Matsumoto is a city in Nagano Prefecture known for its beautiful original castle, contemporary art, and natural hot springs. Nestled between the mountains in central Japan, Matsumoto is also the gateway to the Northern Japanese Alps and an excellent home base for excursions to Kamikochi and Mt Norikura.
Before visiting Matsumoto, I knew very little about the city. I only learned about the “Castle Town” because I saw Yayoi Kusama’s yellow pumpkin in Naoshima many years ago. I researched and read many blogs and knew I had to visit Matsumoto and see her other artwork at the Matsumoto City Museum of Art.
But I was blown away by this quaint, artsy town. I love how Matsumoto is a walkable city, full of friendly people and beautiful scenery. So, if you want to spend a day or two in an off-the-beaten-path town in Japan, you must include Matsumoto in your itinerary and see why so many people love the city.
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What you need to know before visiting Matsumoto
Before travelling to Matsumoto, take a look at my post on everything you need to know before going to Japan. I included a lot of tips on how to get around Japan and other travel tips.
Here are a few additional travel tips that you may find helpful for your Matsumoto day trip:
- Matsumoto can be visited all year round. Spring is best for cherry blossoms. Summer can be fun, too, but it can also be hot. Fall is excellent for fall foliage. And winter is the best time for snow and winter activities.
- Coin luggage lockers are available at the Matsumoto Train Station. It costs ￥400-1,000.
- Matsumoto is a safe city for solo female travellers. I spent a few days there, walking around both day and night and felt completely safe.
- Plan your trip to Matsumoto around these festivals and events:
- Ice Carving Festival (first week of February) – see giant ice sculptures made by professionals
- Night-time Cherry Blossom Viewing & Corridor of Lights (April) – a beautiful display of lights and cherry blossoms at Matsumoto Castle
- Matsumoto Frog Festival (late June) – two-day festival on Nawate Street
- Tenjin Festival (July 24 & 25) – see festival floats and performances at Tenjin Fukushi Shrine
- Taiko Drum Festival (late July) – two days of taiko drum performances at Matsumoto Castle
- Matsumoto Bon Bon Festival (first Saturday in August) – people dressed in traditional clothing and dance to the tune the catchy tunes of Matsumoto Bon-Bon
- Shinshu Matsumoto Soba Festival (early October) – soba restaurants within Nagano Prefecture gather at Matsumoto Castle Park over this three-day event
- Yohashira Annual Festival (early October) – an annual festival with traditional wooden floats
How to get to Matsumoto, Japan
Plane
Shinshu-Matsumoto Airport (MMJ) is the nearest airport to Matsumoto. Only a few domestic flights (Osaka Itami, Kobe, Fukuoka, Sapporo) fly to MMJ.
However, international travellers may arrive at Haneda Airport (HND) or Narita International Airport (NRT) near Tokyo and take the express train or bus to Matsumoto.
Another option is to arrive at Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) near Nagoya, then travel to Matsumoto via train or bus.
Train
Several local and express train lines connect Matsumoto Train Station. The Shinonoi Line and Shinano Line goes to Nagano. Nagoya can be reached via the Shinano Line and Chuo Line (the same train line that visits some of the post towns on the Nakasendo Trail). Shinjuku Station in Tokyo can be reached via the Limited Express trains on the Chuo Line.
How to get around Matsumoto on your own
The best way to get around Matsumoto is on foot. The city is compact, and most attractions are within the city centre. If you follow this itinerary, you only need your comfortable walking shoes.
But there are several museums outside of the city centre that you might want to check out (if you are staying longer than a day). Matsumoto has a network of city buses. Just ensure you have your IC Card or can pay by cash.
There are also three tourist-oriented loop buses called the Town Sneaker. It costs￥200 per ride or ￥500 per pay. Buses on the loop lines operate for 20-30 minutes.
Matsumoto Day Trip Itinerary Summary & Attractions Map
Here is the summary of my Matsumoto itinerary:
- Matsumoto Castle
- Nawate Street
- Yohashira-jinja Shrine
- Ishii Miso
- Matsumoto City Museum of Art
- Nakamachi Dori
- Nakamachi Kurassic-kan
- Matsumoto City Museum
- Matsumoto food
- Matsumoto Brewery Tap Room
- Hot Springs
Below is an interactive map with all the highlights for my Matsumoto itinerary. Red pins indicate the must-see attractions during your day trip to Matsumoto, while blue pins indicate other things to do in Matsumoto if you have more time.
And I organized all these attractions into an efficient itinerary. All you have to do is follow the numbered pins and read the description for each attraction.
Best Things to Do in Matsumoto in One Day
1. Matsumoto Castle
Matsumoto Castle is one of Japan’s most beautiful and original castles (meaning it survived wars and natural disasters and remained in its original state). It is the city’s best highlight, so it is earning the first spot on this itinerary.
Built between 1592 and 1614, the black lacquered castle was initially built as a residence for military commanders during the Sengoku Period. It appears to have five stories (from the exterior), but there are actually six floors inside.
Today, you can see the original wooden interior, displays of carpentry tools used during construction, old firearms, and a panoramic view from the observation deck on the top floor. Watch out, though; the seven staircases inside the castle are super steep.
If you are in Matsumoto in spring, then you are in luck. The best time to visit Matsumoto Castle is around mid-April when hundreds of Somei Yoshino cherry trees bloom. Plus, many lights illuminate the castle in the evening.
Address: 4-1 Marunochi, Matsumoto | Hours: 8:30am-4:30pm | Admission: ￥700
2 & 3. Nawate Street and Yohashira-jinja Shrine
Nawate Street is a pedestrian shopping street on the north side of the Metoba River. It was designed to look like the old streets of the Edo Period. It is also known as Frog Street because of all the frog statues and amphibian-themed products. But even if you don’t like the froggie theme, there are still many things to see and buy; there are 50 small shops selling pottery, antiques, souvenirs and food.
Near the middle of Nawate Street is Yohashira-jinja Shrine. The 19th-century shrine is dedicated to four deities (“yohashira” means four pillars in Japanese), and it is rare for many deities to gather in one place. For this reason, many people believe the shrine has extraordinary wish-granting power.
Whether that is true or not, don’t miss Yohashira-jinja Shrine, especially in spring when cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and fall colours cover the temple ground during autumn.
Address: 3 Chome-3-20 Ote, Matsumoto | Hours: 24 hours | Admission: free
4. Ishii Miso
Miso is a soybean paste and an essential part of Japanese cuisine. And Matsumoto is Japan’s top producer (46%) of miso.
The local miso brewery, Ishii Miso, has been around since 1868. It uses a unique natural method that ferments miso in barrels for three years. The miso it produces is unlike the ones you find in supermarkets.
There is also an on-site restaurant where they serve different food featuring, you guessed it, miso! This is the perfect place to have lunch. I had the miso gyoza set, which includes pan-fried pork and vegetable dumplings, miso rice balls, salad, and pork miso soup. They also have a Shinshu pork steak set and miso pizza!
And to top it off, they have miso soft serve ice cream (which was amazing!)
Besides trying different types of food with miso, Ishii Miso Brewery conducts tours around the miso storehouse. I saw many groups of tourists walking through the premises. I read online that you can ask for a tour, too. I asked when I was there, but nobody was available at the time. It’s worth asking if you are there.
Address: 1 Chome-8-1 Uzuhashi, Matsumoto | Hours: 8am-5pm; lunch 11am-2pm | Admission: free
5. Matsumoto City Museum of Art
Matsumoto City Museum of Art is an art museum dedicated to the work of artists associated with the city. Its collections include many local artists, but the main attraction is the permanent collection of the Matsumoto-born artist Yayoi Kusama.
Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese contemporary artist who primarily works with paintings, sculptures, and installations. Her best conceptual artworks feature vivid colours and polka dots, including the famous giant yellow pumpkin with black polka dots.
It was a dream to see the pumpkin in person! I have to be honest; this was why I visited Matsumoto. And it is possible to take photos inside the yellow pumpkin room. Eek!
I think most people only visit the museum for Yayoi Kusama’s artwork. But there are also other rotating exhibitions of works by other Matsumoto artists, so make sure to check them out too.
Address: 4-2-22 Central, Matsumoto | Hours: 9am-5pm; closed Mondays | Admission: ￥410
6 & 7. Nakamachi Dori and Nakamachi Kurassic-kan
Nakamachi Dori is a shopping street in the historical area of Matsumoto. Along the 400-year-old street, many buildings have white and black grid pattern mortar walls called Namako. This is the signature look for the old earthen-walled storehouses where old merchants used to sell goods.
Today, many of these storehouses have been preserved and used as workshops, cafes, and restaurants. You can also find many shops selling different things, such as clothing, crafts, and mingei furniture (Matsumoto folk art furniture).
While you are wandering around Nakamachi Dori, look for outdoor water fountains. Some of them are hand-pump wells because Matsumoto has abundant natural ground water. It is free to use and drink (but not treated or purified)
Another highlight of Nakamachi Dori is Nakamachi Kurassic-kan. It was built between 1888 and 1923 and functioned as a sake brewery. You can go inside and see the refurbished building. Look for the sugi-dama (giant cedar ball that signified when a new batch of sake had finished brewing).
Address: 2 Chome-9-15 Central, Matsumoto | Hours: 9am-10pm | Admission: free
8. Matsumoto City Museum
I don’t always suggest local museums as part of my itinerary, but I really enjoyed Matsumoto City Museum’s permanent collection, which is comprehensive and informative. There are over 110,000 pieces of value items spanning over eight themes. You can learn about the history of Matsumoto, traditional events, people’s everyday lives and other interesting tidbits.
Moreover, the newly opened museum is a modern architectural gem within the historical city. The building has modern finishes, open spaces and a grand staircase. It features many Temari (hand-made balls made with woven silk yard, Matsumoto’s most well-known folk art) hanging over the museum foyer. And FYI, the Temari design is also seen on the manhole covers all over the city.
Address: 3 Chome-2-21 Ote, Matsumoto | Hours: 9am-5pm; closed Tuesdays | Admission: ￥500
9. Try one of Matsumoto’s food specialties for dinner
As for food, Matsumoto is known for Toji soba (buckwheat noodles) and Sanzoku-yaki (fried chicken). And if you are adventurous, you can try Basashi (horse meat sashimi) at one of the izayaka restaurants. Make sure to order a local sake, too. It is made with fresh mountain water.
Below are a few suggestions on what to eat and where to find the local specialties in Matsumoto. They are all exceptional restaurants and excellent for solo diners.
- Toji Soba – put buckwheat noodles in a small basket and dip them briefly into a hot pot full of mushrooms and other seasonal vegetables right before eating. Try the famous soba at Miyota.
- Sanzoku-yaki – means “mountain bandit bake”. The chicken is actually marinated in garlic and soy sauce mixture, coated with potato starch, and then fried. Try it at Kuromon or Shiduka (the restaurant also has mingei furniture).
- Basashi – horse meat sashimi. 草菴 is a cozy soba shop, but they also serve horse meat sashimi and excellent local sake. (I also had grilled freshwater fish Iwana and mountain vegetables)
10. Wander and drinks or Hot Springs at Hotel
The area between Matsumoto Station and Nawate Shopping Street is full of shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars. It comes alive when the sun goes down, so it is a good place to wander around after dinner (it is not dangerous at all to roam around at night on your own).
If you feel like a bevie, Matsumoto Brewery Tap Room is on the third floor of Shinmai Media Garden. You can try the unique craft beer made with fresh water from the Northern Alps.
Matsumoto is blessed with many natural hot springs areas. If you booked a hotel with an onsen (hot springs) like Onyado Nono Matsumoto Hot Spring or Matsumoto Hotel Kagetsu, perhaps spending a night in and soaking in the warm onsen water is on the agenda.
The hot spring at Onyado Nono Matsumoto is on the hotel’s top floor. While soaking in the onsen, you can see a view of Matsumoto. Not many hotel hot springs have views, so if you are booking this hotel, make sure to check it out.
Other Things to Do in Matsumoto Japan
I already packed the one-day itinerary full of activities. But if you are staying longer or want to swap out some of the activities, follow the blue pins on the map and find these suggested activities:
- Timepiece Museum (9am-5pm; ￥300) – a small museum with a rare collection of antique clocks and Japan’s biggest pendulum clock.
- National Treasure Former Kaichi School (temporarily closed from May to November 2024) – see the mix of Western and Asian architectural style buildings that was formerly a school but currently a museum displaying teaching materials from the Meiji period (1868-1912).
- Japan Ukiyo-e Museum (10am-5pm; ￥1,000) – see the world’s largest collection of ukiyo-e woodblock prints which were collected over 200 years by one of Matsumoto’s wealthy merchant families.
- Matsumoto Mingeikan Folk Art Museum (9am-5pm; closed Mondays; ￥310) – it is a small museum with over 6,000 unique pieces of folk art from everyday goods to textiles and of course, furniture. There are no English displays; use the Google Translate app.
- Utsukushigahara Onsen – see Yu-no-hara Yakushido Temple and enjoy a pleasant walk on a day trip. Or enjoy an overnight stay at one of the hot springs hotels.
- Asama Onsen – stay overnight at a traditional or modern ryokan (like Matsumoto Jujo; check Agoda or Booking) in this retro post-war Showa Era town.
Day Trips and Excursions from Matsumoto
Besides all the best things to do in Matsumoto, the city is also an excellent home base for seeing other parts of Nagano Prefecture. Zoom out and find the green pins on the Google Maps and follow the description below:
- Daio Wasabi Farm – visit Japan’s largest wasabi farm and try different foods made with wasabi, including wasabi chocolate and wasabi ice cream!
- Kamikochi – if you like hiking, visit the popular mountain resort town of the Northern Japanese Alps in Nagano Prefecture. It opens from April 17 to November 15.
- Narai-juku – visit the 34th post town on the Nakasendo Trail as a day trip. Or spend 1 to 3 days hiking the ancient samurai route. Most people hike the trail from Nagoya to Matsumoto, but it is possible to hike in the opposite direction.
- Takayama – see the narrow streets and old merchant houses in the historic Sanmachi district and attend the famous Takayama Festival in spring or fall.
- Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route – take a tour of this mountain sightseeing route, which is surrounded by 20m-high walls of ice connecting Toyama City and Omachi City.
Where to stay in Matsumoto as a solo traveller
I stayed at two hotels while travelling solo to Matsumoto. I learned about the hotel brands (the first two are below) from my trip to Nara; they are both excellent. I highly recommend both.
Plus, I’m including one I haven’t stayed at. The hotel and guestrooms feature Mingei folk art furniture, which I really like. When I go back to Matsumoto, I would stay there.
- Iroha Grand Hotel Matsumoto ($$) – the double room is basic but clean. The bonus was the free late-night ramen noodles and waffles! Check prices & reviews: Agoda and Booking
- Onyado Nono Matsumoto Hot Spring ($$) – I really like the cozy double room with tatami floors. The best part is the free rooftop hot spring and complimentary soba and ice cream. Check prices & reviews: Agoda and Booking
- Matsumoto Hotel Kagetsu ($$) – all the rooms are furnished with local mingei furniture. If you don’t stay there, eat at the hotel restaurant, and you can see the folk furniture. Check prices & reviews: Agoda and Booking
Is Matsumoto worth visiting as a solo traveller
Most people don’t know anything about Matsumoto, and to be honest, I didn’t either until I saw Yayoi Kusama’s Yellow Pumpkin on Naoshima Island. I learned about the artist and immediately wanted to visit Matsumoto.
If you like to get off the beaten path, enjoy contemporary art, and explore the rural side of Japan, then you must visit Matsumoto. It is an excellent city for solo travellers as it is very walkable and safe.
Let me know if you follow my Matsumoto itinerary and some suggested day trips and excursions or if you have any ideas for improving the itinerary.
Ready to plan your trip to Matsumoto? Here are some of my go-to travel planning resources:
* Book your flight: find flight deals on Skyscanner
* Book accommodation: find the best Matsumoto accommodations on Agoda or Booking
* Buy insurance: Safetywing is my go-to provider for travel insurance, as it covers many things. I will never travel without the Nomad Insurance Package because it protects me against unforeseen events. Get a quote today.
* Order a SIM card: order a SIM card in advance and set up your mobile phone before arriving in Japan.
* Join tours: check Klook for the best tours around Matsumoto.
Thank you for reading my solo Matsumoto itinerary
I have many posts on Japan so you might also like:
Introduction to Japan
- Solo Travel to Japan: 17 best cities for solo travellers
- Things I wish I knew before going to Japan
- Off-the-beaten-path places in Japan
- One month in Japan: from Tokyo to Hiroshima
Chubu region
- Nagoya Day Trip Itinerary: What to see in one day
- Nakasendo Trail Guide: 1 to 3-Day Itinerary for hiking on your own
- Takayama 2-day itinerary for first time solo travellers
- Shirakawa-go Solo Guide: How to get there & Itinerary
- Kanazawa Itinerary: 1 to 2 day Itinerary for Solo Travellers
- Toyama 1-Day Itinerary for Solo Travellers
- Karuizawa Itinerary: 1 or 2 Days
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Hi, my name is Queenie, and I’ve been a solo traveller for 20+ years and currently based in Hong Kong. Follow me on my adventures through Instagram and my blog!
