13 Sights in Matsumoto, Japan (with Map and Images)

Legend

Churches & Art
Nature
Water & Wind
Historical
Heritage & Space
Tourism
Paid Tours & Activities

Welcome to your journey through the most beautiful sights in Matsumoto, Japan! Whether you want to discover the city's historical treasures or experience its modern highlights, you'll find everything your heart desires here. Be inspired by our selection and plan your unforgettable adventure in Matsumoto. Dive into the diversity of this fascinating city and discover everything it has to offer.

Sightseeing Tours in MatsumotoActivities in Matsumoto

1. Matsumoto Castle

Show sight on mapBook Ticket*
Matsumoto Castle Lightning toothed whale (稲妻ノ歯鯨) / CC BY-SA 4.0

Matsumoto Castle , originally known as Fukashi Castle, is one of Japan's premier historic castles, along with Himeji and Kumamoto. It was the seat of Matsumoto Domain under the Edo Period Tokugawa shogunate. It is located in the city of Matsumoto, in Nagano Prefecture.

Wikipedia: Matsumoto Castle (EN), Website

2. 牛伏寺

Show sight on map
牛伏寺 Taken with Canon IXY 10S / CC BY-SA 3.0

Gofukuji Temple is a temple of the Chizan sect of Shingon Buddhism located in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. The name of the mountain is Mt. Kinpuzan. The honzon is the eleven-sided Kannon. It is located in the middle of the western side of Mt. Hachibushi (1,929 meters). It has long been known as a temple of Shugendo, and is one of the largest temples in the prefecture and boasts cultural properties.

Wikipedia: 牛伏寺 (JA)

3. Matsumoto City Museum

Show sight on map

Matsumoto City Museum is a museum located in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. Approximately 100,000 historical materials related to Matsumoto Castle and folklore materials donated by citizens will be held and permanently exhibited.

Wikipedia: 松本市立博物館 (JA)

4. 兎川寺

Show sight on map

Tosenji Temple is a temple of the Chizan sect of Shingon Buddhism located in Satoyamabe, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. The name of the mountain is Mt. Ehitaka Teruyama. The honzon is a thousand-handed Kannon. Shinshu Seven Lucky Gods' Old Man Temple. For details, it is called Ehitaka Teruzan Usagi Reizui Temple.

Wikipedia: 兎川寺 (JA)

5. Agata no Mori Park

Show sight on map

Agata no Mori Park is a city park (district park) located in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The facilities of the former Matsumoto High School remain. Cedar and zelkova trees are planted. Many of these cedars were planted by the second principal of Matsumoto High School, botanist Chutaro Oto. A lawn, a pond, and playground equipment are installed in one corner, making it a place of relaxation for children and adults alike. It covers an area of approximately 61,000 square meters.

Wikipedia: あがたの森公園 (JA)

6. Yohashira Shrine

Show sight on map

The Four Pillars Shrine is a shrine located in Ote, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. Locally, it is called "Shinto (Shinto) Mr./Ms." from the annual festival "Shinto Festival" in October. In addition, locals tend to misread the four pillars as "shihashira".

Wikipedia: 四柱神社 (JA)

7. 徳運寺

Show sight on map
徳運寺

Tokuunji Temple is a temple of the Soto sect located in Iriyamabe, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. The name of the mountain is Mt. Fukuda. At the time of its founding, the name of the temple was Dekuunji Temple, which was a temple of the Rinzai sect. The honzon is the eleven-sided Kannon.

Wikipedia: 徳運寺 (松本市) (JA)

8. 長野縣護國神社

Show sight on map

Nagano Gokoku Shrine is a Gokoku Shrine located in Misu, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It enshrines the natives of Nagano Prefecture who were martyred in the national crisis from the Meiji Restoration to World War II.

Wikipedia: 長野縣護國神社 (JA)

9. Kaichi School Museum

Show sight on map

The Kaichi School in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture was one of the first schools in Japan. It opened in a temporary building in May 1873, the year after the first major education reforms were introduced by the new Ministry of Education. The school moved to new premises in April 1876. This western-style building, fused with Japanese elements, was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1961. Relocated two years later during work on the nearby Metoba River, in 1965 the old school building was turned into an education museum.

Wikipedia: Kaichi School (EN)

10. Japan Ukiyo-e Museum

Show sight on map
Japan Ukiyo-e MuseumBoberger. Photo: Bengt Oberger / CC BY 3.0

The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum (JUM) is a privately owned Japanese art museum in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture. It holds over 100,000 Japanese woodblock prints, regarded as the world's largest collection of this form of art.

Wikipedia: Japan Ukiyo-e Museum (EN)

11. 深志神社

Show sight on map

Fukashi Shrine is a shrine located in Fukashi, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The former shrine was a prefectural shrine, and now it is a separate shrine of the shrine main office. It is commonly known as "Heavenly God".

Wikipedia: 深志神社 (JA)

12. 林城跡

Show sight on map
林城跡

The Ogasawara clan castle sites were a number Sengoku period yamashiro-style Japanese castles located in what is now part of the city of Matsumoto, Nagano prefecture. These fortifications were built in the Muromachi period by the Ogasawara clan, who ruled the area at the time. Two of the castle ruins, that of Igawa Castle and Hayashi Castle, have been protected collectively as a National Historic Sites since 2017.

Wikipedia: Hayashi Castle (EN)

13. 弘法山古墳

Show sight on map

The Kōbōyama Kofun (弘法山古墳) is a large kofun burial mound located in the Nakayama neighborhood of the city of Matsumoto, Nagano in the Chūbu region of Japan. The site was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1976.

Wikipedia: Kōbōyama Kofun (EN), Website

Share

Spread the word! Share this page with your friends and family.

Disclaimer Please be aware of your surroundings and do not enter private property. We are not liable for any damages that occur during the tours.