It should come as no surprise that Matsumoto is a great place to enjoy the autumn season. Every year, come October, a natural spectacle begins to play out in the forested mountains that surround Matsumoto, in its stately city parks, and even in the gardens of its residents. Prompted by long nights and cold air, the leaves of the deciduous trees turn red, orange, and yellow in kind, each bringing a different hue to the landscape.
While this change happens in much of Japan, Matsumoto is home to some of the best and most vibrant colors, thanks to its cold weather, abundant nature, and lack of cedar plantations (cedars, while beautiful, are evergreen). Although fall comes here a little later than regions in the far north like Hokkaido, it is still much earlier to arrive than in the big cities and southern regions of Japan. This makes Matsumoto a great place to visit in October and early November, when Tokyo has only just started to see its fall colors.
On this page, the 5 best places, in terms of beauty and accessibility, to see autumn leaves in Matsumoto will be introduced. If any of them strike your fancy, don't hesitate to get in contact with us about how to visit!
1. Matsumoto Castle
Location: Central Matsumoto City
Peak Colors: Early to Mid November
The undeniable symbol of Matsumoto City, we had to start with Matsumoto Castle. Nearly 450 years old, it still stands as one of Japan's last remaining original castles, and is one of the largest and most impressive as well. Surrounded by expansive park grounds, there are plenty of trees here to wow the visitor. The castle itself is beautiful in any season, and this is one example where the changing leaves serve a supporting role in making the castle all the more outstanding.
Maples, gingkoes, willows and larches are amongst the types of tree here, and as a planted garden the layout and choice of species is intentional to produce the best effect. The black walls of the castle serve to make the colors pop even further, and the pleasant and often sunny weather in Autumn means a stroll through the garden would be most enjoyable. It is best to visit between late October and mid November to catch some colors, with the average peak season being in early November.
If you are in Matsumoto in Autumn, why not join our walking tour of the city? Including stops at the Castle Gardens, several local museums, and a matcha tea cafe, this compact city is easy to enjoy on foot under the cool autumn sky with your guide at hand. Instead of speeding by everything on a bus or car, take it easy while strolling the streets with time to stop and smell the roses - or in this case, view the colorful leaves.
2. Kamikochi Alpine Valley
Location: Northern Japanese Alps
Peak Colors: Mid October to Very Early November
Visitors would be forgiven for thinking that Kamikochi is not in Matsumoto City's boundaries - after all, it is deep in the mountains and far from civilization. Nonetheless, due to municipal mergers, Kamikochi is as much a part, legally, of Matsumoto City as the downtown itself. Certainly the richest natural area within these boundaries, nature lovers flock to Kamikochi every year for its annual hues of red, orange, and gold. Don't let that discourage you, however, as its size means that traveling a little past the main areas where tourists gather will leave you with much of the place to yourself.
The blues of the Azusa river perfectly complement the oranges and golds of the leaves, and the rows of Japanese Larch, seen in the picture on the right above, create a magical golden forest for hikers to frolic in. A rare case of a coniferous tree (trees which have needles for leaves, like pine trees) which loses its leaves, it is commonly found in the Japanese Alps but rarely seen in more lowland areas, making it a special sight to see while you are here.
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1-Day Tour from Nagano and Matsumoto: Kamikochi & Matsumoto Castle
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Kamikochi can be a little tricky to get to, especially from places further afield like Nagano City. Luckily, our licensed tour buses are allowed to go right in - a privilege not given to private vehicles - allowing for a smooth journey with no wasted time. You can start from Matsumoto or Nagano and enjoy Matsumoto Castle followed by Kamikochi, or instead start from Takayama and spend the morning at the Shinhotaka Ropeway instead - either option will see you end the day in Kamikochi. No matter where you start, you can end at any of the options, making it the perfect way to travel from Matsumoto or Nagano to Takayama, or vice versa without needing public transit.
3. Norikura Kogen
Location: Northern Japanese Alps
Peak Colors: Mid October to Very Early November
Lesser known than Kamikochi, Norikura Kogen still offers some of the best scenery in the Japanese Alps. One of Japan's largest volcanoes, the peaks of Norikuradake dominate the skyline here, offering a beautiful backdrop for the forests and grasslands you will be hiking through. Like its neighbor Kamikochi, it is within the boundaries of Matsumoto City, and is easiest to access by bus from Matsumoto Station or Shin-Shimashima Station. A bus between Norikura and Kamikochi also operates, making it a good place to stay the night for those looking to visit Kamikochi, as it is much cheaper to secure a room at Norikura.
There are plenty of activities to enjoy, including rental bicycles and many kilometers of paved bicycle paths through the woods. Visitors are likely to see wildlife, including Japanese Macaques ('Snow Monkeys'), Golden Eagles, Japanese Serow, Sika Deer, Japanese Black Bear, Red Foxes, and more. Between mid May and the end of October, visitors may also take a bus up the Norikura Skyline, a road that goes straight to the top of the volcano and offers amazing views over the landscape. Last but certainly not least, the volcanic activity in the area means that most of the inns and ryokan found here have milky white hot spring water, great to soak in after a day of outdoor activity for those who stay the night.
If you can make your way to Takayama, we would love to take you up to the top of Norikura on this great day tour. With your guide attending to you from the start of the tour, you will be led up several of the peaks after riding a bus up to nearly the top of the mountain. While not too intense, the altitude means that these short climbs at the top can be challenging - we recommend this tour for those in good physical condition who want to enjoy a little hiking with some of the Japanese Alps best scenery around them.
4. Agatanomori Park
Location: Central Matsumoto City
Peak Colors: Early to Mid November
A little known spot within Matsumoto (except to locals), Agatanomori Park is a charming and relatively large park with a pond, grass, lots of tall trees, and a few historic buildings as well. Located on the eastern edge of the city, it is a short walk from the Matsumoto Aeon Mall, which may appeal to guests looking for shopping or lunch. Good for a quiet stroll, the park has plenty of space to also enjoy a picnic or some sports activities, and features a large row of Himalayan Cedars that is rather impressive. Inside the park are Zelkova trees, Oaks, Maples, and others which produce a lovely range of colors in November and are planted in a typical Japanese garden style.
Visitors can also enter the former Matsumoto High School building, which is a beautiful and well preserved former school building that was in use in the 1920's. You can freely enter and explore the classrooms and hallways, and there are even some clothing items to try on that will make you feel like you are a student yourself!
5. Matsumoto Alps Park
Location: On the North Side of Matsumoto City
Peak Season: Late October - Mid November
Far out of the usual loop for overseas visitors, the Matsumoto Alps Park nonetheless offers great views over the valley and of course nice fall colors. An expansive park with a free, small zoo, a mallet golf course (a local sport popular especially with older men), and areas to enjoy views of the alps as they stretch north, it also has a lot of fun and interactive pieces of play equipment for children, making it a good place for travelers with children to visit and relax while enjoying the season. Located about 4 kilometers from the station and up a steep hill, it is easiest to access by bus. However, if you wish to walk, it can be reached in around 1.5 hours.
How to Get to Matsumoto
Matsumoto is simple to reach by train from Tokyo, Nagoya, or Nagano, and also has good bus access to Takayama. For more information on using public transport to reach this charming city, please see our above article!
Alternatively, if you are looking for private transport, please see our charter page for some examples of routes and pricing. We can accommodate groups of up to 21, and for larger groups direct transport by private bus can easily be more economical than public transport. If the route you want isn't here, let us know and we can make a customized one just for you!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the best month to see autumn leaves in Matsumoto?
A: While the exact answer varies by altitude, late October is generally the best time overall with great colors in the mountains and the beginning of the peak season in the city area.
Q: Is the autumn season busy in Matsumoto?
A: It can be quite busy with travelers from both Japan and overseas visiting the area. Of course, there are still plenty of quiet areas to enjoy the season as well.
Q: How much does the peak season vary by year?
A: The peak season can vary by up to a week or more depending on the exact conditions that year. Nevertheless, as the mountain areas start changing earlier than the city, you can almost guarantee that there will be peak colors somewhere in between Mid October and Mid November.
Q: What is the weather like in autumn in Matsumoto?
A: The weather is generally sunny and dry, with highs between 8 ~ 15 degrees Celsius and lows between -2 ~ 5 degrees. If it happens to rain, it will of course be quite chilly, and the nights will also be cold. It is best to bring easily removable layers of clothing.
Final Tips for Visiting in Autumn
- Book accommodations and transport early - the autumn color season is a popular time of year
- Prepare for a large difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures
- Understand that natural phenomenon do not happen on a set clock - the averages may not always reflect reality each year
- Most importantly, bring a device that can take great photos!