Matsumoto, Japan: travel guide
Nestled in the Japanese Alps at 580 m elevation, Matsumoto is crowned by Japan's oldest original castle—a stunning black fortress nicknamed the "Crow Castle." The city is the gateway to the Northern Alps and Kamikochi highland valley.
- Country
- Japan
- Currency
- JPY
- Time zone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Nearest airport
- MMJ
Top places to visit in Matsumoto
Matsumoto Castle
Heritage · about 1.3 h · entry JPY 700
Original black "Crow Castle", a National Treasure and one of Japan's finest keeps.
Nawate Street (Frog Street)
Market · about 0.8 h
Retro riverside shopping lane themed around frogs, with snacks and craft stalls.
Former Kaichi School
Heritage · about 0.7 h · entry JPY 400
1876 pseudo-Western schoolhouse, a National Treasure of early Meiji architecture.
Kamikochi
Nature · about 5 h
Pristine highland valley in the Northern Alps with the Kappa-bashi bridge and Azusa River.
Matsumoto Timepiece Museum
Museum · about 0.7 h · entry JPY 310
Clock museum behind a giant pendulum clock, holding antique Japanese timepieces.
Nakamachi Street
Cultural · about 0.8 h
Preserved merchant street of white-and-black kura storehouses now craft shops.
Matsumoto City Museum of Art
Museum · about 1 h · entry JPY 410
Regional art museum with a permanent gallery devoted to Yayoi Kusama.
Daio Wasabi Farm
Nature · about 1.3 h
Japan's largest wasabi farm in Azumino, fed by clear Alpine snowmelt streams.
Utsukushigahara Kogen
Viewpoint · about 2 h
High plateau of grassland and grazing cattle with sweeping Alpine panoramas.
Fukashi Shrine
Temple · about 0.4 h
Historic shrine near Matsumoto Station revered as a guardian of the city.
Things to do
- Matsumoto Castle Guided Tour Tour · 1.5 h · from JPY 700 per person
- Azumino Cycling & Wasabi Farm Ride Experience · 4 h · from JPY 3,500 per person
Where to stay in Matsumoto
- Historic Center about JPY 3,500 per night
Castle town with cultural accommodation
Hotels
- Nunoya Ryokan 3-star
- Matsumoto Hotel Kagetsu 4-star
- Hotel Buena Vista Matsumoto 4-star
Where to eat
- Kobayashi Soba Soba, Japanese · about JPY 1,800 per person
- Mensho Sakura Ramen · about JPY 1,000 per person
- Kura Sushi Nakamachi Sushi · about JPY 1,500 per person
- Kajika Café Cafe · about JPY 900 per person
Getting around
- Bicycle main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.