Introduction To: Matsumoto

Matsumoto (松本) is a city in Nagano Prefecture.  Before the Meiji restoration, it served as the capital city of Shinano Province.  Its chief attraction is the eponymous Matsumoto Castle, one of the twelve original castles to have survived intact since the feudal era.  Situated at the eastern base of the Japan Alps, Matsumoto is also an ideal base for excursions into outdoor treasures like Kamikochi Park and the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route.

Main Attractions

The main keep of Matsumoto Castle, accessible from Matsumoto Station.
Taken on Saturday, 19 May 2018.

1) Matsumoto Castle: A black-walled castle that has survived since the late 16th century.

2) Nakamachi District: A neighbourhood of old white-walled merchant's houses and unique museums.

By 663highland [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY 2.5], from Wikimedia Commons

3) Matsumoto City Museum of Art: A museum of modern art, with a particular focus on local-born artist Yayoi Kusama (草間 彌生, b. 1929).

By Saigen Jiro [CC0], from Wikimedia Commons

4) Koboyama Park: A park on the city's outskirts built on top of a former burial mound, adorned with thousands of cherry trees.

By photo: Qurren (talk)Taken with Canon IXY 10S [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons

5) Japan Ukiyo-e Museum: An outlying museum about Japanese woodblock-print art.

By Wiiii [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons

6) Kaichi School Museum: One of Japan's first school buildings, preserved from the Meiji Period (late 19th century).

mapplefan8 [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

7) Asama Onsen: A hot-spring town within Matsumoto's city limits.

Orientation

Matsumoto Station stands to the east or southeast of most of the city's attractions.  For avid walkers, many destinations, including Matsumoto Castle, can be reached on foot within 15-20 minutes.  For everyone else, there is a network of tourist-oriented loop buses called the Town Sneaker buses.  There are four Town Sneaker routes: North, East, South, and West.  Of the greatest import to tourists are the north bus, which stops at the castle, and the east bus, which stops at Nakamachi and the Matsumoto City Museum.  They cost ¥200 per ride, or ¥500 for a one-day pass (which includes discounts at various spots), and buses arrive every 20-30 minutes.  More information: (Japanese)

Access

From Tokyo, the most direct way to get to Matsumoto is by the Azusa limited express train, along the Chuo Main Line.  The one-way journey from Shinjuku Station takes 2½ to 3 hours, and costs ¥6,620 for a reserved seat.  From Tokyo Station, it may be faster to take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano (80-100 minutes), then the Wide View Shinano limited express to Matsumoto (50 minutes).  In total, this costs at least ¥10,300 (reserved).  Both options are fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and the JR East Nagano-Niigata Pass.  From western cities, take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya, then the Wide View Shinano limited express to Matsumoto (120 minutes, ¥6,410 reserved).

Highway buses, operated by Alpico Kotsu, are available to and from Tokyo's Shinjuku Station (3 hours, ¥3,800), Takayama (2½ hours, ¥3,250 one-way / ¥5,760 round-trip), and more.  If you have a JR East Nagano-Niigata pass, you can buy a round-trip bus ticket from Matsumoto to Takayama for a discounted ¥4,500.  More information: (English) (Japanese)

There is also a small airport, Shinshu-Matsumoto Airport (IATA code: MMJ), 8km (5 mi) south of the city.  It only serves a couple of domestic destinations: Fukuoka, Sapporo, and during the month of August, Osaka-Itami.  A shuttle bus between the airport and bus terminal is timed to meet all flights.  The ride takes 30 minutes and costs ¥600.  More information: (Japanese)

Excursions

1) Daio Wasabi Farm: A wasabi (spicy horseradish) farm open to visitors.
Access: JR Oito line from Matsumoto to Hotaka Station (30 minutes, ¥320, JR Pass OK), followed by a 10-minute taxi (~¥1,300) or shuttle bus ride (¥600 one-way / ¥1,000 round-trip) (Schedule).  Buses are only available on weekends and holidays, from mid-April to October.

2) Omachi: A starting point for crossing the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route.
Access: JR Oito line from Matsumoto to Shinano-Omachi Station (60 minutes, ¥680, JR Pass OK).

3) Hakuba: A ski resort used during the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Access: JR Oito line from Matsumoto to Hakuba Station (105 minutes with 1 transfer, ¥1,170, JR Pass OK).

4) Nagano: The prefecture's capital city, and the host of the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Access: JR Shinano limited express from Matsumoto to Nagano Station (50 minutes, ¥2,900 reserved, JR Pass OK).

5) Kamikochi: A national park in the northern Japan Alps, centred around a river nestled between mountains.  Open only from April through November.
Access: Alpico line from Matsumoto to Shin-Shimashima Station (30 minutes), followed by a bus to Kamikochi (65 minutes, total ¥2,500 one-way / ¥4,650 round-trip) (Schedule).

6) Kiso Valley: A collection of preserved post towns along the old Nakasendo highway, which one may hike across.
Access: JR Shinano limited express from Nagoya to Nakatsugawa Station (75 minutes, ¥4,370 reserved, JR Pass OK), followed by a bus to Magome (25 minutes, ¥570) (Schedule).