Matsumoto Castle松本城
What you can do here
Climb the keep
The keep is five linked buildings: the main keep, the Inui small keep, a connecting turret, the Tatsumi turret and the moon-viewing turret. No shoes inside, and stairs are the only way up.
See the black-and-white keep from outside
The black-and-white contrast stands out against the Alps. Each season frames it differently: cherry blossom, summer green, autumn colour, and the snow-capped Northern Alps in winter.
Spot the defences
There are 11 ishi-otoshi openings for firing guns downwards and 115 sama, small windows for archers and gunners.
Popular and not to be missed
- Japan's oldest five-tier, six-floor keep
- Among surviving keeps with five tiers and six floors, this is the oldest in Japan. Matsumoto City dates the main keep and its linked buildings to 1593–94.
- Five buildings, all National Treasures
- First designated a National Treasure in 1936, the keep's five buildings were designated again in 1952.
Matsumoto guide
A castle town facing the Northern Alps. The National Treasure castle, streets of old storehouses, spring-water wells and museums are all walkable. Also the gateway to Kamikochi and Azumino.
Things to see 9 classics
"Classics" and "Hidden gems" are this site's editorial picks, not a measured popularity ranking.
By interest
By how you get there
By distance
- 1
Matsumoto Castle
A black-walled keep, a National Treasure that has stood for over 400 years. The stairs inside are very steep. Beautiful across the moat.
Many overseas visitors
191,748 foreign visitors in 2024, the highest number and share since records began in 2009 Source: Matsumoto City, Mayor's press conference of 8 January 2025
- History & buildings
- Views
about 60 minPaid entryFine on a rainy dayPartly step-free
Walk · About 20 min from Matsumoto ・ 100m from here
- 2
Nakamachi Street
A street of old storehouses with black-and-white lattice plaster walls, now home to craft shops and cafes.
- History & buildings
- Shopping & strolling
about 45 minFree
Walk · About 12 min from Matsumoto ・ 600m from here
- 3
Nawate Street and Yohashira Shrine
A car-free lane of tiny shops along the river, with frogs as its mascot. A shrine stands right beside it.
- Shopping & strolling
- Food & markets
- Temples, shrines & churches
about 30 minFree
Walk · About 12 min from Matsumoto ・ 400m from here
- 4
Matsumoto City Museum of Art
Always shows works by Yayoi Kusama, who was born in Matsumoto. Her giant flower sculpture stands in front of the building.
- Museums
about 60 minPaid entryFine on a rainy dayWheelchair & stroller friendly
Walk · About 15 min from Matsumoto ・ 1.0km from here
- 5
Former Kaichi School
A school built in the 1870s in a mix of Western and Japanese styles; a National Treasure. About 10 minutes on foot north of the castle.
- History & buildings
- Museums
about 45 minPaid entryFine on a rainy day
Bus · About 25 min from Matsumoto ・ Town Sneaker bus to Former Kaichi School ・ 500m from here
- 6
Kamikochi (Kappa Bridge)
A mountain valley for walks along the clear Azusa River below the Hotaka peaks. Private cars are banned. Closed in winter, with no buses.
- Nature
- Views
- Activities
about 3 hrFree
Bus · About 110 min from Matsumoto ・ Kamikochi Line to Shin-Shimashima, then bus to Kamikochi Bus Terminal ・ 30km from here
Connections from here
Everything you can branch out to from here, on one map. Tap any item to open it.
Matsumoto Castle
Area guide
Themes
Nearby places in the same theme
Within walking distance
Within walking distance of here
See nearby on a mapWalking times are estimates from the straight-line distance.
- Go hereNawate Street and Yohashira ShrineAbout 6 min on foot
A car-free lane of tiny shops along the river, with frogs as its mascot. A shrine stands right beside it.
- Go hereFormer Kaichi SchoolAbout 8 min on foot
A school built in the 1870s in a mix of Western and Japanese styles; a National Treasure. About 10 minutes on foot north of the castle.
- Go hereNakamachi StreetAbout 9 min on foot
A street of old storehouses with black-and-white lattice plaster walls, now home to craft shops and cafes.
Sights are this site's picks, not a popularity ranking.
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