Matsumoto City Autumn Foliage Spots in the City of Matsumoto, rich in nature.
Surrounded by the Northern Alps and the Utsukushi-ga-hara Plateau, Matsumoto City is famous for its autumn foliage. The autumn foliage that begins on top of the mountains gradually makes its way down to the city center, and even in the city center, you can enjoy the scenery tinted in autumn. Here are some of the best places to enjoy the autumn leaves in Matsumoto, not only in famous sightseeing spots such as Kamikochi and Norikura Kogen, but also in the city itself.
<Recommended autumn foliage spots
1Agata no Mori Park
Enjoy Matsumoto's historical culture and autumn foliage in a park with a Taisho-romantic school building
This urban park is a place for citizens to relax, lined with a row of Himalayan cedar trees planted in the Taisho era, zelkova trees, and various other trees, a Japanese garden surrounding a pond, and a vast lawn area. The park has a peaceful atmosphere that one would not expect to find in the center of Matsumoto City, and the Western-style wooden building of the former Matsumoto High School, which stands in one corner, evokes Matsumoto's historical and cultural atmosphere.
In the spacious park, visitors can enjoy the variety of autumn leaves woven by the trees, which contrast beautifully with the atmospheric school building of the former Matsumoto High School, designated as an important cultural property. The Japanese garden with Utsukushi-ga-hara as its backdrop is enchanting with the beauty of the autumn leaves reflected on the surface of the water.
Autumn foliage viewing season: Usually from early November to mid-November.
Kinds of trees】Keyaki, ginkgo, horse chestnut, maple, mountain maple, azalea, etc.
- Agata no Mori Park
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3-2102-15 Ken, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
Approximately 23 minutes on foot from Matsumoto Station
Take a circular bus from Matsumoto Station, Town Sneaker East Course, and get off at "Former Matsumoto High School" stop.
0263-34-3254
2Alps Park
Enjoy panoramic views and autumn foliage in a nature-rich urban park spreading out on a hillside
Located on a hillside in downtown Matsumoto, this vast urban park overlooks the Northern Alps and Azumino Mountains to the west and the Utsukushi-ga-hara Plateau and Matsumoto City to the east. Taking advantage of the richly undulating terrain and nature, the park has a museum with an observatory, a small zoo, a 630-meter-long roller coaster that runs through a wooded course, various playground equipment, a mallet golf course, and other properties, making it a popular leisure spot for families and citizens.
In autumn, when the trees in the park turn bright colors, the park is crowded with people who come here for picnics to enjoy the magnificent view of the surrounding mountains dyed in autumn.
Autumn foliage viewing season: Usually from late October to mid-November.
Tree species】Cherry trees, maple trees, zelkova trees, and Japanese rowan cedars, etc.
- Alps Park
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- 2455-11 Arikazaki, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
- Approximately 15 minutes by car from JR Matsumoto
- Approx. 20 minutes from JR Matsumoto Station on the Alps Koen Line of the Alpico Kotsu Bus, and alight at the Alps Koen stop.
- 0263-34-5640
Free of charge
*Foliage conditions can also be checked on the live camera in the official Alps Park page
( http://toybox-net.jp/alpspark/live/live.asp )
3Shiroyama (Shiroyama) Park
A hill of relaxation where you can enjoy seasonal scenery and views of the autumn leaves in fall and rows of cherry trees in spring
Located on a hill overlooking the Matsumoto Plain from the Northern Alps, the park was originally opened to the general public at the end of the Edo period when the lord of Matsumoto Castle planted cherry and maple trees along the ruins of his old castle (Inukai-jo). It was one of the first parks in Nagano Prefecture to be fully developed in the Meiji period (1868-1912), and the depth of its history and culture can be felt from the monuments to poems by local writers such as Asai Min and Sugita Hisame.
The view from the cylindrical observatory, which is connected to the Alps Park by a ridge, is also popular. In spring, it is known as a cherry blossom viewing spot, and in fall, it is a favorite spot for enjoying the reddish cherry blossoms and maple trees.
Best time to view autumn foliage: Usually from early to mid-November.
Tree species】Cherry trees, maple trees, etc.
- Shiroyama Park
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- 1139 Arikazaki, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
- 10 minutes drive from JR Matsumoto Station
- 7 minutes by bus from JR Matsumoto Station to "Shiroyama Koen-guchi" bus stop by Alpico Kotsu Bus. 15 minutes walk from "Shiroyama Koen-guchi" bus stop.
- 0263-34-3254（Parks and Greenery Division, Matsumoto City)
- Free of charge
4Matsumoto City General Gymnasium
The yellow carpet is impressive. Dramatic rows of ginkgo trees with scenery that glows in the evening.
The general gymnasium adjacent to the Kissei Bunka Hall is also known as the main venue for the "Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival" held every summer. The highlight of autumn is the rows of ginkgo trees that stretch along the north side of the building. The trees were planted in 1926 when the former prefectural sports ground was established, and are approximately 100 years old.
The scenery is beautiful when the leaves turn golden, and romantic when the leaves fall and the ground becomes a carpet of yellow. The citizens of Matsumoto can also be seen picking up the gingko nuts that grow in clusters. The site is also home to maple trees and other trees, which provide a contrast between yellow and red autumn leaves.
Best time to view the autumn leaves: Usually from late October to early November.
Tree species】Ginkgo, maple, etc.
- Matsumoto City General Gymnasium
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- 5-1 Misuzu, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
- Approximately 15 minutes from JR Matsumoto Station by car
- From Matsumoto Bus Terminal, take "Shindai-Yokota Circulation Line", get off at "Sogo Gymnasium", and walk about 1 minute.
Free of charge- 0263-32-1818 (General gymnasium counter)
- Free of charge
5Uguisutemiyama Tenmangu Shrine
The peaceful precincts of the city in brocade autumn. Autumn foliage spots in a hot spring town known only to those in the know.
Asama Hot Spring, located in the north of Matsumoto City, boasts a 1,300-year history and was used as a bathhouse of the Matsumoto clan during the Edo period. It is a well-known hot spring that is popularly known as "Matsumoto's innermost spa," and was loved by literary figures such as Akiko Yosano and Yumeji Takehisa during the Meiji Era (1868-1912).
The Uguisutemeyama Tenmangu Shrine, located on a hill overlooking the hot spring resort, is a hidden beauty spot in autumn when the leaves turn red. The deciduous trees are beautifully colored with autumn leaves, and visitors can enjoy a quiet fall foliage viewing experience away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Best time to view the autumn foliage: Usually mid-October to mid-November.
Tree species】Maple trees, Japanese maple, etc.
- Uguisutemiyama Tenmangu Shrine
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- 3-26-1 Sengen Onsen, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
- Approximately 18 minutes from JR Matsumoto Station by car
- From Matsumoto Bus Terminal, take Asama Line or Shin Asama Line, get off at Asama Onsen Bus Stop, and walk about 10 minutes.
- Free of charge
- 0263-46-1800（Asama Onsen Tourist Association)
- None
MAP
- <Recommended autumn foliage spots
- Hoshino Resorts facilities nearby
