Visit Matsumoto

As you walk along the park's paths, views of Matsumoto Castle, the cityscape, and the Northern Alps mountain range stretching beyond come into view. Surrounded by nature that changes with the seasons, it is also beloved as a famous spot for cherry blossom viewing in spring. Benches

and lawns are provided, and the observation deck offers a panoramic view of Matsumoto City. A little removed from the city bustle, it is a place to savor views characteristic of Matsumoto and enjoy peaceful moments.

Spanning the hills northwest of Matsumoto city center, this park offers stunning panoramic views of the Northern Alps mountain range and Azumino. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom throughout the grounds, and the lawn plaza and walking paths bustle with people enjoying hanami.

The "Mountain and Nature Museum" offers insights into the region's natural environment and geological history, while the "Forest of Small Birds and Animals" allows visitors to observe

about 30 species, including Japanese macaques and ponies. Additional attractions include the "Alps Dream Coaster," a roller coaster racing along a 630-meter course, and the "Children's Adventure Plaza" for active play. This makes it a perfect place for families to enjoy a full day of fun amidst nature.

Matsumoto City Mountain and Nature Museum is an interactive facility where visitors can learn about Matsumoto's mountains and nature through play. It is designed so that visitors, especially children, can experience the relationship between Matsumoto's nature and its people with all five senses. Upon

stepping into the first floor, the giant sculpture called "Derebocchi" immediately catches the eye. Said to be the footprint of a giant from a Shinshu legend, this sculpture tells the story of how Matsumoto's terrain was formed.In the four seasonal corners—"Spring Waterside," "Summer Mountains," "Autumn Mountains," and "Winter Village"—you can learn about Matsumoto's changing nature throughout the seasons while observing insect specimens and animal taxidermy. Activities like stamp rallies and discovery cards expand the fun of solving mysteries yourself.On the second floor, observe the evolution of mountaineering equipment from the Meiji to Showa periods and rare insect specimens, revealing how nature and human activities have changed over time. A place brimming with wonder and discovery about nature

. Experience the profound depths of Matsumoto's natural world with family or friends.

This building has a Western texture and serene Japanese charm. You’ll find yourself taken back in time to the Meiji period (1868–1912) the moment you encounter its unusual beauty.

The former Kaichi School, a designated National Treasure, was designed by a local master carpenter in 1876, and is a masterpiece of pseudo-Western architecture (giyofu). When you look at the front entranceway, your gaze is drawn to the octagonal tower. Seiryu, the Azure Dragon, and floating clouds are depicted above the Western-style arched window, and above these are angels holding up a banner. Each of these decorative elements expresses the spirit of the period of bunmei kaika, the modernization of Japan, when Western and Eastern cultures intersected. When you walk into the building, you are greeted by the scent of aged timber, and you can feel the spirit of this building of learning as it once was through this architectural style steeped in history.

This is a unique architectural space that symbolizes the period of bunmei kaika. If you’re visiting Matsumoto, make sure you experience the spirit of the Meiji period that lies in this National Treasure building.

Matsumoto Castle boasts a magnificent jet-black keep that stands against the backdrop of the northern Alps. Like Himeji Castle, Hikone Castle, Inuyama Castle, and Matsue Castle, it has been designated as a National Treasure. The castle was built during the warring states period of the 15th and 16th centuries (Sengoku period), and takes pride in having the oldest extant keep with five external stories but six internal floors. Its stunning black form possesses a power and gracefulness that other castles lack, and never fails to fascinate visitors.

The castle’s greatest feature is the integration between its keep, built in a war-torn world, and its elegant Tsukimi Yagura (moon-viewing tower), which was added in an era of peace. The exquisite harmony formed by the architectural styles of the different eras is an absolute must-see.

Thanks to its history of overcoming numerous ongoing crises with the enthusiasm of the local people, Matsumoto Castle is deeply beloved as a symbol of the city and a source of comfort for its people. Make sure you experience the stunning views of the castle town from inside the castle, and the hopes and feelings of the people who live with it, for yourself.

Nawate Street once lay between the southern outer moat of Matsumoto Castle and the clear stream of the Metoba River; its name comes from the thin and long rope-like (""nawa"") riverbank (“dote”). Since the construction of Yohashira Shrine in 1879, it has developed as the approach to the shrine.

Frogs are the symbol of this street. Kajika frogs, which once lived in the Metoba River, can only survive in clean rivers. Nawate’s mascot characters Metoba and Gota represent the wish for the Metoba River to once again become clean enough for kajika frogs to live there, and stand at the eastern and western entrances to the street.

You’ll find rows of individual shops here, from old-fashioned hardware stores and florists to fashionable general goods stores, which have recently increased in number.

As this street is a year-round pedestrian zone, small children, pets, and even wheelchair-users can explore with peace of mind.

Why not visit Nawate together with Matsumoto Castle and Nakamachi Street?

Nakamachi Street is a street of merchant houses that flourished in the Edo period (1603–1868) along the Zenkoji Temple road. A large number of clay-walled buildings in the style of traditional kura storehouses, with white and black namako walls made of plaster, were built here to protect the street from great fires at the end of the Edo period and during the Meiji period (1868–1912), and still remain today, creating the feel of the Matsumoto of the past.

Old and new stores coexist in Nakamachi Street, which preserves the vestiges of the old wholesale district (tonyagai). It’s loved by many people of all ages for its Matsumoto Mingei Kagu showroom, craft shops, fashionable cafes, and restaurants. You’ll find wells throughout the merchant area, quietly telling of life in a castle town.

Every Saturday from April to December, a morning market is held from 9:30 AM,  where local farmers sell fresh vegetables and seasonal flowers. The spectacle of what is known as “Japan’s shortest morning market,” which can sell out in just 10 minutes, is another of Nakamachi’s attractions.

We recommend visiting this street together with Matsumoto Castle and Nawate Street.

The Matsumoto City Museum of Art is the place to experience the works of Yayoi Kusama, a world-renowned avant-garde artist originally from Matsumoto. 

At the museum’s entrance, the massive sculpture of vibrant tulips, *Phantom Flower* (2002), welcomes visitors, and the permanent exhibition allows you to fully immerse yourself in Yayoi Kusama’s works. The museum also features memorial galleries dedicated to Shinzan Kamijo, a calligrapher who is a local pride, and Kazuo Tamura, a Western-style painter who loved the mountains of Shinshu.

Since its opening in April 2002, the museum has aimed to be a comprehensive art museum rooted in the community, serving as a “forest of learning that opens the heart” for citizens.

The first floor features facilities to support educational activities, including a community studio, lecture rooms, and a printmaking room.

The second floor consists of a special exhibition hall, a multipurpose hall, and a community gallery, providing a space for appreciating a wide variety of art.

At the museum shop on the first floor, visitors can purchase original merchandise related to the collection and featured artists, items related to special exhibitions, and books on art.

We have also set up a baby care room so that visitors with small children can feel at ease.

Since the museum is within walking distance from Nakamachi Street, why not take a break from your stroll through the city to immerse yourself in the world of art?

The park features the wooden Western-style architecture of the former Matsumoto High School, adding cultural charm. Its Japanese garden pond and Himalayan cedar-lined avenue paint scenes of the changing seasons. The approximately 150-meter-long avenue of Himalayan cedars is cherished as an iconic landscape and has been used as a filming location for movies and dramas. The central pond's tranquil surface reflects the sky and greenery, naturally drawing visitors to pause.Furthermore, the spacious lawn area known as "Peace Plaza" offers a relaxing space on sunny days, perfect for picnics and leisurely strolls. During the Craft Fair Matsumoto in May, it becomes a hub for creativity and exchange, drawing many people from across the nation.