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2025/05/03 - 2025/05/10
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A plan to fully enjoy Matsumoto in winter! Enjoy the spectacular views from Utsukushigahara Onsen Shoho and a trip that will warm your body and soul!
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Matsumoto City is a tourist destination where you can enjoy the nature and culture of the four seasons, with the national treasure Matsumoto Castle at its center. The surrounding natural beauty of Mount Okuhotaka and the icefalls are also worth seeing, and it is easily accessible from the city. Enjoy Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture by staying at Utsukushigahara Onsen Shoho.
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Alpico Holdings works as a writer to introduce the attractions of Shinshu's representative tourist destinations, such as Kamikochi, Matsumoto, Hakuba, and Suwa. We will deliver the charms of Shinshu to you in full detail, including Kamikochi, where you can enjoy seasonal scenery, Matsumoto Castle, which is full of history and culture, Hakuba, surrounded by majestic nature, and Suwa Taisha, which is full of ancient history. We promise that our articles will enrich your trip. Let's explore the charms of Shinshu and experience new discoveries and excitement together.
- Table of Contents
- Matsumoto, Shinshu: A castle town with 400 years of history
- Close to Matsumoto Castle! Recommended sightseeing spots in Utsukushigahara Onsen
- The taste is also superb! Introducing Shinshu gourmet food
- A hot spring with a panoramic view of the Northern Alps at an altitude of 3000m
- Flexible transportation options! Access to Matsumoto City
- Matsumoto City: Experience the four seasons while experiencing history
Matsumoto, Shinshu: A castle town with 400 years of history
Matsumoto Castle and its history
Matsumoto Castle was built at the end of the Sengoku period and is one of the oldest five-story, six-story castle towers still standing in Japan. Its distinctive contrast between the black and white plaster walls is a defining feature, and it has been designated a national treasure for its more than 400-year history.
Although it has been renovated many times, the basic structure remains as it was at the time, and the castle tower offers a panoramic view of the Matsumoto Basin. It is a must-see tourist spot when you visit Matsumoto City.
Matsumoto Castle
4-1 Marunouchi, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture 390-0873
Matsumoto Castle is designated as a national treasure along with Himeji Castle, Hikone Castle, Inuyama Castle, and Matsue Castle. The castle tower is believed to have been built around 1593, making it the oldest remaining castle in Japan with a five-storied, six-storied castle tower. It features a two-color outer wall painted with white plaster and black lacquer. When the snow piles up on the mountains behind the castle, the blackness of the castle and the whiteness of the snow make it even more spectacular.
Hotels near Matsumoto Castle
Matsumoto City: a city of history, nature and culture
Matsumoto City is surrounded by old townscapes and magnificent nature.
The area has a charming atmosphere and is full of spots that you can enjoy while strolling around.
In particular, Nawate Street is lined with old merchant houses and is a great place for taking photos.
You can also enjoy seasonal scenery such as cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in autumn.
There are many popular tourist spots in the surrounding area, such as Kamikochi and Mount Norikura.
Why not take a little trip and see the Northern Alps?
Enjoy the famous peaks and spectacular views of the Northern Alps
A short drive will take you to see the majestic mountains of the Northern Alps.
Here we introduce some of the most famous mountains among these famous peaks.
- Okuhotakadake : The main peak of the Northern Alps and one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan. With an elevation of 3,190m, it is also considered a major mountain for climbers.
- Mount Yari : Mount Yari was named after its resemblance to the tip of a spear. Its sharp rocky peaks have earned it the nickname "Japan's Matterhorn," and it is a landmark of the Northern Alps that is a favorite destination for climbers.
- Mount Jonen: Mount Jonen can be seen from the train window on the Oito Line that runs through the foothills. Located in the eastern part of the Northern Alps, it stands majestically as the main peak of the Jonen Mountains. It is said that it looks like a pyramid when viewed from Matsumoto City and Toyoshina in Azumino City.
Matsumoto City is surrounded by beautiful mountains, and mountain viewing is one of the pleasures of the city. We also recommend visiting Nagano for mountain climbing.
Close to Matsumoto Castle! Recommended sightseeing spots in Utsukushigahara Onsen
A row of shops with a sense of history
Nawate Street, close to Matsumoto Castle, is a tourist spot lined with old merchant houses. There are many frog ornaments along the street, making it a must-see spot for frog lovers.
There is also a beautiful street on the south side of Matsumoto Castle, so we recommend taking a stroll there as well.
You can also stroll through the old town and look for traditional crafts and local ingredients.
Spectacular views of the Northern Alps! Nagano's natural beauty where you can also see frozen waterfalls
- Norikura Highlands Ice Waterfall: If you go a little further from Utsukushigahara Onsen, you may be able to see an ice waterfall. In winter, Norikura Highlands is so cold that temperatures often drop below -15°C. The waterfall, which looks cool in summer, becomes as hard as this in winter. This natural art can only be seen in cold regions like Shinshu, and once you see it, you will be captivated by its spectacular appearance. If you want to see a spectacular view that can only be seen in winter, this is a place you should definitely visit.
The taste is also superb! Introducing Shinshu gourmet food
⚪︎Nagano specialties
When it comes to specialties of Shinshu, apples and Shinshu soba noodles are famous.
Shinshu apples are grown carefully in an area with long hours of sunlight and large temperature differences between day and night. They are characterized by a crunchy texture and mellow fragrance, and come in a wide variety of varieties.
Shinshu soba is said to have a high proportion of buckwheat flour, giving it a chewy texture and rich flavor. Depending on the type of buckwheat flour and manufacturing method, you can enjoy a variety of flavors.
A hot spring with a panoramic view of the Northern Alps at an altitude of 3000m
Utsukushigahara Onsen offers a panoramic view of the 100 famous mountains
Utsukushigahara Onsen is an inn that offers a panoramic view of the famous peaks of the Northern Alps, which stand at an altitude of approximately 3,000 meters.
This is a unique place where you can relax and unwind from your travels while enjoying the beautiful nature of the four seasons, and see colorful scenery such as fresh greenery in summer and autumn leaves in autumn.
A modern inn offering healing and relaxation | Utsukushigahara Onsen Shoho
Utsukushigahara Onsen Shoho is a lodging facility that features an entrance modeled after Matsumoto Castle and a lobby that offers a panoramic view of the Northern Alps.
We offer a space where you can relax both physically and mentally while surrounded by the rich nature of Shinshu. Inside the building, there is a shop called "Temari" that sells famous and special products of Shinshu, so you won't have any trouble choosing souvenirs.
A natural hot spring with a spectacular view
The biggest attraction of Shoho Onsen is the open-air bath where you can see the magnificent view of the Northern Alps. Relax and unwind to your heart's content in the hot spring.
- Spectacular views from inside the bath:
- Secure your private space | Private bath: For those who want to enjoy a private space, there are private rooms available. Enjoy the spectacular view of the Northern Alps and the relaxation of the hot springs without worrying about the people around you and in your own world.
- Panoramic view of the Northern Alps | Foot bath: Not only can you enjoy the open-air bath, but you can also enjoy the magnificent view of the Northern Alps from the foot bath. Especially during the day, when the sky is clear, you can see the majestic peaks clearly with the naked eye.
Spacious guest rooms overlooking the castle town of Matsumoto
- Superior Japanese-style room with 10-tatami living room: The entire room is 36 m2 in size. The living room alone is a spacious 10 tatami mats (18 m2), and you can enjoy the majestic view of the Northern Alps as well as the castle town from the window. At night, you can see the night view of Matsumoto city, so the atmosphere of the room is sure to change between day and night.
- Hot spring observation bath, 10 tatami living room, upper-class Japanese-style room: This type of room has an open-air bath in the room. You can enjoy the hot spring whenever you want and relax while looking at the beautiful scenery. In particular, the open-air bath at night while looking at the starry sky is exceptional.
- Japanese-Western room with open-air hot spring bath: Only in a Japanese-Western room can you lie down comfortably on a wide bed. Why not relieve the fatigue of your trip with a high-quality healing experience that combines Japanese relaxation with an open-air bath?
⚪︎For those who want to relax at the inn! High-quality Shinshu gourmet
Based on the concept of "two spaces in food," the inn has two different themed dining areas. One is "Shunsai Dining Shinshu" and the other is "Shokusai Kamikochi."
- Shunsai Dining "Shinshu": This dining area allows you to fully enjoy the flavors of Shinshu. While freshly prepared dishes are served from the open kitchen, you can enjoy the bounty of nature in Nagano, which is known as a prefecture with a long and healthy life expectancy.
- Shokusai Kamikochi: If you want to enjoy high-quality Shinshu cuisine, this is the place to go. In addition to serving freshly made Shinshu brand ingredients, they also offer private rooms with private spaces. They also offer plans for day trips and other purposes, so they are also recommended for special events.
⚪︎Recommended sightseeing spots in Matsumoto city
- Matsumoto Castle: A special projection mapping will be held for a limited time until February 16, 2025. The event is divided into three parts, and the current event is the spring-themed "Spring, Blooming Flowers." The spring-blooming flowers of the Northern Alps cover the entire castle, from the stone walls to the castle tower, creating a fantastical and dynamic production that will captivate viewers.
- Matsumoto City Museum of Art: Matsumoto City Museum of Art has a large collection of works by Yayoi Kusama, a contemporary artist from Matsumoto City. Yayoi Kusama's representative work, the "Infinity Mirror Room" series, is sure to overwhelm you with its unique worldview.
Flexible transportation options! Access to Matsumoto City
Access by bus
- [Tokyo] Take the express bus from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal to Matsumoto in 3 hours and 20 minutes. There are 24 round trips per day, and tickets can be easily purchased online.
- [Nagoya] 3 hours and 30 minutes from Meitetsu Bus Center to Matsumoto.
Access by train and Shinkansen
Take the Azusa Express from JR Shinjuku Station to Matsumoto Station (approximately 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours).
- Tokyo → (Shinkansen) → Nagano → (Shinano Express) → Matsumoto
- Nagoya → (Shinano Express) → Matsumoto
Access by plane
There are regular flights to Matsumoto Airport from Sapporo (New Chitose), Sapporo (Okadama), Kobe, and Fukuoka.
- Sapporo (New Chitose Airport) → Matsumoto Airport → Sapporo New Chitose flight (Departing at 16:50)
- Sapporo ( Okadama Airport) → Matsumoto Airport → No shuttle bus
- Kobe Airport → Matsumoto Airport → Kobe flight (Departing at 10:35)
- Fukuoka Airport → Matsumoto Airport → Fukuoka flight (Departing at 13:10)
There is also a shuttle bus from Matsumoto Airport to the bus terminal, which is a 5-minute walk from Matsumoto Station, so you don't have to worry about getting from the airport to the station.
There are three ways to get there, as mentioned above.
Matsumoto City: Experience the four seasons while experiencing history
What did you think? Shinshu, surrounded by history and nature while experiencing the four seasons, is a place where you can enjoy a relaxing trip.
In addition to enjoying the hot springs and gourmet food, the time you spend with the magnificent scenery of the Northern Alps is truly one of a kind.
Whether you are traveling domestically or internationally, if you are looking for a place to travel or sightseeing away from big cities, be sure to visit Matsumoto City.
Alpico Holdings works as a writer to introduce the attractions of Shinshu's representative tourist destinations, such as Kamikochi, Matsumoto, Hakuba, and Suwa. We will deliver the charms of Shinshu to you in full detail, including Kamikochi, where you can enjoy seasonal scenery, Matsumoto Castle, which is full of history and culture, Hakuba, surrounded by majestic nature, and Suwa Taisha, which is full of ancient history. We promise that our articles will enrich your trip. Let's explore the charms of Shinshu and experience new discoveries and excitement together.
The contents on this page may partially contain automatic translation.
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