Matsumoto Castle Travel Guide: Highlights, Local Food, and Suggested Itinerary

Matsumoto Castle originated as Fukashi Castle, built by a branch of the Ogasawara clan in the early 16th century.
Fukashi Castle is said to have been constructed in 1504. When Ogasawara Sadayoshi recaptured it in 1582, he renamed Fukashi “Matsumoto.”
After Ishikawa Kazumasa became lord of the castle in 1590, he began extensive improvements to the grounds, while his son Yasunaga continued construction of the keep.
The present main keep, Inui small keep, and connecting turret are believed to have been built during the 1590s.
Successive castle lords continued to develop the castle and surrounding town, and structures including the Tsukimi-yagura moon-viewing turret and Tatsumi auxiliary turret were added during the 1630s.
The keep was restored during the Meiji period (1868–1912) and designated a National Treasure under the former system in 1936.
A major restoration project began in 1950, and in 1952 the castle was designated a National Treasure under the current Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties.

Matsumoto Castle’s National Treasure keep has five exterior tiers and six interior floors and is considered Japan’s oldest surviving structure of its kind.
It has an unusual interconnected compound layout in which the main keep is joined to the Inui small keep and connecting turret, preserving castle-building techniques from the final years of the Warring States period (1467–1573).
Defensive features designed to repel intruders, including gun and arrow loopholes and stone-dropping openings, are also worth seeing.
Walking through the interior allows you to view the narrow, steep staircases, thick walls, and massive pillars up close and experience how the castle was fortified.
From the top floor, visitors can overlook Matsumoto and, in good weather, see the Northern Alps.

Kuromon Gate is the main entrance to Matsumoto Castle’s inner bailey.
Because it was once the formal gateway to the Honmaru Palace, it is thought to have been named Kuromon, or “Black Gate,” after the color associated with its high status.
The present gate consists of the First Gate, Second Gate, and a defensive wall, forming a square-shaped defensive enclosure. After crossing the inner moat and passing through the Second Gate followed by the First Gate, visitors enter the Honmaru Garden.
The defensive wall connected to the Second Gate has loopholes used to aim matchlock guns at enemies across the moat, demonstrating the castle’s defensive ingenuity.
A highlight is the row of round eave-end tiles on the roof of the First Gate bearing the family crests of successive castle lords.
These tiles were preserved during the dismantling and restoration of the keep and later reused. Looking for the crests of the different ruling families adds interest as you pass through the gate.

The Tsukimi-yagura moon-viewing turret is attached to the southeast side of Matsumoto Castle’s main keep and is distinguished by its eye-catching vermilion balcony.
Because it was built during the peaceful early Edo period (1603–1868), it has few military features such as gun loopholes or stone-dropping openings.
Its appeal lies in the refined atmosphere it adds to a castle built for warfare.
While the keep was designed with battle in mind, the moon-viewing turret has openings on its north, east, and south sides. It is an elegant, simple structure enclosed by thin wooden sliding doors called mairado, reinforced with horizontal strips.
It is believed that the doors were removed during moon-viewing gatherings, allowing people to admire the moon rising in the east from a tatami-floored room.
The contrast between these designs reflects the changing eras through which Matsumoto Castle passed.

The Honmaru Garden spreads out directly in front of Matsumoto Castle’s keep on the former site of the Honmaru Palace.
After passing through Kuromon Gate, visitors are greeted by the National Treasure castle complex centered on the main keep.
The garden provides an excellent vantage point for taking in the beauty of the keep’s exterior.
Seasonal scenery includes cherry blossoms in spring and fresh greenery in early summer, and the garden is also ideal for commemorative photos with the keep in the background.
The garden also contains the Koma-tsunagi Cherry Tree and stone lanterns associated with the Toda and Mizuno families, offering insights into aspects of Matsumoto Castle’s history beyond the keep itself.
Consider taking a leisurely walk through the garden before or after touring the keep.

The water-filled moats and stone walls surrounding Matsumoto Castle’s keep are also well worth a closer look.
The black keep creates a striking reflection on the moat’s surface, and under the right conditions, visitors can see the “Upside-Down Matsumoto Castle.”
The stone walls supporting the keep served both as the building’s foundation and as a defensive feature protecting the castle.
They demonstrate techniques including nozura-zumi, in which natural stones are stacked with little processing, and sangi-zumi, in which long and short stones are alternated to reinforce corners. These walls preserve castle-building techniques from more than 400 years ago.
Viewing the castle from a short distance makes it easier to appreciate the functional beauty created by the moats, stone walls, and keep as a unified whole.

Shinshu soba, one of Nagano Prefecture’s best-known regional foods, is an excellent choice for lunch during a visit to Matsumoto Castle.
Shinshu’s cool climate and large temperature differences between day and night make it well suited to growing buckwheat, and Matsumoto is also known for its soba.
Soba restaurants are scattered throughout the castle town area, making it easy to stop for a meal between sightseeing activities.
Shinshu soba also varies by restaurant, with styles including nihachi soba made with 80% buckwheat flour, juwari soba made entirely from buckwheat flour, and noodles made with flour milled in-house.

Sanzoku-yaki is a regional dish traditionally enjoyed in central Nagano Prefecture, particularly around Matsumoto and Shiojiri.
A whole piece of chicken thigh or breast is marinated in a sauce containing ginger, garlic, and other seasonings, coated with potato starch, and deep-fried.
Although yaki in its name means “grilled,” the dish is actually fried, giving it a crisp, savory exterior and a juicy center.
The flavorful marinade stimulates the appetite, making the dish a good match for both rice and alcoholic drinks.

The tradition of eating horse meat has long been part of the food culture of the Shinshu region, including Matsumoto.
The vivid, cherry-pink lean meat is tender, and different cuts such as marbled meat and mane offer a variety of textures and flavors.
It is also considered high in protein and relatively healthy, with a light texture and rich umami flavor.
Basashi, or raw sliced horse meat, pairs well with local sake and is a regional specialty worth trying during an evening in Matsumoto.

Located a 10-minute walk from JR Matsumoto Station, this shopping street is lined with distinctive stores in row-house-style buildings.
It originated along the banks of the Metoba River and came to be called Nawate, meaning “rope-like bank,” because of the long, narrow embankment.
It developed as the approach to Yohashira Shrine, which was established in 1879 (Meiji 12), and its proximity to Matsumoto Castle makes it popular with tourists.
Wooden shops line the approximately 150-meter street, creating the nostalgic atmosphere of a traditional downtown neighborhood from a period drama.

Opened in April 2002, this museum has a striking polka-dot exterior and features “The Visionary Flowers,” a work by internationally renowned avant-garde artist and Matsumoto native Yayoi Kusama.
After approximately one year of extensive renovations, it reopened in April 2022, the year of its 20th anniversary.
In addition to works ranging from Kusama’s early career to her latest series, the museum presents permanent displays by calligrapher Shinzan Kamijo and Western-style painter Kazuo Tamura, as well as exhibitions from its own collection.

Located in the Ote district of Matsumoto, Yohashira Shrine enshrines four deities from Japanese mythology: Amenominakanushi-no-Kami, Takamimusubi-no-Kami, Kamimusubi-no-Kami, and Amaterasu Omikami. Because each is believed to possess exceptional divine power, the shrine is known as a place where all wishes can be fulfilled and as the “deity who connects wishes.”
It is regarded as one of Nagano Prefecture’s leading spiritual sites and attracts many worshippers seeking blessings.
The annual Shinto Festival, held from October 1–3, is a seasonal tradition in Matsumoto.