- AREA
- Snow Monkey Park
- Yudanaka & Shibu Onsen
- Shiga Kogen
- Obuse & Suzaka
- Nagano City
- Nozawa Onsen
- Hakuba
- Alpine Route & Toyama
- Matsumoto
- Karuizawa & Kusatsu Onsen
- Kiso Valley
- Takayama
- Iiyama & Madarao
- Myoko Kogen
- Kanazawa
- Nagoya & Kii Peninsula
- Mount Fuji & Hakone
- Yuzawa & Niigata
- Tokyo
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One of Japan's Last Great Castles
Matsumoto Castle is a registered National Treasure and without question, the cultural heart of city and surrouding region.
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Enjoy the Kusama Yayoi Collection
A Matsumoto native, it is only natural that the Matsumoto City Art Museum proudly exhibited Japan's most famous contemporary artist.
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A Small but Thiving City
Though small, Matsumoto is home to a great food scene, craft breweries, shopping and nightlife.
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Kamikochi & Chubu Sangaku National Park
Only one hour from central Matsumoto, the alpine valley of Kamikochi is one of Japan's most stunning natural landscapes.
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Explore Azumino
Located just outside of Matsumoto City, the rural enclave of Azumino is home to tranquil pastures but lively festivals!
AREA MAP
Google MapMatsumoto
Lying the shadow of the North Japan Alps, Matsumoto is a small but historic city most famous for its more than 400-year old original castle. As one of the few remaining original castles in Japan, it is a registered National Treasure and heart of the city.
Visitors to Matsumoto will discover a thriving city that can be fully explored on foot including historic shopping streets, designer and craft stores, great food and plenty of cafes and bars. The city is also home to a thriving arts scene, thanks to Matsumoto-native Kusama Yayoi’s permanent collection being exhibited at the Matsumoto City Art Museum.
From the city, visitors can make their way to nearby Azumino – a beautiful rural enclave – or head high into Japan’s tallest mountain range and onto the Chubu Sangaku National Park including Mount Norikura, Norikura Kogen and the stunning alpine valley of Kamikochi.
GENERAL INFORMATION
ACCESS
TOURS
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[SPECIAL EVENT] Takato Castle Park Cherry Blossom Tour
Highlights Visit Takato Castle Park ̵… -
1-Day Tour: Matsumoto Castle & Kamikochi Alpine Valley
Highlights Visit Matsumoto Castle – one o… -
[START FROM MATSUMOTO/AZUMINO] Private Snow Monkey Tour
Best known for its near-400 year … -
2-Day Private Tour: Matsumoto Castle, Nakasendo and Countryside Azumino
Situated between Matsumoto and i… -
1-Day Matsumoto Castle & Local Food Experience Tour
*For residents of Japan eligible f… -
[AUG 14 ONLY] 1-Day Tour: Azumino Fireworks Festival & Snow Monkeys
*Due to restrictions in place to prevent t… -
[SEPT 27 ONLY] 1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys & Local Ofune Festival In Nagano
*Due to restrictions in place to prevent t… -
2-Day Snow Monkey Tour: Nagano To Takayama via Matsumoto
Highlights Explore Zenko-ji – a Nat…
ACTIVITY
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Matsumoto Castle
As a registered National Treasure, Matsumo… -
Kamikochi
Located approximately 50km to the west of … -
Matsumoto City Museum of Art inc. the Kusama Yayoi Collection
The Matsumoto City Museum of Art exhibits … -
Nawate-Dori (Frog Street)
Matsumoto’s Nawate-dori shopping street is… -
Nakamichi Street
Located between JR Matsumoto Station and M… -
Japan Ukiyo-e Museum
The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum is said to boast … -
Ishii Miso Brewery
Located around 20-minutes walk from Matsum… -
Daio Wasabi Farm
Located in the beautiful region of Azumino… -
Rokuzan Art Museum
One of 18 museums making-up the Azumino ‘A… -
Chihiro Art Museum
Dedicated to the life and work of children… -
Takahashi Setsuro Art Museum
Housed in a tranquil modern building, the … -
Fruit-picking in Azumino
Azumino’s climate is excellent for growing… -
Cycling in Azumino
Cycling is not only one of the best ways t… -
Silk Weaving at the Azumino Tensan Center
Located in the Hotaka Onsen-kyo area of Az… -
Hotaka Onsen-kyo
Hotaka Onsen-kyo is a small ‘onsen’ (hot s… -
Utsukushigahara Highlands & Open-Air Museum
Within easy reach of Matsumoto City, Utsuk… -
Hike Across the 'Roof of Japan' on the Northern Japan Alps Mountain Trail from Azumino
The Northern Japan Alps, also known as the… -
Mount Norikura & Norikura Kogen
Within easy reach of Kamikochi, Mount Nori… -
Shirahone Onsen
Lying nearby the popular destinations of M…
HOTELS
EVENT
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Azumino O-Fune Matsuri (Ship Festival)
Sep 26-27th
The Azuimno O-Fune Matsuri or ‘Shi… -
Azumino Fireworks Festival
Aug 14th
*Due to restrictions in place to p… -
Azumino Kamiakari
Dec-6 to Dec-8
Held every year in the early cold … -
Matsumoto Craft Fair
Last Saturday and Sunday of May
May is known as the Month of Craft… -
Tatsuno Hotaru (Firefly) Festival "Japan's fireflies dance"
Mid-June
The Tatsuno Hotaru Festival (辰野ほたる… -
Matsumoto Bon Bon Festival
First Saturday of August
Matsumoto Bon Bon is a music festi…
BLOG
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#TRAVELTOMORROW: Japan Set to Lower Travel Advisories for Certain Countries
It’s important to start this blog by ... -
#SNOWMONKEYRESORTSLOCAL: Nagano in Autumn – ‘Koyo’ Season Will Soon Be Here!
Over the past week, the temperature h... -
#SNOWMONKEYRESORTSLOCAL: ‘Go To Travel’ Extended to Tokyo as of October 1st 2020
As highlighted in our recent blog art... -
#SNOWMONKEYRESORTSLOCAL: What is Japan’s ‘Go To Travel’ Campaign?
For our friends living in Japan, you ... -
Enjoy Nagano in Summer – Open Spaces, Cool Evenings & Lots to Do!
If you are living in Nagano or headed... -
#TRAVELTOMORROW: Fruit-picking in Nagano – an Ideal Outdoor Activity in Summer & Autumn
As we head into the middle of summer,... -
#TRAVELTOMORROW: Relax & Renew in the Hot Springs of Central Japan
When planning your travel in Central ... -
#TRAVELTOMORROW: Clean Green & Healthy – Discover Central Japan
When researching and planning a visit... -
#TRAVELTOMORROW: Clean Green & Healthy – Accessing Medical Assistance in Japan during COVID-19
In anticipation of the borders openin... -
#TRAVELTOMORROW: Clean Green & Healthy – Choosing your Accommodation in Japan
When considering your future travel t... -
#TRAVELTOMORROW: Clean Green & Healthy – When Can I Travel to Japan & is it Safe?
At the time of writing, entry to Japa... -
#TRAVELTOMORROW: Clean Green & Healthy Japan
As announced in our recent blog, our ... -
Snow Monkey Resorts Update: Introducing our Dedicated COVID-19 Information Pages
In response to the ongoing impact of ... -
#TRAVELTOMORROW: Plan Your Visit to on of Japan’s Most Stunning Natural Landscapes
Nestled high in the Chubu Sangaku Nation... -
2020 Nagano Cherry Blossom Forecast
Known as 'sakura', cherry blossoms are s... -
ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY & DISCOVER THE TRUE NATURE OF JAPAN: INTRODUCING OUR 2-DAY PRIVATE TOUR TO AZUMINO, NAGANO
Located within three hours of Tokyo, A... -
RECOMMENDED FIREWORKS FESTIVALS IN NAGANO
You can't say that you have experienced th... -
ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY & ENJOY THE BEST OF JAPAN THIS AUTUMN! BEST DAY TOURS FROM TOKYO DURING THE RUGBY WORLD CUP 2019!
The world will turn its focus to Japan... -
NAGANO’S BEST SPRING/SUMMER TOURS! COMBINE TOURS & CREATE YOUR OWN MULTIDAY PACKAGE!
As Nagano’s No.1 tour operator, Snow M... -
RECOMMENDED TRAILS IN NAGANO PART 1: MOUNTAIN TRAILS
Here in Nagano during the the month of... -
CYCLING THROUGH RURAL AZUMINO TO MATSUMOTO CASTLE!
As mentioned in the recent cherry blos... -
FIVE RECOMMENDED CHERRY BLOSSOMS SPOTS IN THE MATSUMOTO-AZUMINO AREA IN NAGANO
Are you arriving in Japan too late to see ... -
2019 NAGANO CHERRY BLOSSOM FORECAST
Spring in Japan brings beautiful weath... -
INTRODUCING AZUMINO: 15 THINGS TO DO IN NAGANO’S NEXT MUST-VISIT DESTINATION!
Nagano is home to most of Japan's highest ... -
How To: Getting to Nagano from Tokyo by Shinkansen
When heading to Nagano from Tokyo, the s... -
INTRODUCING OUR NEW 2-DAY SNOW MONKEY TOUR: NAGANO TO TAKAYAMA via MATSUMOTO
Nagano and the surrounding regions that ma... -
INTRODUCING OUR NEW SNOW MONKEY WINTER TOUR FROM HAKUBA!
Snow Monkey Resorts is excited to anno...