Japan. by Japanese.Japan, judged by a Japanese
The black-and-white keep of Matsumoto Castle reflected in its moat, cherry trees in blossom at leftThe moat and stone walls of Matsumoto Castle under a clear sky, bare trees and mountains on the horizonThe clear Azusa River braided over white gravel in Kamikochi, with the Hotaka mountains behind in summerA wooden water wheel beside a clear green stream with waterweed, under summer trees in Azumino

Matsumoto, Nagano

Matsumoto: What to Do and Where to Stay

Food · Things to do · Where to stay

JR Matsumoto Station is the base for most of this area. Matsumoto Castle, the Former Kaichi School, Nawate Street and Nakamachi Street are 15 to 25 minutes on foot from it, the three station hotels on these pages are 4 to 7 minutes away, and the Kamikochi Line, the Asama Onsen buses and the summer bus to Utsukushigahara all start there.

Dates to plan around: Kamikochi closes for the 2026 season on 15 November, the roads to Utsukushigahara usually close from late November to late April, and from December the Former Kaichi School closes every Tuesday. The castle and Kaichi take their last visitors at 16:30; Hot Plaza Asama takes bathers until 23:00.

Matsumoto: things to do, where to stay