Alps Castle Town under the cultural fragrance
Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, there are express trains from Shinjuku, easy to access from the downtown area, and it is crowded with many tourists throughout the year. In addition to scattered various historical sites including the National Treasures Matsumoto Castle, it is also a city that can make various ways to enjoy, such as unique events, the city skyline that is suitable for walking around and even hot springs and highlands.
Matsumoto-shi, with the catchphrase “Alps Castle Town under the cultural fragrance,” is a city with a population of approximately 240,000 people spreading at the foot of the North Alps. There are many sights such as “National Treasures Matsumoto Castle,” “Old Kaichi school building” designated as an important cultural asset, “Nawate-Dori street” and “Nakamachi-Dori Street” leaving the castle town side view. Especially “National Treasures Matsumoto Castle” is a popular area where many tourists visit home and abroad.
Besides, Matsumoto city is dotted with many tourist attractions. If you are enjoying the strolls and enjoying those spots slowly, it is recommended that you stay instead of a day trip. If you have more time to spare, you may want to visit the neighboring Azumino-shi. Azumino is a popular area lined with Matsumoto with a peaceful country scenery that also became the TV drama location and many attractive sightseeing spots.
From April to May, tourism to the Matsumoto area is recommended when the surrounding mountains are covered with fresh green. Matsumoto tends to hold a cool image even in the summer, but it is not unusual to have a severe heat over 35 degrees actually in summer. On the other hand, it is freezing in winter because it is a city in the North Alps’ foot. Even for that reason, April and May, where you can feel Shinshu’s refreshing breeze, is the best season for Matsumoto sightseeing.
Historic national treasure Matsumoto castle over 400 years old is the oldest in Japan as an existing turret with 5 tiers and 6 above-ground floors. Only 12 castles will leave the castle in the country, and the turret having 5 tiers is a rare castle with only Matsumoto Castle and Himeji Castle.
Keep finished with black lacquer and white plaster, the contrast between black and white is beautiful, with the majestic Northern Alps as the background, it becomes a splendid scenery with the changing seasons.
Charms and Highlights of Matsumoto-jo Castle
Very elegant appearance
Matsumoto Castle is a symbol of Matsumoto in Nagano. This beautiful castle comparing the black and white, shows an exquisite appearance backed by the Northern Alps. The main tower built from the last stage of the Azuchi-Momoyama era to the Edo period‘s early stages is designated a national treasure. The ruins of the castle are specified as a national historic site. Before calling it Matsumoto Castle, it was called Fukashi-jo Castle.
For citizens, it is also called alias Karasu-jo Castle (Crow Castle).
“Fukugo-shiki” (directly connected)
The unity of the large keep, Tatsumi tsuke-yagura (Southeast Connecting Tower), and Tsukimi-yagura turret, which was built in the time of peace, is called “Fukugo-Shiki” (directly connected) and symbolize each time. This “Fukugo-Shiki” (directly connected) is a characteristic structure seen only in Matsumoto-jo Castle.
The castle tower of the only Hirajiro
It is a nawabari (castle plan; a general term for the layout of a castle and its component structures) castle tower complex, which consists of a 5-tiered, 6-story multi-level tower-type large keep, a 3-tiered, 4-story Inui-kotenshu small keep, a 2-tiered Tatsumitsuke-yagura turret, and a Tsukimi-yagura turret, being the castle tower of the only Hirajiro (a castle built on a flatland) among the ’12 existing castle towers.’
Withstood the hardships of about 400 years
The crisis of several continuations is overcome by civic passion, withstood the hardships of about 400 years, and the main tower of the Age of Civil Wars as it is is saved. It was designated as the national treasure in 1936 after a large repair of the Meiji period. It is one of the four national treasure citadels in Himeji Castle, Hikone Castle, and Inuyama Castle.
Loved as a symbol of Matsumoto
The outskirts are maintained as Matsumoto-jo Castle park. The majestic figure of the Northern Alps and various expressions to show every season are beautiful, and it is loved as a symbol of Matsumoto.
Information(Access, Price/Charge, Tel, Address, Official site, etc.)
| Name: | Matsumoto-jo Castle |
| Adresse: | Marunouchi 4-4-1 Matsumoto, Nagano 390-0873 Japan |
| Access: | JR Shinonoi-sen Line “Matsumoto-eki Station” (15 minutes walk) |
| Tel: | (+81) 263-32-2902 |
| Price: | 610 yen (Adult) 300 yen (Elementary and Junior High students) Free (Under 6 years old) Please refer the official web page. |
| Official site: | http://www.matsumoto-castle.jp/ |
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