Matsumoto Discovery - Half Day Walking Tour
Overview
Discover a real feudal era castle and the historical streets!
Matsumoto is a city with deep-rooted living traditions and proud people who retain an ancestral way of life that we have to honor and respect! Get an introduction into Matsumoto’s past and present during a 3 hour half-day walking tour.
Make your stay in Matsumoto the most unique and enjoyable experience possible! Your guide will help you enjoying the best of the city.
Our half-day Matsumoto Castle Town Walking Tour is designed to reveal the living traditions of our city by following a different route to and from the castle, and in doing so, bring the history and tradition of the famous castle town to life!
Take more than just a tour, discover ancient history and wisdom, have a unique and enlightening experience! Get a glimpse of all there is to explore in Matsumoto City!
Tour available in English, French and Japanese.
Matsumoto is a city with deep-rooted living traditions and proud people who retain an ancestral way of life that we have to honor and respect! Get an introduction into Matsumoto’s past and present during a 3 hour half-day walking tour.
Make your stay in Matsumoto the most unique and enjoyable experience possible! Your guide will help you enjoying the best of the city.
Our half-day Matsumoto Castle Town Walking Tour is designed to reveal the living traditions of our city by following a different route to and from the castle, and in doing so, bring the history and tradition of the famous castle town to life!
Take more than just a tour, discover ancient history and wisdom, have a unique and enlightening experience! Get a glimpse of all there is to explore in Matsumoto City!
Tour available in English, French and Japanese.
Inclusions
- English or French speaking Guide
- Entry/Admission – Matsumoto Castle
- Entry/Admission - Matsumoto Castle
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Matsumoto Castle, 4-1 Marunouchi, Matsumoto 390-0873 Nagano Prefecture
Matsumoto Castle is one of five castles designated as ‘National Treasures of Japan’ and the oldest castle donjon remaining in Japan. Construction began in 1592 of the elegant black and white structure with its three turrets. Because of the elegant black walls, Matsumoto Castle is sometimes called ‘Crow Castle’.
Please note that the stairs to reach the top of Matsumoto Castle’s tower are steep and narrow.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Nawate Shopping District, Matsumoto Nagano Prefecture
Nawate Street is a row of small shops with a subtle but recurring frog theme. Aside from a variety of snack shops, the street also has plenty of little nick knack shops and souvenirs. Yohashira Shrine is also on Nawate Street and is a lovely place to sit while enjoying your taiyaki or rice crackers.
Feel free to stroll along Nawate Street and enjoy a relaxed rural village atmosphere within the heart of the city. Here you will find warm culture and hospitality and maybe a souvenir or two!
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Nakamachi Street, Chuo, Matsumoto 390-0811 Nagano Prefecture
Nakamachi Street is a historic shopping area known for its old traditional storehouses called “Kura” which are characterized by their black-and-white, criss-cross patterned walls. This beautiful street is also a popular shopping area among the locals with many shops and restaurants to choose from.
You can find many Japanese handicrafts, such as pottery, lacquerware and wooden crafts.
Nakamachi retains this mercantile spirit, landmark of which is the old “Kurassic-kan”, a fully restored Sake warehouse, open to the public for viewing and host to many cultural activities.
Duration: 30 minutes
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Matsumoto Castle, 4-1 Marunouchi, Matsumoto 390-0873 Nagano Prefecture
Matsumoto Castle is one of five castles designated as ‘National Treasures of Japan’ and the oldest castle donjon remaining in Japan. Construction began in 1592 of the elegant black and white structure with its three turrets. Because of the elegant black walls, Matsumoto Castle is sometimes called ‘Crow Castle’.
Please note that the stairs to reach the top of Matsumoto Castle’s tower are steep and narrow.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Nawate Shopping District, Matsumoto Nagano Prefecture
Nawate Street is a row of small shops with a subtle but recurring frog theme. Aside from a variety of snack shops, the street also has plenty of little nick knack shops and souvenirs. Yohashira Shrine is also on Nawate Street and is a lovely place to sit while enjoying your taiyaki or rice crackers.
Feel free to stroll along Nawate Street and enjoy a relaxed rural village atmosphere within the heart of the city. Here you will find warm culture and hospitality and maybe a souvenir or two!
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Nakamachi Street, Chuo, Matsumoto 390-0811 Nagano Prefecture
Nakamachi Street is a historic shopping area known for its old traditional storehouses called “Kura” which are characterized by their black-and-white, criss-cross patterned walls. This beautiful street is also a popular shopping area among the locals with many shops and restaurants to choose from.
You can find many Japanese handicrafts, such as pottery, lacquerware and wooden crafts.
Nakamachi retains this mercantile spirit, landmark of which is the old “Kurassic-kan”, a fully restored Sake warehouse, open to the public for viewing and host to many cultural activities.
Duration: 30 minutes
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
L6082NYfranckl
August 2023
Excellente visite du château et de la ville, avec des très bonnes explications accessibles pour toute la famille. Merci encore!
Excellente visite du château et de la ville, avec des très bonnes explications accessibles pour toute la famille. Merci encore!343inmaculadam
June 2022
Mi visita a Matsumoto no hubiera sido la misma sin la guía de Sylvain. Aunque es un lugar imprescindible que visitar en Japón por su castillo, no creo que lo hubiera aprovechado y disfrutado tanto sin Sylvain. Se me pasó volando el tiempo. Además de la explicación del castillo en profundidad y bi...
Mi visita a Matsumoto no hubiera sido la misma sin la guía de Sylvain. Aunque es un lugar imprescindible que visitar en Japón por su castillo, no creo que lo hubiera aprovechado y disfrutado tanto sin Sylvain. Se me pasó volando el tiempo. Además de la explicación del castillo en profundidad y bien documentada pude disfrutar de otros lugares emblemáticos de la ciudad. Sylvain atendiendo a mis preferencias e intereses fue adaptando la visita. Un tour 100 % recomendable con la guía de Sylvain, muy profesional y muy completo gracias a su experiencia de vida en Japón, su conocimiento de la ciudad y cultura que compartió en todo momento con mucha amabilidad y atención. Esto hizo que disfrutara mucho mi visita a Matsumoto. Gracias Sylvain!!101raa
January 2020
Visite de Matsumoto très intéressante et très agréable avec Sylvain. Parcourir la ville avec lui nous a permis de mieux comprendre et apprécier cette étape du voyage. Guide prévenant, chaleureux et sympathique. Nous recommandons vivement.
Visite de Matsumoto très intéressante et très agréable avec Sylvain. Parcourir la ville avec lui nous a permis de mieux comprendre et apprécier cette étape du voyage. Guide prévenant, chaleureux et sympathique. Nous recommandons vivement.silvertec100
December 2019
superbe visite du château de matsumoto , surtout grâce au guide qui nous a ravi de ses connaissances.
superbe visite du château de matsumoto , surtout grâce au guide qui nous a ravi de ses connaissances.Robin_S
March 2023
Matt our English, japanese speaking guide showed excellent knowledge of Matsumoto and of the Matsumoto Casle history. Enjoyed the tour and would recommend totally.
Matt our English, japanese speaking guide showed excellent knowledge of Matsumoto and of the Matsumoto Casle history. Enjoyed the tour and would recommend totally.Christy_Z
March 2023
Sylvain was wonderful as a guide. I hadn't planned time for lunch, so he was kind enough to change our tour plans and sat and talked with us as we ate soba at a local restaurant. He also helped me find some ibuprofen for my headache at the drug store next to the train station. On our walk to the ...
Sylvain was wonderful as a guide. I hadn't planned time for lunch, so he was kind enough to change our tour plans and sat and talked with us as we ate soba at a local restaurant. He also helped me find some ibuprofen for my headache at the drug store next to the train station. On our walk to the castle he pointed out a number of interesting places, including a modern intersection that was the location where two ancient roads had met. I would never have paid any attention to it without him telling us and talking about where the historical castle town overlays with the modern city. He had a lot of neat stories that made exploring the town and castle much more interesting.