1
Shioribi

A retro book cafe renovated from an electronics store called "Takahashi Radio Shokai." The first floor is primarily a cafe space, while the second floor features retro decor and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined with various books and magazines. Most of the selected books are "little press" publications, printed in small quantities. Since they are mostly art books that are rarely found in bookstores, you can encounter volumes that offer new values and lifestyles. Once you find your favorite book, enjoy reading it at your leisure in one of the comfortable retro chairs or sofas. It is a cafe that feels like a stylish study, where you can experience the unique sensibility of little press publications.

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Whether reading a book or relaxing with a coffee, you can spend your time however you like in this very comfortable space.

Enjoy a relaxing morning and lunch

For the cafe menu, the morning set of toast and a drink is popular. It is only available from 7:00 to 11:00, but enjoying breakfast in the unique silence of栞日 (Shioribi) is a relaxing moment. You can enjoy it to your heart's content along with the selected books.
In addition, the coffee served uses beans roasted at the famous Kyoto shop "KAFE Kousen." The beans, carefully finished by a master roaster, are enough to impress even coffee lovers. Please enjoy them with baked goods like donuts and cookies.

Shioribi

• 3-7-8 Fukashi, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 10-minute walk from JR Matsumoto Station
• 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
• Wednesday (subject to temporary closures)
• 0263-50-5967
• Free

2
Matsumoto City Museum of Art

Located a 12-minute walk from Matsumoto Station is the "Matsumoto City Museum of Art." Near the entrance, outdoor sculptures by Yayoi Kusama, who has ties to Matsumoto City, are on display. Additionally, the polka-dot pattern that symbolizes Yayoi Kusama is painted on the facility's walls, welcoming visitors with its unique colors and shapes.
The museum mainly exhibits and houses works by artists with ties to Matsumoto City, serving as a place where local residents can easily engage with art, and it is also popular as a tourist spot.

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The Town Sneaker (city loop bus) "Polka Dot Ranbu," featuring an eye-catching design by Yayoi Kusama, is a special bus you can only ride in Matsumoto. Keep an eye on the license plate, too!

Exhibitions with a rich variety of works

The permanent exhibition room on the 3rd floor displays paintings and three-dimensional works by Yayoi Kusama, calligraphy by the famous calligrapher Shinzan Kamijo, and paintings by Kazuo Tamura, who loved the mountains of Shinshu. The exhibits are changed three times a year, allowing visitors to encounter many different works. Another exhibition room also features themed displays curated by museum staff, which are changed about three times a year, adding to the enjoyment.
The museum shop offers a variety of products, including Yayoi Kusama tenugui (hand towels) that can only be purchased at the Matsumoto City Museum of Art, original goods related to the artists whose works are on display, and craft items unique to Matsumoto City, which is famous for its craft fairs.

Matsumoto City Museum of Art

• 4-2-22 Chuo, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 12-minute walk from Matsumoto Station
• From Matsumoto Station, take the Alpico Kotsu Bus "Kita-shinai Line (East Loop)" and get off at "Matsumoto City Museum of Art"
  From Matsumoto Station, take the Town Sneaker "East Course" and get off at "Matsumoto City Museum of Art"
• 9:00–17:00 (Last admission 16:30)
• Mondays, Year-end and New Year holidays
• Collection Exhibition: Adults 410 yen, University/High School Students 200 yen, Junior High School Students and younger are free
• 0263-39-7400
• Free

3
Soba Club Sasaki

A renowned restaurant where you can taste precious native buckwheat varieties from places like Shinshu's Hijiri Highlands and Togakushi. These are characterized by smaller grains and a stronger flavor and umami compared to standard buckwheat.
The buckwheat is purchased with the husks on, stored at low temperatures to bring out its sweetness, then stone-ground in-house and hand-kneaded with a perfect ratio of less than 10% (7-8%) binder. The dipping sauce is also delicious, made with a superb natural dashi using bonito flakes from Shizuoka, grilled flying fish from Ogasawara, and Rausu kelp, further enhanced by the fragrant soy sauce from the local Okubo Brewery.
For the most popular "mori soba," which allows you to enjoy the true aroma of the buckwheat, we recommend trying it with salt (Himalayan rock salt) first. You can directly experience the rich aroma and sweetness of the buckwheat.
You can also enjoy side dishes such as the "smoked platter," featuring smoked chicken breast, liver, duck, and venison.

At night, it turns into a stylish soba bar

At night, the restaurant turns into a soba bar where you can enjoy drinks, snacks, and soba. In a space filled with jazz music, you can enjoy local sake, shochu, and craft beer carefully selected by the owner. Have a drink with dishes that change based on the day's market, such as soba salad or red wine-braised beef cheek. You can spend a sophisticated time finishing your meal with thin-cut soba.
It is located about a 10-minute walk from Matsumoto Castle and about 5 minutes from Nakamachi-dori and Nawate-dori streets, making it a convenient location for both lunch and dinner.

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Try your first bite with just a little salt, and you will be amazed by the rich aroma of the buckwheat!
As you can tell from the shop's indigo-dyed noren curtain, this is a popular spot that forms long lines on holidays.

Soba Club Sasaki

• 4-8-3 Ote, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 13-minute walk from Matsumoto Station
• Lunch 11:30–14:00 (ends when sold out)
  Dinner 18:00–20:00
• Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesday evenings (reservations can be discussed for Sundays)
• 0263-88-3388

4
Taiyaki Furusato

Founded in 1946, this taiyaki specialty shop is located on Nawate-dori, a famous street in Matsumoto that feels like a festival every day. The most popular item is the classic "taiyaki" filled with sweet red bean paste. It is large and thick, with the filling packed all the way to the tail. The crispy, thin skin and the perfectly sweet bean paste are exquisite, making it the perfect treat when you are tired from walking around.
There are three types of taiyaki: the classic red bean, custard, and a wiener taiyaki seasoned with mayonnaise. In the summer, we also recommend the "taiyaki ice cream," which features ice cream on top of the bean paste, sandwiched between taiyaki monaka wafers.

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I was moved by the red bean paste packed from head to tail! The azuki beans are fluffy, and the crust is crispy.

Traditional single-grilled

The taiyaki are "natural" style, meaning each one is baked individually in its own mold. They are carefully baked using traditional methods. The cast-iron molds have been in continuous use since 1970. We are also particular about our ingredients, using high-quality adzuki beans from Hokkaido and a variety of wheat flour called Shirane from Nagano Prefecture, which is known for its strong flavor and texture.
You should expect a line during the tourist season, but Nawate-dori, with its row of nagaya-style shops, has a Showa-retro atmosphere, and it is fun to wait while enjoying the surroundings and watching them bake.

Taiyaki Furusato

• 4-1 Ote, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 13-minute walk from Matsumoto Station
• 10:00–17:00
• Irregular holidays
  *Monthly business days are posted on the official Instagram page
• 0263-39-5552

5
Raijindo Matsumoto Nawate-dori Store

This shop is famous for its hand-grilled senbei (rice crackers), each one baked individually using domestic rice, primarily from Yamagata. By dipping them in a blend of "saishikomi" (double-brewed) soy sauce, which is rich in both flavor and aroma, they are finished with an even more fragrant taste. In addition to senbei, the shop always stocks about 70 types of products, including arare and kakimochi, allowing you to enjoy a variety of flavors from classic to unique.
For strolling along Nawate-dori, we recommend the "take-out senbei" served in a paper cup. The sweetness and savory aroma of the rice used as the main ingredient will whet your appetite. You can purchase them at the storefront, so why not stop by when you are feeling a little hungry?

Unique senbei (rice crackers) such as double-dipped soy sauce and raw garlic flavors

Products are packed tightly not only at the storefront but also inside the shop. A popular item is the "Nure-Kari Mochi," made by breaking baked rice crackers and allowing the flavor to soak deep into the center, similar to a wet rice cracker. It is finished using a unique method with two types of soy sauce. There is also a wide variety of broken rice crackers, including those flavored with grated garlic.
The flavor exclusive to the "Matsumoto Nawate-dori Store" is the "Shinshu Miso Senbei," which is made by coating baked rice crackers with blended miso and then drying them. Among the 15 to 16 varieties, the "Zarame Miso," a perfect match of sugar and miso, the "Kurumi Miso," with the pleasant texture of walnuts, and the limited-time "Ume Miso," made with homemade plum jam, are particularly popular.
With such a wide range of flavors and textures of rice crackers available, you are sure to find your favorite taste here.

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Senbei with messages written in icing and heart-shaped senbei are also popular as souvenirs.

Raijindo Matsumoto Nawate Street Store

• 3-3 Ote, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 10-minute walk from Matsumoto Station
• 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
• Irregular holidays
• 0263-35-0333

6
Frog Shop RiBBiT

The symbol of Nawate-dori Street is the "frog." Starting with the "Kaeru Daimyojin" (Great Frog Deity) enshrined in the center of the street, you can see frog-related items everywhere, such as stone frog statues and photo-op panels, and there is even a specialty shop for frog goods. That shop is "Kaeru no Omise RiBBiT."
Once you enter the shop, you are surrounded by frogs of various styles. The goods collected by the frog-loving owner are diverse, ranging from works by local artists to imported goods and vintage items sourced from auctions. True to the owner's words, "I want to make this a shop where you can feel happy just by stopping by," there are many unique and exciting goods lined up.

A wide variety of unique frog-themed goods that will leave you spoilt for choice

Frog-themed goods are available in all genres of crafts and miscellaneous items, including fabric products, stationery, and accessories. We recommend the "cork coasters" designed by Marie, who is from Matsukawa Village in Azumino. They are all hand-drawn, with each one featuring a different illustration and message.
Also popular is the American-made "frog-patterned cotton." It is a 54x50cm piece of fabric available in 225 different patterns. If you purchase your favorite frog pattern and make a handmade item, you will have a one-of-a-kind frog good. In addition, there is a wide selection of reasonably priced items that you will want to use every day, such as pouches.

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You will be captivated by the many frog-themed goods carefully selected by the owner! It is a fun shop that I always want to stop by when I come to Nawate Street.

Frog Shop RiBBiT

• 4-3 Ote, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 12-minute walk from Matsumoto Station
• Around noon - around 4:00 PM
• Irregular holidays
• 0263-88-2626

7
Chez Momo

Walking along the Metoba River, your eyes will be drawn to an adorable exterior that looks like it belongs in a European alleyway. This is a popular shop known for its handmade confiture and scones. The additive-free confiture, created by an owner who has lived in France, offers a flavor that stands apart from the rest, featuring combinations of several fruits or the addition of spices. With the exception of citrus fruits, the shop uses seasonal local produce such as peaches, grapes, and apricots, and the presence of the chunky fruit pieces is truly impressive.
There are over 150 varieties of confiture in their repertoire, with about six types available in the store at any given time.
They also offer a wide selection of imported confiseries (sugar candies) such as chocolates, caramels, hard candies, and gummies.

Confiture made with fresh fruit

Inside the shop, you can sample the confiture, which is a great way to compare the different flavors. Each one is irresistibly delicious, standing out for its freshness and fragrance, as if you were tasting the fruit itself. The shop is filled with unique confitures you won't find anywhere else, such as "Lemon and Whiskey" or "Banana, Caramel, and Pepper," and this sense of exclusivity makes them even more tempting to buy.
The homemade scones are made with eggs, butter, and yogurt. They have a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture that isn't dry, making them the perfect pairing for the confiture.
Sets of confiture and scones are perfect as souvenirs or small gifts.

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Many of the confitures feature unusual combinations, and you will be surprised by the new flavors!

Chez Momo

• 4-4-16 Ote, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 13-minute walk from Matsumoto Station
• 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
• Wednesdays, 2nd Thursday, and irregular holidays
• 0263-32-2968

8
Agata no Mori Park

Agata-no-mori Park, with its spacious grassy Peace Plaza, Japanese-style garden pond, and playground equipment, is a beloved place of relaxation for the city's residents. In addition to enjoying the seasonal scenery such as fresh greenery and autumn leaves, the park is also known as a filming location for movies, dramas, and information programs.

The row of Himalayan cedar trees that continues from the park entrance is one of the park's most iconic sights. You can spend a relaxing time walking among the historic trees or taking a break on a bench in the shade.

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It is also recommended to bring a bento and your favorite book to enjoy a picnic-like atmosphere.

Wooden buildings from the Taisho era remain on the premises

At the park entrance, the main building and auditorium of the former Matsumoto Higher School, built in the Taisho era, remain and are designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan. Currently used as the "Agata-no-Mori Culture Hall," it retains highlights that convey the atmosphere of the past, such as the restored principal's office and grand staircases with wood carvings. It is a spectacular building where you can feel the architectural style of the time, which incorporated Western influences, in every detail.

The adjacent Former Higher School Memorial Museum introduces student life and culture of the time through materials related to former higher schools across the country (admission free). A cafe operated by Matsumoto Hotel Kagetsu is also located inside the building, allowing you to spend time while feeling the charm of the historic structure.

Agata no Mori Park

• 3-2102-15 Agata, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 23-minute walk from Matsumoto Station
• Take the Town Sneaker East Course loop bus from Matsumoto Station and get off at "Kyu-Matsumoto Koko" (Former Matsumoto High School), right there.
• 0263-34-3254

9
Tokishirazu

A chicken hot pot and kaiseki restaurant located on Nakamachi Street, which is lined with kura-style storehouses. The space, a renovation of a storehouse built in 1892 (Meiji 25), features a Japanese-modern design with impressive large beams. You can enjoy the restaurant's signature chicken hot pot while sitting around an irori hearth table, which is also a work by a woodworker specializing in traditional Japanese furniture and Edo sashimono. The Kyoto-style chicken hot pot, made with a secret collagen soup simmered from chicken bones and chicken wings, with high-quality kelp added for flavor, has a rich, addictive taste. The chicken, with its perfect texture and rich flavor, is also exquisite.
At the counter seats, you can enjoy an omakase counter kaiseki. It is a 7-course kaiseki meal that incorporates French touches, featuring seasonal ingredients.

A relaxing space cut off from the outside world

The main building features an open, airy space with a vaulted ceiling. The first floor is lined with counter seats, while the second floor has tatami seating overlooking Nakamachi Street. The alcove is decorated with plaster embedded with rice ears. The detached storehouse is a private room with a capacity of 8 people, where you can enjoy a meal in a calm, secluded atmosphere away from the daily grind.
Immersing yourself in the atmosphere of Matsumoto that you explored while walking through the castle town, and savoring an exquisite hot pot in a charming kura-style space—this is the perfect place to end your historical stroll.

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They also have a selection of Nagano-grown wines, so you can enjoy a sophisticated treat with your drink. It is the kind of shop that leaves both your heart and stomach satisfied, making you want to come back again.

Tokishirazu

• 3-4-20 Chuo, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 13-minute walk from Matsumoto Station
• 17:30–22:00 *Last entry at 21:30
• Wednesdays
• 0263-36-7559