Matsumoto Castle
Matsumoto Castle, located at the center of Matsumoto and a city landmark, was first built in 1504 as Fukashi Castle. It was renamed Matsumoto Castle and expanded in 1582. Its Main Keep, having five floors outside and six stories inside, is the oldest of its kind in Japan. Beyond the Main Keep, it is also attractive for scenic parks and abundant seasonal festivals.
Main Keep of Matsumoto Castle
What Does the Main Keep Look Like?
Built in the late sixteenth century, this oldest Main Keep of its kind in Japan is a wooden structure with a height of 40 meters (131 feet). The black and white exterior also earns it another name- “Crow Castle.” In Japanese culture, the crow is a lucky symbol.
What Was the Main Keep Used for?
As a military defensive building, its wall is 30-centimetre-thick (12 inches), equipped with holes for shooting arrows and embrasures for artilleries. The lower four stories were used for defense operations, while high-rank officials used the fifth to sixth stories to hold meetings and observe the battlefield. The ancient weapons and armor exhibited in the Main Keep still bring scenes of ancient battles to mind.
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How to Visit the Main Keep
1. Tour Inside the Main Keep
You can buy tickets at the Matsumoto Castle Admission Ticket Counter and enter the Honmaru Garden through the Black Gate. Honmaru Garden used to be where local nobilities lived, and now it's a beautiful courtyard accessible to the Main Keep. Entering the Main Keep, wooden stairs lead you to the top floor. From the top, you can see the whole city under the northern Japanese Alps unfolding in your eyes.The visit usually takes 30-40 minutes in tourist off-season and one hour in peak season. On average, visitors spend 45-60 minutes inside.
Tips: a. Tourists must take off their shoes to enter the Main Keep, so wear socks. In winter, thicker socks or heating items like warm pastes are good choices to protect you from the icy wooden floor.
b. The stairs are high, steep, and narrow. When queuing up and down the stairs, please be careful.
c. It is not allowed to eat food or smoke in Honmaru Garden and Main Keep; and no pets, either.
d. Facilities & Service:
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Toilet |
Wheelchair Accessible |
Hand Luggage Deposit |
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Honmaru Garden |
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Main Keep |
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2. Night Tour for Light Show
The Main Keep will be lit up and display various light patterns every night, and the night scene is too charming to be missed.
Lighting Time: Sunset to 10:00 pm3. Admission Fee, including both Honmaru Garden and Main Keep:
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Adult |
Children Aged 6-15 |
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JPY700 |
JPY300 |
Ancillary Turrets around the Main Keep
The Main Keep is also connected with four turrets, forming a complex. It is worth mentioning that one of the turrets was built during peacetime for moon viewing without any military equipment. Matsumoto Castle is the only one to set a moon-viewing turret in the Main Keep complex all over Japan.Tip: Turrets are not accessible for interior visits.
Other Unmissable Things to Do in Matsumoto Castle
Relax in the Matsumoto Castle Park
Surrounded by a wide moat with koi carp swimming in, the Matsumoto Castle Park has hundreds of cherry blossom trees. The vermillion Uzumi Bridge, the black and white castle, and the stretching northern Japanese Alps make a beautiful picture perfect for photography.Tip: You can have food in the park, and please take away the garbage.
Interact with Ometenashi Squad
Ometenashi Squad, a group of performers dressed as ninjas and samurai, stroll through the Honmaru Garden, and tourists can take photos with them for free. Princess and samurai in armor perform daily from 10:00 am to 11:00 am and 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
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Take Part in Seasonal Festivals
Spring: Nighttime Cherry Blossom Viewing- to appreciate the fabulous view of lit-up cherry blossoms. It lasts for 8 days, usually in mid-April. Honmaru Garden, excluding the Main Keep, is open for free at night during the event.Cost: Free
Summer: Taiko Drum Festival- to watch Taiko drum performance in Honmaru Garden for free, usually on a weekend in late July.
Cost: Free
Autumn: Shinshu Matsumoto Soba Festival- to taste various soba and other local delicacy of Shinshu.
Cost: It costs none to attend the festival, but you need to pay to taste soba. One order of soba costs about JPY500.
Besides, there are more than ten festivals in autumn, such as the Joint Tea Ceremony, Japanese Doll Exhibition, and Traditional Gunnery Performance.
Winter: Matsumoto Winter Light Shows- to see Matsumoto Castle projection mapping and street light shows, usually from mid-December to mid-February or may be extended for popularity.
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Mastsumoto Castle Honmaru Garden
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Cost: Free
Ice Carving Festival- to see ice sculptures and how they are carved, play the ice slide and watch various performances, usually in late February.
Cost: Free
Collect the Seal of Matsumoto Castle
Each of the 100 Fine Castles of Japan listed by the Japanese Castle Association has its own seal, including Matsumoto Castle. Whenever you visit a castle, you can stamp it on the official collection book. The stamp service is provided at the Matsumoto Castle Administration Office.
Opening Time
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Usual Days |
8:30 am to 5:00 pm, last entry at 4:30 pm |
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Golden Week, usually from late April to early May |
8:00 am to 6:00 pm, last entry at 5:30 pm |
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Summer Season, about 8 days from early August to mid-August |
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Closing Time |
Dec. 29 - Dec. 31 |
How to Get to Matsumoto Castle from Matsumoto Station
By Walk: Exit from the east exit and head northeast for about 1 km (0.6 mile); it takes about 15 minutes.By Bus:
1. Walk for about 2 minutes to Matsumoto Sta. Oshiroguchi from the east exit.
2. Take the “Town Sneaker” tour bus north line bound for Matsumoto Castle.
3. Get off at the Matsumoto-Shiyakushomae stop. The bus ride takes about 8 minutes.
First Bus: 8:30 am
Last Bus: 5:15 pm
Interval on Usual Days: 30 minutes
Interval on Weekends: 20 minutes
Ticket Fare: JPY200