Matsumoto Castle Park

Matsumoto Castle is in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It sits in the Matsumoto Basin and is surrounded by the beautiful Japanese Alps. The views of the mountains from the castle are amazing.

Getting to Matsumoto Castle is easy. You can take a JR train from Shinjuku, Nagoya, or Nagano City. From Shinjuku, hop on a Super Azusa train heading to Matsumoto train station. If you're coming from Nagano City or Nagoya, take the JR Shinano limited express train. Once you get to the Station, the castle is just a 15-minute walk north, or you can take the Town Sneaker bus loop line from JR Matsumoto Station to get there in 5 minutes.

Matsumoto Castle was originally built in the late 16th century, during the Sengoku period. The main tower, which you can still see today, was finished by 1594. This was a time of a lot of fighting and social changes in Japan. Over the years, the castle has been fixed and improved many times. Even with these changes, the castle structures still look a lot like it did when it was first built.

Yes, you can go inside Matsumoto Castle. You can explore the castle's six-story main tower. Inside, there are exhibits of samurai armor and weapons, offering a look into Japanese history. Be ready for steep stairs and low ceilings, which are part of the old Japanese design. You can also climb to the top floor of the tower for a great view of Matsumoto City and the nearby mountains.

Plan to spend at least 1.5 to 2 hours exploring Matsumoto Castle. This will give you enough time to tour the six-story main tower, walk around the castle grounds, and visit the nearby Matsumoto City Museum. If you’re interested in taking pictures and enjoying the scenery, you might want to set aside even more time.

The best time to visit Matsumoto Castle is during the cherry blossom season when the castle moat and grounds are filled with blooming cherry trees. Another great time to visit is during the ice sculpture festival in winter, which adds a magical touch to the castle’s already stunning presence.

Matsumoto Castle is often known as the Black Castle or Crow Castle because of its black walls. Its black walls were made to scare enemies and cut down on the sun's glare. This unique color makes it stand out among other castles in Japan.