Matsumoto is a magnificent and oriental city in Nagano prefecture, Japan, renowned for its deep roots in arts, culture, and history. It serves as a gateway to a few iconic attractions in Japan, such as the Northern Japan Alps, where loads of adventures await tourists, the famed and historic Nakasendo Trail, and the Kamikochi National Park. If you're visiting these Japanese attractions, Matsumoto should be your base camp before exploring and your retreat haven afterwards. The town itself is beyond gateways to national treasures but home to a 16th-century black castle, the oldest of its kind in the country. Add that to its series of museums, arts, and cultural centres, the frames of surrounding mountains, and several onsen spas, and you have a rich menu of exciting things to do while here.
Photo credit: Skyearth
Witness Cherry Blossoms (Sakura)
Matsumoto is one of the best places in Japan to witness cherry blossoms while avoiding the crowds of Kyoto and Tokyo. The famous and magnificent 16th-century Matsumoto Castle offers scenic views of cherry blossoms in spring. During the bloom season in April, visitors get to enjoy the dual visual delight of exploring the castle and dropping your jaws at the picture-perfect cherry blossoms. Around 300 cherry trees fence the castle moats, and some are in its inner courts, leaving you with adorable colours at every turn.
Other prime destinations to savour the views include Joyama Park, Koboyama Park, and Alps Park, all sitting on hills and lavish with thousands of cherry trees.
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A Perfect Destination for the Most Thrilling Hikes
Matsumoto is your ideal launch pad into some of Japan's most enduring, historic, and glorified trails. The Nakasendo Trail comes to mind as the city offers easy access to this iconic trail, a part of the five routes of the Edo Period, and home to 69 staging posts. Both scenic and historic, the trail is lavish with waterfalls, historical landmarks, ancient post towns, and rustic architecture.
Kamikochi National Park is 51 km away, making the city a gateway to explore the park. Beauty and wonder meet the eye in Kamikochi on a hiking expedition, especially along the charming Azusa River from Taisho Pond and down to the Myojin Bridge. Hikes are always scenic, relaxing, and sensational as the warm summer air soothes the skin, and visual indulgences calm the soul.
More thrilling and perhaps more scenic hikes are available an hour's drive from Matsumoto in the Norikura Highlands, where the Norikiradake Mountains tower above the scenery in sheer grace. Summiting the 3,026 m caps of this mountain from June to November should be the goal of every hiker - views from here are surreal.
Photo credit: Matsumoto City Official Tourism
Immerse in a Dazzling and Inspiring Art Scene
Matsumoto is remarkably prominent for its rich art scene, culture, and history. This makes chasing art museums and hopping art centres an essential activity on a to-do list when visiting. The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum is a delightful starting point and home to over 100,000 art pieces meticulously curated across bygone centuries by a local merchant.
For a more contemporary feel of the arts scene in Matsumoto, visit the Matsumoto City Museum of Arts, featuring creations from Nagano artists inspired by the Northern Alps. The museum is even more famous for its polka-dotted creations by Kusama, a young girl plagued by polka-dotted hallucinations, which inspired the polka-dot design of the museum’s facade.
Step into a World of Irresistible Culinary Indulgences
Get lost in Matsumoto’s culinary terrain, hopping bars, cafes, and restaurants and indulging in the distinctive yet unforgettable tastes of its flavours. Soundo and Coffee Marumo are ideal cafes to kick back with a book in one hand and savour finely and freshly brewed coffee. And as for the bars where wine and beer are lavishly showcased for indulgence, you'll be spoilt for options in this city.
If you must choose one from the many bars in the city, go for the Bar Main Coat, whose rustic wooden aura is a plus to the experience. And don't miss out on the Matsumoto Craft Beer, made from spring water collected in the Alps.
On the main gastronomic side of Matsumoto, indulge in the beckonings of native delights such as Toji Soba, Basashi, Shinshu-gyu, and, as oddly as it sounds, insects—they can be pretty delicious. While hopping the city's restaurant to taste the mentioned delicacies, stop by the Tobira Onsen Myojinkan to taste exquisite French cuisine inspired by Japanese ingredients.
Relax and Get Spoiled at the Onsen and Spa
The Japanese and Asia at large hold the unrivalled reputation of being the world's home of spas and relaxation. Matsumoto lives up to this reputation with several Onsen and Spa centres. So, after exploring the city's numerous attractions or returning from the Nakasendo Trail, you can relax and feel rejuvenated at the Tobira Onsen Myojinkan. Here, the Spa Aroma Room takes you on an eccentric wellness journey via various treatment ingredients and procedures. The hot spring baths are also rejuvenating, with restorative waters that soothe the skin and calm frayed nerves.
Photo credit: Pajor Pawel
Centuries-Old City Packed with Fun
A fascinating world of adventures and indulgences awaits at Matsumoto. This over 400-year-old castle town is a gateway to famous natural attractions like the Nakasendo Trail and Kamikochi National Park. And it’s home to unique culinary indulgences and spectacular art. Tell the tales of an otherworldly adventure after your trip here, ticking off the top things to do with our guide.
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