Matsumoto Castle
Matsumoto Castle |
Matsumoto Castle and the Castle Town
Matsumoto, nestled in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture, is a city of around a quarter million people that's justly famed for its magnificent castle, which dates from the late 1500s and is one of the very few original castles still extant in Japan.
Matsumoto Castle |
Listed as a National Treasure of Japan, Matsumoto Castle features a striking black-lacquer exterior from which it gets its nickname of "Karasu-jo" ("Crow Castle").
Nagoya Bus Center |
Matsumoto |
From there, the castle is reached by a leisurely stroll of about ten minutes.
Matsumoto Castle |
Matsumoto Castle |
I bought my ticket, asked for an English-language brochure, and headed for the entrance.
Matsumoto Castle |
At the gate, I was greeted by two members of the castle's Omotenashi-tai, a troupe in period costumes on hand to greet visitors.
Omotenashi-tai |
Matsumoto Castle |
Once inside the castle, you're immediately faced with a set of steep stairs – the first of many on your way to the top. Some of these stairways are so sharply inclined they seem more like ladders!
Matsumoto Castle |
From the outside, the castle looks like it's five stories high, but inside there are actually six floors, with a nearly windowless secret story that served as a hidden stronghold for soldiers in times of battle.
Matsumoto Castle |
Some floors contain display cases showing the armor and weaponry of the day.
Matsumoto Castle |
Matsumoto Castle |
Also on exhibit are one of the former wooden rooftop shachi – mythical marine monsters that were held to provide protection against fire – as well as some of the tilework and other materials used in the castle.
Matsumoto Castle |
Matsumoto Castle |
Matsumoto Castle |
Speakers along the way provide multilingual commentary about the castle.
Matsumoto Castle |
From the top floor you have views of the grounds and city beyond, and when the weather is clear, you can see the imposing peaks of the Japan Alps that surround Matsumoto.
Matsumoto Castle |
Matsumoto Castle |
There's also a small Shinto shrine in the rafters.
Matsumoto Castle |
Matsumoto Castle |
Once back outside, I explored the grounds a little, and found the gift shop.
Matsumoto Castle |
Matsumoto Castle |
Matsumoto Castle |
Matsumoto Castle |
Near the Kuromon gate I also found a free English guide service that you can take advantage of.
Matsumoto Castle |
A couple blocks east along the main road there's a friendly tourist-information center offering maps and brochures in English and other languages.
Matsumoto Castle and the Castle Town |
Matsumoto Castle and the Castle Town |
I then headed a few blocks south to the castle town that lies along the river, stopping along the way to enjoy a delicious lunch of fresh handmade soba noodles – a specialty of this part of Nagano Prefecture.
Matsumoto Castle and the Castle Town |
Handmade soba noodles |
Nawate-dori, the street running along the river's northern bank, has adopted a frog theme. I was told that this came from when the city was smaller and less developed, and the river was home to a species of frog noted for its especially pleasant call.
Nawate-dori |
Nawate-dori |
The street is lined with many food stands and shops selling souvenirs and more. Some of them offer items in keeping with the street's "frog" theme.
Nawate-dori |
Nawate-dori |
Nawate-dori |
Nawate-dori |
Nawate-dori |
I stopped at one food stall to try a taiyaki, which is sort of a fish-shaped filled waffle. Normally the filling is sweet – azuki bean paste and custard are common – but this one was savory, and contained a sausage. Very tasty!
Nawate-dori |
Taiyaki |
Taiyaki |
Taiyaki food stall |
I was tempted to wash it down with one of the local craft beers also available at this stand.
Local craft beers |
Instead, though, I opted for a locally produced soda on sale at another nearby shop. Cold and refreshing!
Nawate-dori |
Locally produced soda |
Then I crossed the river and explored Nakamachi-dori, the street on the southern bank.
Nakamachi-dori |
Nakamachi-dori |
Here I found more souvenir and food vendors, including a taproom operated by the brewery of the bottled craft beers I'd spotted earlier.
Nakamachi-dori |
Nakamachi-dori |
Nakamachi-dori |
One grocery was selling mochi – cakes of pounded rice with a pleasingly sweet coating of kinako, made from powdered soybeans.
Nakamachi-dori |
Mochi |
I also found a shop devoted to tsukudani – sweet soy-stewed items that include fish, vegetables...
Nakamachi-dori |
Tsukudani |
Tsukudani |
...and even such insects as grasshoppers, bee larvae, and silkworm pupae!
Tsukudani |
Tsukudani |
Moving on, I stepped into the showroom for a dealer in locally handcrafted furniture.
Nakamachi-dori |
Nakamachi-dori |
Nakamachi-dori |
Wandering a bit further afield, I encountered many public wells maintained by the city. The water in Matsumoto is considered especially pure and good-tasting, and many of the soba restaurants, coffee shops, and other businesses in the area make a point of using water from these wells.
Nakamachi-dori |
Nakamachi-dori |
Nakamachi-dori |
I also noticed that many of the structures in the castle town maintain the traditional look of tile roofs and a latticed outer wall design known as namako-kabe, a combination of tile and outward-rounded joints of white clay used to protect against fire and other damage.
Nakamachi-dori |
Nakamachi-dori |
Nakamachi-dori |
Even one of the convenience stores had gotten into the act!
Nakamachi-dori |
Matsumoto offered far more to explore than I had time for on this excursion, so I definitely plan to go back again!
Matsumoto Castle |
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SHORYUDO Bus Pass- Matsumoto, Magome, Komagane Course-
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- 4-1, Marunouchi, Matsumoto-shi, Nagano
- 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (last entry at 4:30 pm)
- 0263-32-2902
- http://www.matsumoto-castle.jp/lang/