Matsumoto Guide: Top Things to Do and Travel Tips in Nagano's Castle City
Matsumoto (松本市) is one of my favorite destinations in Nagano Prefecture: it’s a compact, walkable city surrounded by mountains, full of museums, culture, and of course one of Japan’s most iconic castles. This travel guide is based on my own trip to Matsumoto and includes personal tips, practical advice, and ideas for day trips if you want to explore more of Nagano.
How to Get to Matsumoto City
Matsumoto is easy to reach from Tokyo and makes a great weekend trip (like I did) or a comfortable base to explore more of Nagano Prefecture.
From Tokyo by Train
A convenient option is to the Limited Express Azusa from Shinjuku station to Matsumoto station. The journey takes 2.5 hours and cost approx. ¥7,000 one way.
➡️ The ride is covered by the Japan Rail Pass, JR East Nagano-Niigata Pass or the JR Tokyo Wide Pass.
From Tokyo by Highway Bus
Buses are a slower but more budget-friendly option, taking around 3.5-4 hours from Shinjuku or Ikebukuro and costing ¥3,500–¥4,500. You can check companies like Willer Express or Highway-buses.jp for schedules and prices.
By Car
Driving in Nagano could be very scenic and enjoyable. The drive from Tokyo takes ~3.5 hours. If you’re planning to spend a few days exploring Nagano prefecture, then having a car can be a great way to get to harder-to-reach places.
You can compare options and book a rental car through Rentalcars.com, or check other rental car websites such as Budget Rent a Car or Japanese companies likes Toyota Rentacar, Nippon Rentacar, Orix Rentacar or Times Car Rental.
Best Things to Do in Matsumoto
1. Visit Matsumoto Castle
Designated as a National Treasure, Matsumoto Castle (松本城) is the city’s star attraction and one of Japan’s only remaining original castles. Its striking black-and-white exterior makes it beautiful in any season, but two moments stand out for photography lovers:
Cherry blossom season (early to mid-April), with incredible views with the moat and mountains in the background.
Autumn foliage (around the end of October), with vibrant colors surrounding the castle park.
An interesting fact about the castle is that it is the oldest surviving example of a castle with five external stories but six internal floors.
⚠️ A note on visiting inside: The castle’s interior is fascinating, but some of the stairs are extremely steep and narrow. Visitors climb one by one, so there is almost always a queue inside the castle. Expect to wait, especially on weekends. I still enjoyed it and recommend going up for the views from the top floor.
💴 Entrance fee: ¥1200 for a digital ticket or ¥1300 for an onsite paper ticket. Note that there are also some combo tickets with other Matsumoto attractions that can help you save a bit of money. You can purchase your ticket in advance on KKDay.
The castle is located 15–20 min walk or a short bus ride from Matsumoto station.
2. Enjoy a Stroll Through Nawate Shopping Street (Frog Street)
Nawate street (縄手通り) is a cute pedestrian street known for its frog theme. It’s a quirky spot not to miss where you can browse snacks, antiques, and small local shops, while looking for funny frog statues, signs and souvenirs. I loved the retro vibe of the whole place, and just enjoyed wandering around.
3. Stop by Yohashira-jinja Shrine
Right in the middle of Nawate Street, Yohashira-jinja (四柱神社) is a beautiful shrine surrounded by trees. It’s one of Matsumoto’s power spots and a lovely place for a peaceful break.
➡️ If you’re a temple lover like myself and are collecting goshuin (temple stamps), don't miss getting one here. You can check my Goshuin Guide to learn more about how to collect them.
4. Enjoy Shopping along Nakamachi Shopping Street
Nakamachi shopping street (中町商店街) is lined with preserved kura-style (storehouse-style) buildings, giving it a traditional atmosphere. You’ll find pottery and local crafts, small cafés and souvenir shops. It’s a great place for slow shopping and picking up unique gifts from Matsumoto, or for looking for a place to eat.
5. Admire Yayoi Kusama’s artworks at Matsumoto City Museum of Art
Matsumoto is Yayoi Kusama’s birthplace, so if you love her work, don’t miss the Matsumoto City museum of art (松本市美術館 ) where you can find permanent installations of her iconic works. Even the museum exterior has a giant colorful art piece. Though the museum is quite small, I’d say it’s definitely worth a visit if you are a fan of her art.
💴 Entrance fee: the entrance to the museum for the permanent exhibition costs ¥700 if purchased online (you can purchase your ticket in advance on KKDay) or ¥800 at the museum.
6. Visit More of Matsumoto’s Museums
Matsumoto has several unexpected museums worth adding to your itinerary. I visited the Matsumoto Timepiece Museum (松本市時計博物館), a small but fun, unusual museum with a collection of clocks and timepieces just next to Nawamachi Dori. If you enjoy quirky museums, it's worth a short visit. Admission is ¥500.
You might also be interested in visiting:
Japan Ukiyo-e Museum (日本浮世絵博物館) for those interested in these beautiful traditional prints, but it’s located outside the city center, so make sure to check transport options before going.
Former Kaichi School, a beautifully preserved school building built in 1876 and an important cultural site.
Matsumoto Mingeikan (Folk Art Museum), a charming little museum with art and historical pieces in a beautiful building, though also outside the city center but accessible by local buses.
I haven't visited these places myself, but if you're interested, keep in mind that they're a bit far from downtown, so plan your route accordingly.
7. Go on Day Trips Around Matsumoto
This region is full of fantastic day trips and Matsumoto can definitely be a great base to explore around. Destinations I’ve been and I can highly recommend include:
Suwa lake at sunset from Tateishi Park
Suwa (諏訪市), a beautiful lakeside town with hot springs, a castle, the Suwa Taisha shrines, and a peaceful lake. It’s also a must-visit location for fans of Your Name, as Lake Suwa inspired the setting of the fictional Lake Itomori in Makoto Shinkai’s film. It’s a hidden gem that I highly recommend for travelers looking for off-the-beaten-path destinations in Japan. I loved this town so much that I’ve written three dedicated articles to cover all the great things you can do in the area. ➡️ Discover my Suwa Itinerary.
Narai-juku
Narai-juku (奈良井宿) and the Nakasendo trail. Narai-juku is a beautifully preserved historic town on the Nakasendo, an ancient trail that once connected Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo today) during the Edo period (1603-1867). You can just enjoy exploring the village to travel back in time, or decide to hike part of the Nakasendo between Yabuhara and Narai. You can also travel further into Gifu Prefecture to hike the popular Magome-Tsumago Trail, another section of the Nakasendo.
You can learn more about these hiking trails in my articles:
Other easy day trips from Matsumoto include Kamikochi (上高地), one of the most beautiful natural destinations in Japan with stunning alpine landscapes, or Daio Wasabi Farm (大王わさび農場), recognized as Japan’s largest wasabi farm, located in Azumino. I haven’t been yet, but they’re high on my bucket list for next time.
Where to Stay in Matsumoto
Matsumoto offers a wide range of accommodations, catering to all budgets and preferences, from affordable business hotels to more modern hotels with extensive amenities or charming traditional ryokan.
During my visit, I stayed at Hotel New Station and can recommend it as a budget-friendly option. The rooms are compact and simple, but it was very clean, well-located (2-min walk from Matsumoto station and a lot of restaurants around), and with a small public bath at the top, so overall a great value for money.
Looking for more accommodation options in Matsumoto? If I were to stay again and try a new place, based on its excellent reviews, I would recommend Onyado Nono Matsumoto, with indoor and outdoor onsen, a sauna, and comfortable and elegant rooms or Dormy Inn Matsumoto Natural Hot Spring, always a reliable option (with its onsen, free snacks and great amenities).
If you’re looking for a ryokan experience, I’d recommend choosing one of the ryokans in Asama Onsen area. A close friend of mine stayed at Hostel&Spa Fan! Matsumoto and warmly recommended it. It’s a small, colorful ryokan with traditional rooms but bold pop colors. Dinner and breakfast are served around a hearth, with food cooked over the fire; it has a super cozy atmosphere. The onsen is small, but it’s still a lovely stay.
➡️ You can compare prices and check availability in Matsumoto on trusted booking platforms like Booking.com or Agoda to find the best deal for your dates.
Travel Tips to Enjoy Your Time in Matsumoto
Getting Around Matsumoto
Matsumoto is very walkable, most attractions are within a 15–20 minute walk. For day trips, buses and trains are reliable but check schedules in advance, as they might not be frequent. If you’d like to visit Kamikochi from Matsumoto for instance, note that from 2025, all buses between Matsumoto and Kamikochi require reservations for both outbound and return trips. You can read more about this on Kamikochi Official website.
Where to Eat in Matsumoto
There are plenty of restaurants, and one of the specialties to try is local toji soba at one of the many soba restaurants.
One easy and affordable option is also the food court inside the Aeon Mall, great for quick meals.
Next time I go to Matsumoto, I’d also really like to stop at Ishii Miso Brewery (石井味噌) for lunch. The brewery also offers free guided tours of the miso storehouse and miso tasting, so it seems like a great place to learn more about miso production and pick up regional omiyage.
You can also check the list of restaurants on Visit Matsumoto for more ideas.
Other Things to Do Around
Experience Ideas around Matsumoto
To Conclude
Matsumoto is a compact, easy-to-navigate city where most sights are within walking distance, which makes it great for a relaxing weekend! I enjoyed taking my time exploring its streets, museums, and castle, and I also realized how convenient it is can be a base for discovering nearby destinations in Nagano Prefecture. I’d like to return someday to explore lesser-known areas around Matsumoto and use it as a base for more day trips in the region.
If you’re planning a longer trip in Nagano Prefecture, you might also want to read more of my guides introducing destinations like Suwa, Kusatsu Onsen, Karuizawa, Shibu Onsen or Matsushiro.
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