Matsumoto Trip Overview
Discover a real feudal era castle and the historical streets!
Matsumoto is a city with deep-rooted living traditions and proud people who retain an ancestral way of life that we have to honor and respect! Get an introduction into Matsumoto’s past and present during a 8 hour full-day private tour.
Create your own customized itinerary according to your desires, making your stay in Matsumoto the most unique and enjoyable experience possible! Your guide can help you build your tour of the city.
Or simply follow the course that your guide prepares for you. Your guide will design a tour based on your interests and the spots you’re most interested in seeing.
Take more than just a tour, discover ancient history and wisdom, have a unique and enlightening experience! Get a glimpse of all there is to explore in Matsumoto City!
The provided tour details is our recommended itinerary.
Tour available in English and French.
Additional Info
Duration: 8 hours
Starts: Matsumoto, Japan
Trip Category: Tours & Sightseeing >> Full-day Tours
Explore Matsumoto Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan
Discover a real feudal era castle and the historical streets!
Matsumoto is a city with deep-rooted living traditions and proud people who retain an ancestral way of life that we have to honor and respect! Get an introduction into Matsumoto’s past and present during a 8 hour full-day private tour.
Create your own customized itinerary according to your desires, making your stay in Matsumoto the most unique and enjoyable experience possible! Your guide can help you build your tour of the city.
Or simply follow the course that your guide prepares for you. Your guide will design a tour based on your interests and the spots you’re most interested in seeing.
Take more than just a tour, discover ancient history and wisdom, have a unique and enlightening experience! Get a glimpse of all there is to explore in Matsumoto City!
The provided tour details is our recommended itinerary.
Tour available in English and French.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Kasamori Inari Shrine, 1-17-11 Chuo, Matsumoto 390-0811 Nagano Prefecture
Hidden among the tall modern buildings in downtown Matsumoto City, Kasamori Inari Shrine is dedicated to Inari, a deity of the rice harvest and prosperity in business. The shrine stands alongside Jorinji Temple, fronted by a wooden gate constructed during the Edo period over 200 years ago. This gate is considered the oldest wooden gate in Matsumoto.
On your way to Matsumoto Castle, stop by the Kasamori Inari’s hidden shrine and catch a glimpse of two traditions, Shinto and Buddhism living in harmony.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Nakamachi Street, Chuo, Matsumoto 390-0811 Nagano Prefecture
Nakamachi Street is a historic shopping area known for its old traditional storehouses called “Kura” which are characterized by their black-and-white, criss-cross patterned walls. This beautiful street is also a popular shopping area among the locals with many shops and restaurants to choose from.
You can find many Japanese handicrafts, such as pottery, lacquerware and wooden crafts.
Nakamachi retains this mercantile spirit, landmark of which is the old “Kurassic-kan”, a fully restored Sake warehouse, open to the public for viewing and host to many cultural activities.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Nakamachi Kurassic-kan, 2-9-15 Chuo, Matsumoto 390-0811 Nagano Prefecture
Kurassic-kan is one of the city’s most famous buildings. This former sake brewery is a construction that perfectly represents Japanese architecture, and some remnants of the past are still present here.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Matsumoto City Scales Museum, 3-4-21, Chuo, Matsumoto Nagano Prefecture
This museum showcases antique weight scale models dating back before the Meiji Era all the way to the early Showa period. Some of these scales were used to weigh silk worm cocoons. In those days, Matsumoto was an important stop on an ancient silk road that used to link Suwa to the famous city of Takayama.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Nawate Shopping District, Matsumoto Nagano Prefecture
Nawate Street is a row of small shops with a subtle but recurring frog theme. Aside from a variety of snack shops, the street also has plenty of little nick knack shops and souvenirs. Yohashira Shrine is also on Nawate Street and is a lovely place to sit while enjoying your taiyaki or rice crackers.
Feel free to stroll along Nawate Street and enjoy a relaxed rural village atmosphere within the heart of the city. Here you will find warm culture and hospitality and maybe a souvenir or two!
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Yohashira Shrine, 3-3-20 Ote, Matsumoto 390-0874 Nagano Prefecture
Yohashira shrine was built during the Meiji Period (1868-1912) and is dedicated to four Shinto deities. This unique feature is rare in Japan. Because so many deities are gathered together in one place, Japanese commonly believe this shrine provides special wish-granting properties!
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Matsumoto Castle, 4-1 Marunouchi, Matsumoto 390-0873 Nagano Prefecture
Matsumoto Castle is one of five castles designated as ‘National Treasures of Japan’ and the oldest castle donjon remaining in Japan. Construction began in 1592 of the elegant black and white structure with its three turrets. Because of the elegant black walls, Matsumoto Castle is sometimes called ‘Crow Castle’.
Please note that the stairs to reach the top of Matsumoto Castle’s tower are steep and narrow.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: 善哉酒造株式会社, 5-chōme-4-24 Ōte, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-0874, Japan
Explore a small still active local sake brewery. There is a selection of excellent local sake here and the owner is delighted to let you sample a few. This is a fun and cozy way to rub elbows with the locals!
Duration: 1 hour
