Visit Matsumoto

The city of Matsumoto, with mountains towering to the east and west. 

It is a mountainous city home to several of Japan’s most famous peaks, with the city center itself situated at an elevation of about 590 meters. In the course of daily life, it’s common to glance up at the mountains in a fleeting moment and be captivated by their beauty; at the same time, the amount of snow on the ground and the changing colors of the trees often allow residents to experience the four seasons vividly. 

To the east of the city, relatively close by, rise the 2,000-meter-class mountains of the Chikuma Mountains. The most iconic of these is “Utsukushigahara,” which the people of Matsumoto have long affectionately called “Higashiyama” (East Mountain). Conversely, the “Nishiyama” (West Mountain) refers to the endless range of the Northern Alps—a destination coveted by mountaineers, home to numerous 3,000-meter-class peaks. 

Using the mountains to determine direction is a daily occurrence in Matsumoto, and as long as you remember that “Higashiyama = Utsukushigahara” and “Nishiyama = Northern Alps,” you’ll never get lost. 

The city also boasts an abundance of spring water—a gift from the mountains—and you’ll find wells scattered throughout the city. Since the flavor of the water varies slightly from well to well, it’s fun to visit them all, and it’s a real treat to enjoy delicious soba noodles, sake, and coffee made with this spring water. 

Matsumoto is a city where the mountains are deeply rooted in daily life and brimming with charm—and that goes beyond just hiking. I’d like to share my mountain-related recommendations, categorized into “Climbing,” “Walking,” “Viewing,” and “Tasting.” (By the way, the city center is quite flat, so rest assured that you can stroll around comfortably.)

*This article was published in March 2018.