Castle Town Festival of Light and Ice

National Treasure Matsumoto Castle Projection Mapping

Digital art projection featuring Ukiyo-e of Nagano by Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige, traditional crafts of Matsumoto City, and blooming flowers. A combination of laser mapping using advanced technology and projection mapping, along with interactive contents. Enjoy a fantastical space different from your daily experience.

There are three types of performances/programs (lasts for over 12 minutes).

Period 1 December 14 (Saturday) to January 8 (Wednesday) 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM: Dynamic Historical Picture Scroll

Period 2 January 9 (Thursday) to January 29 (Wednesday) 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM: Traditional Culture Adorned with Light

Period 3 January 30 (Thursday) to February 16 (Sunday) 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM: Spring, Blooming Flowers

City Illumination

Gentle and warm lights illuminate the path from Daimyocho Street to Sensai Bridge, lighting up winter in Matsumoto. On Daimyocho Street, dazzling tree decorations greet you, while at Chitose Bridge, gas lamp-matched illuminations adorn the night of Matsumoto. Please come and experience this extraordinary space that can only be found in Matsumoto.

Daimyocho Street
Sensai Bridge

National Ice Sculpture Competition Pre-Event

This competition serves as a gateway to success for young ice sculptors, primarily featuring participants with less than five years of experience. Enjoy viewing these vibrant and youthful creations.

Venue: Flower Clock(Hanadokei) Park

Production: January 24 (FRI) 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Exhibition of Works: January 24 (FRI) 8:00 PM -
January 26 (SUN) 2:00 PM

Please note that the exhibition time is subject to change depending on weather conditions.

National Ice Sculpture Competition Championship

Ice sculptors from all over Japan will gather to showcase their skills, creating bold and intricate ice sculptures. Be sure to enjoy the dynamic sculptures on display!

Venue: Matsumoto-Jo Park

Production: January 25 (Saturday), 5:00 PM -
January 26 (Sunday), 5:00 AM

Exhibition of Works: January 26 (Sunday), 5:00 AM - around 2:00 PM
Please note that the exhibition time is subject to change depending on weather conditions.

Ice Sculpture Display on the Streets

Ice sculptures will be displayed in the streets. It's also a great spot for taking photos!

Venue	Production Time
Matsumoto City Museum of Art	January 23 (Thursday) 3:00 PM～
Plaza in front of Matsumoto Station	January 23 (Thursday) 3:00 PM～
Nakamachi Classic-kan	January 24 (Friday) 1:00 PM～
Otemon Masugata Ato Square	January 24 (Friday) 1:00 PM～

Related Events

We have prepared a variety of events that everyone from children to adults can enjoy, including performances by street performers, tourism promotions by related municipalities, a soap carving workshop where you can experience sculpting, and an ice jumbo slide about 20 meters long.

Events

Stage Events

Schedule

January 25 (Saturday)
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

January 26 (Sunday)
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Venue

Matsumoto-Jo Park、Sotobori Street

Events

Workshops (Limited to the first 100 participants)

Schedule

January 25 (Saturday) & January 26 (Sunday)
12:30 PM～

Venue

Matsumoto-Jo Park、Sotobori Street

Events

Ice Jumbo Slide

Schedule

January 25 (Saturday)
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

January 26 (Sunday)
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Venue

Matsumoto-Jo Park、Sotobori Street

Events	Schedule	Venue
Stage Events	January 25 (Saturday) 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM January 26 (Sunday) 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM	Matsumoto-Jo Park、Sotobori Street
Workshops (Limited to the first 100 participants)	January 25 (Saturday) & January 26 (Sunday) 12:30 PM～
Ice Jumbo Slide	January 25 (Saturday) 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM January 26 (Sunday) 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Events

Schedule

Venue

Stage Events

January 25 (Saturday)
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

January 26 (Sunday)
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Matsumoto-Jo Park、Sotobori Street

Workshops (Limited to the first 100 participants)

January 25 (Saturday) & January 26 (Sunday)
12:30 PM～

Ice Jumbo Slide

January 25 (Saturday)
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

January 26 (Sunday)
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Matsumoto City
Illumination
2024-2025

2024 DEC 14th Sat -

2025 FEB 16th Sun

Enjoy a variety of light art projected on the castle keep and stone walls of Matsumoto Castle, a national treasure, where digital animations bring to life ukiyo-e prints of Nagano by artists such as Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige, as well as folding screen paintings depicting the lord of Matsumoto Castle, Kazumasa Ishikawa. Experience dynamic and enchanting projection mapping and illuminations!

Promotion Video

Matsumoto Castle
Projection Mapping
City Illumination

Overview of the Event

Period
December 14th, 2024 (Saturday) - February 16th, 2025 (Sunday)

Venue
Matsumoto-Jo Park、Daimyocho Street、Sensai Bridge

Lights up
National Treasure Matsumoto Castle Projection Mapping 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM Approximately 12 minutes per session: Main performance around 9 minutes, Sub performance around 3 minutes Enjoy three main performances across three periods. City Illumination 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Map

National Treasure
Matsumoto Castle
Ice Sculpture Festival
2025

2025 Jan 24th Fri 25th Sat 26th Sun

"This is the 'Festival of Ice,' set against the majestic keep of Matsumoto Castle and the snow-capped Northern Alps. In addition to the main event, the 'National Ice Sculpture Competition Championship,' there will be an ice jumbo slide and stage events, providing fun for all ages, from children to adults!

National Ice Sculpture
Competition
National Ice Sculpture
Competition Championship
Ice Sculpture Display
on the Streets
Related Events

Overview of the Event

Period
Jan 24th(Friday) & 25th (Saturday) & 26th (Sunday), 2025

Venue
Matsumoto-Jo Park、Flower Clock(Hanadokei) Park、Otemon Masugata Ato Square、Nakamachi Classic-kan、Matsumoto City Museum of Art Etc.

Map

Model Course

We introduce two model courses that let you fully enjoy the charm of winter in Matsumoto: the classic course and the photo spot course, which offers picturesque spots where

Model Course 01
Plan to Enjoy History and Nature

Model Course 01
Plan to Enjoy History and Nature

We present a 2-day, 1-night sightseeing model course in Shinshu Matsumoto, where history and nature blend harmoniously. Starting at the art museum, this course covers a variety of attractions, including scenic townscapes and nature walks.

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Model Course 02
Photo Spot Course

Model Course 02
Photo Spot Course

We recommend a tour of iconic photo spots in Matsumoto, perfect for capturing images that make you want to reach for your camera. Capture the townscape of Matsumoto with a photo that’s uniquely yours!

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Restaurant

We introduce restaurants where you can enjoy winter gourmet of Matsumoto! During the "Light and Ice Castle Town Festival," many restaurants will extend their evening hours.

View the list

Accommodation

To fully enjoy winter in Matsumoto, we recommend an overnight stay of 1 or 2 nights instead of a day trip!
Here are some recommended accommodations offering special plans exclusively during the "Light and Ice Castle Town Festival."