Matsumoto

Matsumoto lies at the foot of the Japanese Alps in Nagano Prefecture. Walk through streets lined with Edo-period merchant houses, climb the wooden stairs of a black-walled castle from the 1500s, and see polka-dot art installations by Yayoi Kusama at the city museum. Just outside the city, hike mountain trails, soak in hot springs, and taste fresh wasabi at Japan's largest wasabi farm.

Visiting the 16th-Century Castle

Climb through five tiers and six stories of Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan's twelve surviving feudal castles. The black exterior walls gave it the name "Crow Castle." Inside, walk across original wooden floors and examine collections of medieval weapons. Cherry trees surround the castle, blooming in April, while ice sculptors create winter displays in the castle park each January. The top floor viewing area looks out to the Northern Alps and across the city.

Walking the Historic Streets

Stroll down Nakamachi Street past white-walled merchant houses and black-trimmed storehouses built during the Edo period. The parallel Nawate Street runs for 200 meters, with small shops in buildings from the early 1900s selling traditional crafts and local snacks. Look for the many frog statues along what locals call "Frog Street."

Discovering Art Museums

See Yayoi Kusama's polka-dot installations and pumpkin sculptures at the Matsumoto City Museum of Art. Visit the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum to view rotating exhibitions from its 100,000-piece collection of woodblock prints. The museum displays works by masters like Hokusai and Hiroshige, spanning several centuries of Japanese printmaking.

Trying Local Food

Taste soba noodles made from local buckwheat and mountain spring water in restaurants throughout the city. Visit Daio Wasabi Farm to walk through spring-fed wasabi fields and taste fresh wasabi root. Stop at the farm's restaurant for wasabi-flavored ice cream. Try regional dishes like horse sashimi and mountain-raised beef at local restaurants.

Exploring the Japanese Alps

Take a 90-minute bus ride to Kamikochi valley. Walk the flat 1-hour Kappa Bridge trail along the Azusa River, or climb the more challenging 6-hour round trip to Myojin Pond. The valley opens from mid-April to mid-November, with direct buses from Matsumoto Station (¥2,400 one-way) to the valley's mountain lodges and visitor center.

Getting Around

Catch direct trains from Tokyo's Shinjuku Station to Matsumoto (¥6,380, 2 hours 40 minutes). Most city attractions lie within a 30-minute walk from the station. Rent bicycles at the station for ¥200 per hour. Local buses run to Asama Onsen hot springs (25 minutes, ¥300) and the wasabi farm (30 minutes, ¥350).