” Festival

Japanese soba noodles are made primarily from buckwheat flour with a small amount of wheat flour. Widely considered a healthy food, they are gluten-free, rich in flavonoids, and help maintain balanced blood sugar levels. Additionally, the long, slender shape of soba noodles is believed to symbolize stability and longevity. With its abundant natural resources and pure, crystal-clear water essential for soba cultivation, Nagano Prefecture is home to the Matsumoto “Shinshu Soba” Festival. Matsumoto and surrounding area are one of the largest and most well-known soba-producing regions in Japan. The Soba Festival at Matsumoto Castle The “Shinshu Soba” Festival in Nagano Prefecture is held annually in Matsumoto City every October. The […]
Asama Onsen Taimatsu Fire
2024-10-04 / Last updated : 2024-10-04 Sylvain Events

The Torches Festival – Taimatsu Matsuri

The Taimatsu Matsuri Torches Festival, also known as the “Asama Onsen Taimatsu Matsuri”, is a traditional fire festival with a rich history held annually in Matsumoto. This unique event features large torches, or “taimatsu,” and celebrates the local cultural heritage while also serving as a time of prayer for protection against natural disasters. History The Torches Festival has deep roots in ancient traditions. Historically, the burning of large torches was used as a ritual to cleanse the land and ward off evil spirits. It is said that the event was inspired by practices of mountain worship, which were common in the Japanese Alps. In Shinto beliefs, fire is considered a […]
2024-07-23 / Last updated : 2024-07-23 Sylvain Seasonal Topics

Don’t Sweat it in Summer! Head to Sawamura Public Pool!

Everyone knows that summer in Japan is hot. Very hot. Sitting in a valley between two mountain ranges, Matsumoto is certainly not spared the summer heat with the daytime temperature sometimes rising over 40°C or 104°F and above. Thankfully, evenings typically bring a refreshing breeze and the city is surrounded by a beautiful landscape blessed with pristine rivers and waterways, should you wish to take a dip. Alternatively, you can do as the Japanese do and escape the heat by going to the local Sawamura Public Pool. Matsumoto City Sawamura Pool Located to the north of Matsumoto Station, around 25-minutes walk from Matsumoto Castle, Sawamura Public Pool is open daily […]
2024-07-19 / Last updated : 2024-07-19 Kevin Kato Events

Bon Bon Girls & Aoyama-Sama Boys: A Centuries-Old Matsumoto Tradition

All across Japan summer festivals abound. Matsumoto is no exception as thousands of people take to the streets of downtown in early August for the loud and lively Matsumoto Bon-Bon. This festival got its start almost fifty years ago – and is no match for the original Bon Bon, a unique Matsumoto tradition born centuries ago. Coupled with the Aoyama-sama, a ceremonial procession of young boys carrying a miniature shrine through the streets of their neighborhood, the Bon Bon, an elegant and understated festival for young girls, offers a glimpse into a centuries-old Matsumoto tradition. History During the Edo Era, when the Shogun still ruled the country with military might, […]
2024-01-10 / Last updated : 2024-01-10 Sylvain Events

The Ameichi Festival: Matsumoto’s Edo Period Celebration That Continues Today

At the beginning of each year, the “Ameichi” Festival takes place in and around Matsumoto. “Ame” is the Japanese word for candy and the “Ameichi” Festival is a market devoted to it. The Ameichi Festival has a long history, one that can be traced back to and connected with the legend of Uesugi Kenshin who ruled Niigata Prefecture during the Warring States Period (1467-1615). The Origins of the Ameichi Festival Ameichi was one of Matsumoto’s largest festivals during the Edo Period (1603-1868) – along with the Tenjin Festival at Fukashi Shrine – and there are records attesting that candy and salt were sold at the New Year market since at […]
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 […]
2023-12-04 / Last updated : 2023-12-04 Kevin Kato Seasonal Topics

Winter Wonderland: 5 Ways to Put Your Feet in the Matsumoto Snow

In Matsumoto you can see winter coming from a mountain away. In every direction the peaks and slopes begin to turn white, and soon we’re all walking in a winter wonderland. So how to best take advantage of the fluffy stuff? Here are 5 ways to get out and put your feet in the winter Matsumoto snow. Ski & Snowboard Japan’s Best Powder in Hakuba The world was introduced to the slopes of Hakuba in 1998 when Nagano hosted the Winter Olympics. Since then millions have come to ski and snowboard what many consider to be the finest powder in all of Japan. It’s so good it even has its […]
2023-08-31 / Last updated : 2023-08-31 Sylvain Accommodation

Satoyama Doors: A Unique Overnight Stay in the Japanese Countryside

Matsumoto is a historic city that grew out of the wealth generated in rice fields and farmlands that surround its urban center and famous castle. Even today, it remains a city reliant on agriculture and one where you can enjoy an expansive rural landscape only a short distance from the city. It makes Matsumoto an ideal location to enjoy the Japanese concept of “satoyama” with an overnight stay at the family-friendly, Satoyama Doors. The “Satoyama” Concept: Rural Revitalization in the Okada District At its heart, Japan is a rural country and that spirit is expressed through the concept of “satoyama” – a word that refers to the border land between […]
2023-08-10 / Last updated : 2023-08-10 Sylvain News

Do You Know The TV Show “Why Did You Come to Japan?” We Welcomed Them to Matsumoto!

The TV show “Why Did You Come to Japan?” is a very popular program in Japan. Hundreds of thousands of viewers regularly watch the show to discover why foreigners choose to visit Japan. During the recent health crisis however, the program’s original format was no longer possible due to the border closure. A change was necessary. So what was that change? The Original Concept The show involves a television crew greeting foreigners at the arrival hall of Japan’s major airports. Most guests were therefore approached at Haneda International Airport or Narita International Airport in Tokyo, or even Kansai International Airport in Osaka.   Then the crew would then follow the visitors […]
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 […]
2023-03-17 / Last updated : 2023-03-17 Kevin Kato Outdoor Activities

Renting a Bicycle: A Great Way to See & Share More of Matsumoto

Downtown Matsumoto is a great place to get your Instagram on. From the grandeur of the castle backed by Mt. Jonen to the funky details of Frog Street there’s no end to the pics you can post. But if you’re looking for a great way to see and share more of Matsumoto, we highly recommend renting a bicycle and heading out of town. With e-Bikes available and a million roads to roll down, taking in the mountains and the countryside is a cinch. To make it even easier to find that perfect shot, let’s take a quick tour. Heading East Pedal this way and you’ll find yourself slowly rising toward […]