Matsumoto Castle Matsumoto — **Matsumoto Castle**
Matsumoto

[Introduction]

Today will be spending most of our day in Matsumoto visiting the Matsumoto Castle aka Crow Castle (due to castle’s black exterior colour), Nawate Street, Nakamachi District, and Matsumoto City Museum of Art. We also did some light night walk around at Nagano Gondo District.

[Trip Report]
Day 1: Explore around Nagano
Day 2: Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
Day 3: Matsumoto Castle, Nakamachi District, Matsumoto City Museum of Art and night exploring around Nagano [current post]
Day 4: Nagano Zenkoji Temple and Kanazawa Higashi Chaya District
Day 5: Shirakawago
Day 6: Hida-Takayama, Hida-Furukawa, and “Your Name” location spots
Day 7: Kanazawa Omicho Market, Kenrokuen Garden, and Kanazawa Castle Park
Day 8: Explore around Osaka
Day 9: Osaka Shinsekai, Tempozan Ferris Wheel, Glion Museum, and Cosmo Tower Observatory
Day 10: Osaka Castle, Gozabune Boat, HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel, and Kuchu Teien Observatory
Day 11: Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kinkakuji, and Yasaka Shrine
Day 12: Osaka Dotonbori, Kaiyukan, and Shinsekai
Day 13: Kyoto Fushimi Inari, Ginkakuji, and Arashiyama
Day 14: Okayama Korakuen, Okayama Castle, and Kojima Jeans Street
Day 15: Miyajima
Day 16: Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park, Peace Memorial Museum
Day 17: Yufuin
Day 18: Hakata Ohori Park, Fukuoka Castle Ruins, and Fukuoka Tower
Day 19: Nanzoin Temple

[Travel Date]
2019-10-27 to 2019-11-14

[Main Content]

Woke up early and went to a combini (convenient store) to get some onigiri and canned coffee for a quick breakfast again.

Then off we go on a ride to Matsumoto Station via a Limited Express train from Nagano Station.

Matsumoto Castle - Swans at the castle moat Matsumoto — **Matsumoto Castle - Swans at the castle moat**
Matsumoto

[Matsumoto Castle]

It was about 15 minutes walk from Matsumoto Station to Matsumoto Castle, but it was a bad rainy weather that morning.

Upon purchasing our admission ticket, we saw a memorial stamp booth while going into the main castle grounds.

(I came to realize during my entire trip that almost all Japan attractions, be it places, theme trains, etc will always have those)

Matsumoto Castle - Mascot Standee Matsumoto — **Matsumoto Castle - Mascot Standee**
Matsumoto

Couple of the firing spots in the castle.

Some of the firearms used in the era on display, but damn look at the details and ornaments of it!

Took these cityscape photos at the top of the castle keep which is on the 6th floor, you can get to see the 4 directions view on that floor. To get up there we have to also climb a few flights of very steep stairs, the 4th floor stairs are the steepest.

From the photos, you also see that day’s gloomy rainy weather, but still happy to see a nice cloud silhouette and mountains in the distance.

Matsumoto Castle - Nijyu-rokuya shin (26-day old noon god) Matsumoto — **Matsumoto Castle - Nijyu-rokuya shin (26-day old noon god)**
Matsumoto

Nijyu-rokuya shin, a god to worship which is placed right at the very top of the keep.

You can read more of the legend here on their official website.

Matsumoto Castle - Infantryman Helmet Matsumoto — **Matsumoto Castle - Infantryman Helmet**
Matsumoto

Overall it was an interesting visit, feel like we can really see the history through it.

In my opinion, I feel it is still preserved as an authentic representation (to a certain extent) of the castle back in those days, in compared to say Osaka Castle which is already fully modernised and renovated inside to look like a museum and with lifts.

Matsumoto Castle Chrysanthemum Exhibition Matsumoto — **Matsumoto Castle Chrysanthemum Exhibition**
Matsumoto

[Matsumoto Castle Chrysanthemum Exhibition]

There is also a chrysanthemum exhibition going on during our period of visit, so we also went to take a look.

A few rows of booths displaying chrysanthemum and chrysanthemum bonsai, I’m not a flower person so pardon my flower photography and knowledge haha!

[Matsumoto City Museum]

Since our admission ticket to the castle is also inclusive the admission to Matsumoto City Museum, so why not! :D

(Also to escape the rain and warm up for a bit, since we are under the rain earlier for around 30 minutes while viewing the chrysanthemum exhibition)

Kobayashi Soba Matsumoto — **Kobayashi Soba**
Matsumoto

[Lunch at Kobayashi Soba]

After we finished our sightseeing at Matsumoto Castle and Matsumoto City Museum, we went to Kobayashi Soba for lunch.

The restaurant does have a long history and located very near Matsumoto Castle, and right beside Nawate Street.

Do click on the link for the detailed review and full photos.

Nawate Street Matsumoto — **Nawate Street**
Matsumoto

[Coffee Marumo]

After exploring a bit of Nawate Street, actually it’s just a short street with 2 rows of shophouses selling souvenirs, snacks, local crafts, clothing, etc.

But at that time it was still raining quite substantially, so we walked over to Coffee Marumo to have a break and to escape from the rain.

Do click on the link for the detailed review and full photos.

Nakamachi Street Matsumoto — **Nakamachi Street**
Matsumoto

Not sure why but I totally forgot to take any photos of Nakamachi Street and it’s shops. We even browse for quite a bit at one of the clay pottery shop, wanted to get a cup but was sold out.

But the area has a number of local handicrafts, clothing, accessories shops and restaurants.

Private persimmon tree in a neighbourhood Matsumoto — **Private persimmon tree in a neighbourhood**
Matsumoto

After the break and rain started to subside, we continue our route to Matsumoto City Museum of Art.

Along the way through many residential houses, we saw one of the houses have a persimmon tree!

[Matsumoto City Museum of Art]

Matsumoto is the hometown of famous Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, so how could we miss her permanent exhibition at this museum!

Matsumoto City Museum of Art To the Future, from Matsumoto, 2016, Yayoi Kusama (the art on the building) Matsumoto — Matsumoto City Museum of Art
To the Future, from Matsumoto, 2016, Yayoi Kusama (the art on the building)
Matsumoto

Matsumoto City Museum of Art The Visionary Flowers, 2002, Yayoi Kusama Matsumoto — Matsumoto City Museum of Art
The Visionary Flowers, 2002, Yayoi Kusama
Matsumoto

Matsumoto City Museum of Art Dots Obsession, 2009, Yayoi Kusama Matsumoto — Matsumoto City Museum of Art
Dots Obsession, 2009, Yayoi Kusama
Matsumoto

Even from the exterior of the museum, you could see her art living at the place; from the courtyard, building itself, public area displays.

Even the vending machines are tribute to her! And no, you can’t buy the polka dots cans.

This is the hallway to Yayoi Kusama’s exhibition, the actual exhibition itself prohibits photography, so yeah no photos of it.

Do give it a visit and see for yourself if you’re in Matsumoto!

After we finished viewing the exhibition, we went to the museum store and (no) surprise lots of Yayoi Kusama’s merchandise. From sculpture, key chain, pouch, magnet, cases, and of course art books.

Store selling cute stuff Matsumoto — **Store selling cute stuff**
Matsumoto

Yohashira Shrine Matsumoto — **Yohashira Shrine**
Matsumoto

Our route back to Matsumoto Station via Nawate Street, since the sky has cleared up a bit, took a few photos of the area and at Yohashira Shrine.

Cute Akita Inu (I think?) while walking back to the JR station Matsumoto — **Cute Akita Inu (I think?) while walking back to the JR station**
Matsumoto

Traffic Junction Matsumoto — **Traffic Junction**
Matsumoto

[Dinner at Bocchi]

After taking the Limited Express back to Nagano Station, we went over to Bocchi for our dinner.

In short, they serve the best Shinshu Togakushi Juwari (100% Buckwheat) Soba I ever eaten at the point of time!

Do click on the link for the detailed review and full photos.

[Gondo Shopping Street]

Didn’t managed to see much other than pubs, host/hostess bars, ramen/food stalls, and pachinko. But then we only walked around the main shopping street, didn’t explore the alleys and surroundings, cause well, we are tired.

Decided to head back after a while (as it is another early morning tomorrow), so we walked to Gondo Station to take the local train back to Nagano Station.

Nagano Dentetsu Nagano — **Nagano Dentetsu**
Nagano

[Closing]

After taking the old school train (and train station) which is the Nagano Dentetsu aka Nagaden to Nagano Station, it’s back to the hotel to rest.

Tomorrow will be our last morning in Nagano, which we will explore Zenkoji Temple in the morning. After that, we will be checking out of the hotel and taking the Shinkansen to Kanazawa!

[Buy Me A Coffee]

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Blog

Japan 2019 Trip Day 3: Matsumoto Castle, Nakamachi District, Matsumoto City Museum of Art and night exploring around Nagano

[Introduction]

[Main Content]

[Matsumoto Castle]

[Matsumoto Castle Chrysanthemum Exhibition]

[Matsumoto City Museum]

[Lunch at Kobayashi Soba]

[Coffee Marumo]

[Matsumoto City Museum of Art]

[Dinner at Bocchi]

[Gondo Shopping Street]

[Closing]

[Buy Me A Coffee]