Matsumoto women's trip. Driving around Matsumoto for a walk through the history and a gourmet meal!
Matsumoto City is a great area for a drive to enjoy a stroll through history, with Matsumoto Castle, the old Kaichi School, and Nakamachi-dori Avenue with its rows of storehouse buildings. Nakamachi-dori is also rich in historical atmosphere and has many spots that tickle a woman's fancy, such as select stores and casual food stores perfect for eating and walking. In addition, we would like to introduce some of the most notable spots in Matsumoto that you may want to stop by when you visit, such as restaurants with spectacular views that are easily accessible by car.
＜Recommended women's travel spots in Matsumoto
1National Treasure Matsumoto Castle
Matsumoto Castle, a symbol of the castle town of Matsumoto and a national treasure, was built around 1894, and only two castles with a five-story, six-story castle tower still exist: Himeji Castle and Matsumoto Castle. Visitors can experience a valuable historical asset.
As you walk toward the majestic castle, the first thing that catches your eye is the gate, walls, turrets, and other devices such as the stone fall and the narrow space between them. You will realize once again that the castle functioned as a fortress. The steep stairs inside the castle tower lead to the third floor, which has no windows and is concealed by a two-tiered roof, and the 61-degree staircase on the fourth floor and the moon-viewing turret, which is connected to the castle tower, are well worth seeing. The top floor, the 6th floor, offers an exhilarating 360-degree panoramic view of the city.
You can admire weapons and equipment.
On the second floor, where you can learn more about the battles of the time, we recommend that you take your time and enjoy the view. The firearms, weapons used in battles, and military equipment are on display, and in addition to a booth that introduces the structure and mechanism of the guns, you can also see the lattice window where the firearms were shot.
Matsumoto Castle also hosts a variety of other events. We recommend that you visit the castle in accordance with the season, such as at night when the cherry blossoms bloom and tea ceremonies are held. Visitors can also enjoy "Matsumoto Castle VR" by downloading the dedicated "Street Museum" application (free of charge). When you hold up your smartphone or tablet device at one of the nine locations within the castle, a reproduction of Matsumoto Castle in the Edo period based on historical facts will be projected, and an audio guide will introduce you to the historic site.
- Matsumoto Castle
-
4-1 Marunouchi, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
Approximately 15 minutes on foot from JR Matsumoto Station
Approx. 21 min. on the Town Sneaker North Course bus from JR Matsumoto Station to the Matsumoto Castle/Shiyakusho-mae stop.
8:30-17:00 (last admission at 16:30)
G.W. and summer: 8:00-18:00 (last admission at 17:30)
New Year's Eve 10:00 - 15:30 (last admission at 15:00)
Year-end (December 29-31)
Adults 1,300 yen, Elementary/junior high school students 400 yen
0263-32-2902
2Old Kaichi school building
The Old Kaichi School, built in 1876, is one of the oldest elementary schools in Japan. The quasi-Western-style building with beautiful white walls was designed and constructed by a local carpenter master builder with reference to the Kaisei School, the predecessor of the University of Tokyo, etc. It was designated as a National Important Cultural Property in 1961.
The exterior, with its mix of Japanese and Western styles, including sculptures of dragons and auspicious clouds and angels, tiled roof with karahafu (Chinese gables) and octagonal toya (tower house) with balconies, is truly a symbolic design of the civilization and opening of Japan. Once inside the building, visitors can see the spiral staircase and the brightly colored glass (gyamans), which show the design of the carpenters who took on the challenge of new architectural styles.
Nostalgic space that recreates a classroom from those days
In the reference exhibit, a reproduction of a classroom with desks from the 1950s is a popular attraction. Visitors can actually sit on a chair or open a desk drawer and feel as if they have stepped back in time by touching things from that era.
Among the exhibits are rare items that give visitors a glimpse into the world of the time, such as a "blue-eyed doll" sent from the U.S. in 1927, materials from the "babysitting class" where children who could not go to school due to babysitting duties were accepted, and a Misuzu rug, a traditional Matsumoto craft that was laid out like a carpet. The name of the store means selfishness.
- Former Kaichi School Building
-
- 2-4-12 Kaichi, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
- From Matsumoto Station, take the Town Sneaker North Course bus. 1 minute walk from the "Old Kaichi School" stop.
- 9:00-17:00 (admission until 16:30)
- December 29-January 3, Mondays from December to February, and the third Monday from March to November
- Adults 300 yen, Elementary/Junior high school students 150 yen
- 0263-32-5725
Free of charge
3Oimo Biyori Matsumoto Nakamachi
Along Nakamachi-dori Street, lined with warehouses, is a sweet store specializing in sweet potato sweets. The menu, which uses ripened sweet potatoes, includes a wide variety of Japanese and Western sweets such as baked sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes, puddings, and shakes.
Of these, we recommend the "Beni Ureshi," a baked sweet potato with a sticky texture. The rich honey and smooth texture of the baked sweet potato can be enjoyed hot or cold. For those who want to eat it while walking around, they cut it and attach a spoon.
The secret of the delicious taste is the thoroughly controlled aging method
All products use "aged sweet potatoes" made from sweet potatoes produced with special care from the soil and stored in a special storehouse for about two months to accumulate sweetness. After baking in the store's far-infrared oven, the sweet potatoes are further aged at a low temperature to bring out their natural sweetness and umami to the maximum extent.
The "Daidaimo" (large sweet potatoes), filled with special honey after baking, are sold in mini trays of four (available only at the Nakamachi store).
During the hot season, baked sweet potato gelato, shakes, and "Omo Stick," a crunchy college sweet potato eaten while frozen, are also popular.
- Oimo Biyori Matsumoto Nakamachi
-
- 2-10-17 Chuo, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
- 10 minutes walk from Matsumoto Station
- 10:30-18:00
- Closed on weekends and holidays
- 0263-88-3996
- None
4Seltie
The name of the store was coined from the word "Selfish," meaning selfish. The items are selected based on the concept of "like a selfish, carefree, and free girl (......). The store carries rare domestic brands that are difficult to purchase even in Tokyo, and some customers come all the way from other prefectures to visit the store. In addition to clothing, the store also offers a wide variety of accessories such as shoes, accessories, and bags, as well as men's and children's items, making it a great place for families.
A selection worth taking the trouble to visit
The brands we carry are all unique in design. Among them, "Mame Kurogouchi," created by a world-renowned designer from Nagano Prefecture, is popular for its designs that express feminine elegance and delicacy through embroidery and textiles.
Other attractive collections selected include "ohta," whose bold patterns and neutral silhouettes add softness to the mode feel, and "Ka na ta," whose unique style has a strong presence and is only carried in a few stores in Japan.
5Shiroyama Park
The park was developed as Matsumoto City's first park in the early Meiji period (1868-1912), and is still a popular recreational spot for residents. It is also known as a cherry blossom viewing spot, and a cherry blossom festival is held in early April when the approximately 500 cherry trees are in full bloom. After the cherry blossoms fall, the park is decorated with satsuki (azalea), azalea, and wisteria trellises, creating a spectacular spectacle of flowers.
The grass plaza is the perfect place to relax in the shade of the trees or play on the playground equipment. A monument inscribed with poems by poets associated with Matsumoto has also been erected, allowing visitors to experience Matsumoto's culture.
This is a great spot to visit for a stroll or picnic.
The observatory offers a spectacular view of Matsumoto City
There is an observatory in the park, and the view from the top of the spiral staircase is not to be missed. You can enjoy a panoramic view of the mountains of the Northern Alps, including the city of Matsumoto to the southeast and Mt. If you visit the observatory, be sure to bring your camera, as you can see wonderful scenery in all seasons: snow in winter, lingering snow in spring and early summer, and autumn leaves in fall. The evening and night views are also wonderful, but the best time to visit is before sunset, when the scaffolding becomes less secure.
It takes a little longer to get to the observatory from the bus stop, but it takes about 5 minutes from the free Parking to the observatory.
- Shiroyama Park
-
- 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
6Café SENRI
The cafe is an official distributor of "Royal Sweet Vanilla Soft" from Karuizawa Cafe de Minoriya, which uses the highest quality vanilla. The high-quality soft serve ice cream, which is rich yet has a refreshing aftertaste, is legendary and was once loved by John Lennon and many other celebrities. Multiple toppings can be added, including Shinshu apple honey, Shinshu buckwheat honey, caramel, Mont Blanc, and seasonal fruits.
Take-out is also available. Shinshu buckwheat flour tacos
We also recommend the Soba Taco, a crepe dough made from Shinshu buckwheat flour, which has a delightfully chewy texture. It is popular among women because it is easy to eat in or take out, and is just the right size to fill a small stomach.
Other items on the café menu are ice cream on crepe, which is a rolled crepe with brown sugar and topped with ice cream and fruit sauce, and original 100% juice made from locally grown grapes and apples with no additives or sugar added.
- Café SENRI
-
- 2-9-11 Chuo, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
- 10 minutes walk from Matsumoto Station
- 10:30 - until sunset *July - October: 10:00 - 10:00
- Open all year round *Wednesdays only from December to March
- 0263-33-5868
- None
7Sunday in Provence
This secluded Restaurant offers cuisine from the Provence region of southern France in a perfect location overlooking the Northern Alps and the city of Matsumoto. Using fresh vegetables from local farms, home-grown herbs, wild vegetables and mushrooms that the owner himself gathers in the mountains, and other carefully selected ingredients, the cuisine beautifully expresses the colors and flavors unique to the South of France.
Both dinner and lunch courses are prix fixe style, with a choice of seven different main dishes that change with the seasons and feature fresh fish or beef and pork from Nagano Prefecture. The most popular dish is the "Provence-style Wagyu Beef Hamburger Steak. This flavorful dish incorporates a mixed herb called "Herve de Provence," and is a regular menu item that can be enjoyed all year round. The restaurant offers a variety of dishes that make the most of nature's bounty, using an abundance of vegetables, and a course menu that you can select to your liking is sure to satisfy you and bring you to a moment of bliss.
French cuisine with attractive sweets
There are also a variety of sweets available for takeout. The "Matsumoto Bon Bon," the grand prix winner of the Matsumoto Sweets Contest 2018, is a perfect combination of caramelized Matsumoto apples and sweet potatoes. The runner-up, Ichigo Ichie, is a new taste sensation that combines Matsumoto's single green onion and miso paste in a finanfe. Both are suitable as small gifts for your loved ones.
- Sunday in Provence
-
- 4-3-35 Namiyanagi, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
- From Matsumoto Stn., take the Alpico Transportation bound for Namiyanagi Danchi and get off at "Namiyanagi Elementary School". 5 min. walk from the bus stop.
- Lunch 11:30-14:00
Dinner 18:00 - 20:00 (L.O. 19:30)
Open for tea time from 14:00 to 16:00 by reservation - Thursdays, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays
- 0263-28-5550
- Free of charge
MAP
- ＜Recommended women's travel spots in Matsumoto
- Hoshino Resorts facilities nearby
Local Guide who was in charge of this article
- Noe Inagaki Matsumoto Hai Kara Girl's Club
