Things to see and do on a trip to Matsumoto

The city of Matsumoto is famous for its castle, known as the “crow castle” because of the distinctive black color it has. However, the city has much more to offer, which is why it is a very common stop on tours of Japan. It is also very well connected to other major cities. One day is usually enough to visit the city and discover all the things to see in Matsumoto, such as the Frog Street, the shrines, museums and beautiful traditional streets.

At Passporter we want to help you make the most of your trip, that’s why we have prepared this post with the main points of interest and many other tips such as where to stay or the best way to get to the city. Matsumoto is famous for its unique cuisine, so you can’t miss some of the restaurants we recommend below where you can try exotic dishes, such as the meat of the horse. Are you already curious about it? Well, read on and find out what to do in Matsumoto.

What to visit in Matsumoto

1. Nawate Dori, the Frog street

Nawate Dori is one of the must-see streets in Matsumoto. It is located next to the Metoba River, on the way to the castle. It has such a curious name thanks to the number of drawings and stone sculptures of these animals that we can see on every wall and corner there. In the same street there are also numerous restaurants and souvenir stores. It is inevitable to pass there at some point on your visit. And also if you go with children, it is the ideal place for them to spend a good time looking for frogs and taking pictures.

2. Taiko Festival

One of the most emblematic festivals of the city, the Taiko Festival, takes place at the end of July. Taiko is a large traditional Japanese drum that is played standing up. During the festival, groups of professional performers arrive from all over Japan to fill the streets with rhythm. The sound of the drum floods the entire city and it is not necessary to buy a ticket to see it. It usually takes place in the afternoon, between 5 pm and 9 pm, and the main show is located at the foot of Matsumoto Castle.

3. Kasamori Inari, the shrine in Matsumoto

This beautiful shrine is located in the center of the city. It was built in the 16th century in honor of the Goddess Inari. The most characteristic feature is its main gate (or torii), the oldest in the city, and the numerous sculptures of foxes scattered around the grounds, a figure linked to the goddess Inari. Admission is free and the shrine remains open 24 hours a day.

Another shrine a little less known but also worth visiting is the Yohashira Shrine, dedicated to the four deities, which makes it somewhat special. This shrine is also open 24h a day and admission is free.

4. Matsumoto City Art Museum

The Mastsumoto City Art Museum is the most interesting museum in Matsumoto. The highlight of the museum is the permanent exhibition of Yayoi Kusama, famous for the polka dots that cover everything. Many other artists from the Nogano region and internationally renowned artists such as Hosokawa Munehide are also on display. The museum is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except Mondays, and admission costs 410 yen.

5. Matsumoto Castle, a must-see

The castle is a must-see in Matsumoto, in fact, is the main tourist attraction of the city. It dates back to the 16th century and is known as the Raven Castle because of its distinctive black color. It has been really well maintained over the years, as it has only had to be restored and not rebuilt. The castle can be visited, and although it is empty and does not retain the original furnishings, it is interesting to see its interior architecture.

The entrance to the castle is 610 yen and access to the gardens is free. Visiting hours are from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, although it is recommended to go early to avoid crowds of tourists.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to see around Matsumoto

1. Daio wasabi farm

Daio wasabi farm is famous for being the largest wasabi farm in all of Japan at 15 hectares in size. It is only 30 kilometers from Matsumoto, and to get there you must first take a train to Hotaka Station (30 minutes) and then a tour bus to the farm (10 minutes). This is a very common half-day excursion when we stay in Matsumoto.

Once at the farm, which is free to enter, you can stroll around the plantations, buy and taste a myriad of wasabi-based products and visit the water mill. From April to October there are also boat trips on the river that crosses the fields. There is also a shrine (Daio shrine) and workshops where you will learn all about this raw material.

2. Japanese Alps route

This is a route that includes several towns and natural points of interest located in the mountainous area of the Chubu Sangaku National Park. The area of the park is huge, so one could make a two-week trip just to visit that area. However, there are some parts better connected to Matsumoto that we will be able to see without having to travel so many miles.

The main cities and towns to visit are Takayama, Kamikochi , Shirikawago, Gokayama and Kanazawa. There are also a myriad of beautiful valleys, crystal clear water lagoons and even ski resorts. If you are a lover of nature and hiking we recommend you to reserve time on your trip in Japan to rent a car and spend at least 3 days there.

What to see in 1 day in Matsumoto

It is common to dedicate a whole day to see the city as it is relatively quick to see. And if you have the opportunity to spend a night there, all the better, so you will make the most of the time. To start the day we recommend you to go early to the Matsumoto Palace, before the tourists flood the place. After you can visit the Frog Street which is next door and eat in one of the restaurants in the area.

In the afternoon you can go to the Art Museum before it closes at 17:00h, and then visit the two sanctuaries in the city, which are always open and at that time the light will favor your photos. It’s definitely going to be an intense day, but it’s worth it if you don’t want to miss anything to see in Matsumoto.

Where and what to eat in Matsumoto

In Matsumoto, as in the rest of the country, you can eat deliciously, but they also have some traditional dishes of the area that you can not miss. The most famous dishes are Sanzokuyaki (fried chicken), Shinshu Soba noodles, Nagano Miso Ramen and Oyaki, a roll stuffed with vegetables. It is also common to find dishes based on horse meat. These are some of the restaurants where you can taste these specialties.

• Shin Miyoshi: is an interesting restaurant located next to the station where you can try horse-based dishes. It’s a bit more expensive than other restaurants, but it’s worth it for the experience.
• Karaage Center: is a restaurant specializing in traditional Sanzokuyaki fried chicken. It is located in the vicinity of the station and has two locations. The price ranges from 700 yen to 1,500 yen, and the portions are quite large.
• Kobayashi Soba: eis the best place to try Soba noodles as the restaurant has been making them since 1889. The best thing is the traditional look of the restaurant and the quality of the food. Prices range from 700 yen to 2,000 yen.

Where to stay in Matsumoto

There are quite a few areas to stay in Matsumoto. While in the city center the main hotels are concentrated around the station and the castle, in the outskirts and a little further away you can stay in traditional guesthouses. Here are some suggestions for accommodation.

• Couch Potato Hostel: This is a nice hostel 3km from the city center. It offers both private rooms for about 50€ and bunk beds for much less. It also has common areas where you can relax and meet other travelers.
• Matsumoto Hotel Kagetsu: is one of the oldest and most luxurious four-star hotels in the city. It has a fitness room and restaurant, and offers breakfast for €18. The price per night is around 100€.
• Guesthouse Raicho: is a beautiful traditional guesthouse in the middle of the nature. The guesthouse has a bar, an outdoor heated pool and they offer breakfast for 6€. The price per night is around 100€ and they also have family rooms.

How to get to Matsumoto

Matsumoto is a transit destination, which means that it is not common to fly directly to the city, as does not have an international airport. Therefore, the best option to get to the city is by land, from Tokyo there are two options:

• Express Azusa: it is a direct train that takes 2.5 hours and costs 6500 yen.
• Shinkansen – Express: also takes 2.5 hours and costs 5000 yen. The drawback is that you have to make a stopover in Nagano.

It is also well connected to other cities such as Kyoto, Takayama or Magome by train or bus. If you have the JR Pass, train rides are included. If you want to know more about how to get to Tokyo, here is this post: Things to see and do in Tokyo Japan.

What should I consider before traveling to Matsumoto

• The official currency of Japan is the yen.
• The best time to travel to Matsumoto is from May to October, when temperatures are warmer.
• July is the rainiest month.
• It is best to avoid exchanging money at the airport, as their prices are high.
• In Japan they speak Japanese, although as it is a tourist city, English is spoken in many places and there are also signs in this language.
• The tap water is drinkable.
• For Spanish citizens it is not necessary to have a visa if you travel for less than 90 days. But you must have your passport and be able to prove you have a the hotel reservations and that the trip is a tourist one.
• Hedge yourself against possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
• Tipping is not customary in Japan.
• There are restaurants where they only accept credit cards.
• Carry the name of the hotel written down on paper.
• The country is generally very safe, but just in case be careful with your belongings

How to prepare what to see on your trip to Matsumoto

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travelers.
• Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions into it.
• Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we indicate in this post as a reference).
• Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes we present in the post).
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travelers what to see in Matsumoto.

If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.

Frequently asked questions about a trip to Matsumoto