Matsumoto

Introducing Matsumoto

From the moment you step off the train and hear the piped-in voice singing ‘Ma-tsumotoooh’, you sense you’re somewhere different. Matsumoto has a superb castle, some pretty streets and an atmosphere that’s both laid-back and surprisingly cosmopolitan.

Nagano-ken’s second-largest city has been around since at least the 8th century. Formerly known as Fukashi, it was the castle town of the Ogasawara clan during the 14th and 15th centuries, and it continued to prosper through the Edo period. Today Matsumoto’s street aesthetic combines the black-and-white of its castle with namako-kabe (lattice-pattern walled) kura and 21st-century Japanese architecture; plus, views of the Japan Alps are never much further than around the corner. Parts of the city centre have a more contemporary feel, and the areas by the Metoba-gawa and the Nakamachi district boast smart galleries, comfortable cafés and reasonably priced, high-quality accommodation.

Asama Onsen and Utsukushi-ga-hara are day trips, while Hotaka can be either a day trip or the start of a hiking route. Matsumoto is also a regional transit hub to the Japan Alps National Park, among other destinations.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009