Visit Mastumoto

As the harsh winter ends, spring sees pale cherry blossoms glimmering against the black walls of Matsumoto Castle, a national treasure. This is the best season to walk around the streets and visit museums. The winter cold still lingers in March, so you’ll need a coat. From April to May, you can spend the day in a long-sleeved top, but the mornings and evenings are chilly so make sure you have a jacket that you can easily take on and off. There’s a considerable temperature difference between the day and night, so we recommend you wear clothes that you can adjust by layering.

[Highlights]

First, head to Matsumoto Castle. During the “nighttime cherry blossom viewing” at the National Treasure Matsumoto Castle, which takes place in April each year, the castle tower and cherry blossoms are lit up to create a magical world. Matsumoto City Alps Park is an ideal viewpoint where you can enjoy the cherry blossoms at the same time as the lingering snow on the Northern Alps. Art-lovers might also like to visit the Matsumoto City Museum of Art, where you’re welcomed by a giant artwork by Yayoi Kusama. In May, the museum holds “May of Crafts,” when the streets themselves become galleries—during Crafts Fair Matsumoto, craftspeople from all over Japan gather here.

[Average temperatures]

3–18℃

Matsumoto has two “faces” in summer: the enthusiasm in the castle town and the cool breezes on the highlands. On some days, the temperature can reach over 30℃ in the city and the UV rays are strong, so make sure you wear a hat and take measures to prevent sunburn. On the other hand, the mountain areas, with high elevations, are cool, averaging around 20℃, so make sure you have something with long sleeves to put on. The humidity is low, and is characteristically in pleasant proportion to the temperatures.

[Highlights]

If you’re fleeing the summer heat, don't hesitate to head to the mountains. Kamikochi, at an elevation of 1,500 meters, is one of Japan’s best mountain resorts, where the clear Azusagawa River creates a stunning contrast with the greenery. It’s also the gateway to mountain climbing in the Northern Alps. Visitors to the Norikura Highlands can tour three famous waterfalls—the Zengoro Falls, the Sanbondaki Falls, and the Great Bandokoro Waterfall—and we recommend taking a stroll to soak in the minus ions. Mid-June is the best time to see azaleas in the Utsukushigahara Highlands.

[Gourmet and events]

Make your way to a summer festival after quenching your thirst with Hata watermelon, a wonderfully sweet local specialty. The streets fill with excitement during the Matsumoto Castle Taiko Drum Festival in July and the Matsumoto Bon-Bon, Matsumoto’s largest summer festival, in August. The city also hosts the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival, named after the world-famous conductor, flooding the streets with music.

[Average temperatures]

City area: 22–30℃

Mountain area: 16–4℃

Fall, when brightly colored leaves drift down everywhere from the mountain peaks to the streets, is the season for profound cuisine and art . The climate is comfortable in September, but November sees some days when the lowest temperature drops close to freezing, and the temperature difference is particularly extreme in the mornings and evenings. Prepare a light coat for the city area, or if you’re heading to the mountains, make sure you have proper cold-weather clothing such as a fleece or windbreaker.

[Highlights]
A drive on the Venus Line to Tatamidaira on Mt. Norikuradake, with an elevation of 2,700 meters, or the Utsukushigahara Highlands, which boast expansive 360-degree panoramic views, offers brilliant autumn leaves on a breathtakingly massive scale. In Kamikochi, you can see so-called “three-stage autumn leaves,” made up of snow on the mountain peaks, bright leaves on the mountainsides, and greenery at the mountain feet.

[Gourmet] 
Matsumoto is a treasure trove of fruits. This is the season for apples such as Akibae and Shinano Gold, and the rich and sweet Nagano Purple and other grapes. Different areas of the city also hold the New Soba Festival, which celebrates the soba harvest—visitors can taste deliciously aromatic, freshly made new soba.

[Average temperatures]

City area: 15–23℃

Mountain area: 9–17℃

In winter, Matsumoto is filled with frigid air: this is a special season when quietness and warmth exist side by side. Snow rarely falls in the city area, but it is extremely cold. Bring full winter clothing to protect yourself from it, such as a thick down coat, gloves, or a muffler. Snow does fall in the mountain area, so you’ll also need snow boots or other non-slip shoes.

[Highlights]
Shirahone Onsen offers the ultimate relaxation in the winter. Soaking in the milky-white waters of a “yukimi” (snow-viewing) open-air bath in the quiet of the falling snow is a truly special experience. For visitors who prefer activity, we recommend skiing or walking in snow shoes in the Norikura Highlands, where you can enjoy powder snow and a rich variety of routes. More advanced skiers can visit Nomuge Touge Ski Resort, which boasts a height difference of 730 meters.

[Gourmet and events]
Toji soba, a dish that has been passed down in the Nagawa area, is a representative specialty gourmet cuisine of the winter months. This is a local dish consisting of small bundles of soba noodles placed in a bamboo basket and dipped into a warm, hearty broth before eating, warming you to the core. In the evening, head to a winter event known as Matsumoto Kacchin. Lights and ice bring color to the winter nights with displays such as the Matsumoto Castle projection mapping, street light shows, a Christmas market, and the Ice Sculpture Festival, where masterful skill shines.

[Average temperatures]

City area: 0–8℃

Mountain area: -10–0℃

With cherry blossoms in spring, the greenery of the highlands in summer, bright leaves in the fall, and snow and hot springs in winter, a trip to Matsumoto offers completely different views depending on the season you visit. Enjoying the cultural vibrancy of the castle town and the magnificent natural world together is the greatest appeal of Matsumoto. Make sure you experience the profundity of the four seasons of Matsumoto for yourself.