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.
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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
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: Day hike in Japan Alps
by rouentahl 14 September 2011
For your reference, we did Kamikochi on a day trip using Hirayu Onsen as a base. It was the logical stop in our itinerary since Hirayu…
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Day hike in Japan Alps
by tobias94 14 September 2011
Hi, My wife and I are doing a short, week long trip to Japan at the end of September. We're staying in Tokyo for 3 nights as soon as…
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Re: Japan with kids
by FootTracker 12 September 2011
I just came back from Japan and stayed in both Tokyo and outskirts of Matsumoto. I advise against driving in Japan. Many roads in the…
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