A castle town with Japan's oldest donjon
Fukashi Shrine where we once had a New Years Night together with the inhabitants of Matsumoto with Daruma fire and Sake donated by the monks.

Agatanomori Park with traditional handcraft markets in late autumn. Displayed are solar heater for water boiler which are used in remote areas of the mountains


 

Matsumoto, situated almost right in the center of Nagano and known as the gate to the North Alps' climbing routes prospered as a castle town at the foot of Matsumoto Castle. The Castle's donjon that was built in 1615 is Japan's oldest existing donjon and is designated as a national treasure. In the summer, Taiko (Japanese drums) Festival and Takigi No (No-play under torchlight) are held in the castle and attract many visitors.
Along the Nakamachi Dori Street on the south of the castle are many old merchant houses built in the old godown style and warehouses built with walls covered with square tiles jointed with raised plaster.

Matsumoto-shi Hakari Kan is a former warehouse of the Tanakas, a weights and measures shop that was established in 1902, and exhibits a collection of measuring tools. The former Kaichi School building is a western style building built in 1876 and is open to the public as an education museum.
The large, green Shiroyama Park, at an altitude of 800 meters, is where Dejiro the guarding branch castle for Matsumoto Castle used to be. The view of North Alps from the park is beautiful, and it is a famous cherry blossom spot in the spring. The neighboring Matsumoto City Alps Park has popular field athletic facilities, as well as the 995 meter-long Dream Coaster.