Visit Matsumoto

The well, aptly named "Hinode no Izumi Yakuso-mizu" (Sunrise Spring: Water of the God of Medicine), is said to bestow the blessings of the God of Medicine. Located within the grounds of Yakuso Shrine on the premises of the Matsumoto Pharmaceutical Association Hall in Nagano Prefecture, it is a source of pure, spring water.

This shrine enshrines the deity revered as the ancestor of medicine, believed to cure illnesses and relieve people’s suffering. The water drawn from this well, watched over by the deity, seems to gently permeate both body and soul. If you pray for good health and take a sip of this famous water, it may even soothe the fatigue of your journey.

During the Edo period, a righteous peasant named Kasuke risked his life to petition the domain against oppressive taxes, ultimately facing execution. Suzuki Iori, a samurai of the Matsumoto domain, devoted himself to saving Kasuke.The water that springs from near the grave of Iori, deeply revered by the peasants, came to be known as "Iori's Sacred Water." It seems as if the spirit of this samurai, possessed

of a sense of justice and kindness that aided the weak, dwells within this pure water. As you ponder the story of this righteous man who left his mark on Matsumoto's history, quietly savor this sacred water.

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.

In the heart of Nakamachi Street, lined with warehouses featuring namako walls, stands the "Kura Chic Museum." In front of it, the "Warehouse Well" catches the eye with its retro blue hand pump.Pump it up and down, and cool, clear water gushes out. The

Kura Chic Kan building housing this well is a historically significant structure originally a sake brewery that was relocated. Inside, you can glimpse the lifestyle of merchants from days gone by. While strolling through Nakamachi, the town of storehouses, be sure to stop by and experience the joy of drawing water with your own hands.

"The finest water in our land"—so it was recorded in Edo-period texts. This renowned well, "Genchi no Ido," represents Matsumoto. Once a private well for a castle lord's retainer, its water was so exceptionally delicious that all the sake brewers in the castle town reportedly used it. Generations

of local rulers erected protective signs to safeguard it, making it a truly "certified" treasure.Take a sip, and you'll be amazed by its smoothness and purity. Experience the taste of this legendary well, the heart of Matsumoto's water culture, for yourself.

Listen closely to the sound of water

From the Edo period to the present day, this vital water source has sustained life in the castle town of Matsumoto. Even now, abundant water gushes forth at a rate of 150 liters per minute, and you can directly taste a portion of this blessing at this well.Restored

through the Heisei-era "Water Tour Well Improvement Project," this spot stands as a symbolic place where you can truly feel Matsumoto's identity as a city of water. Please taste the life-giving water that continuously wells up from the earth right here. You should feel the energy of nature filling every corner of your body.