Matsumoto Castle in Winter

A National Treasure in February snowfall

Jessica A Paje Feb 19, 2015 - 1 min read

Snow covered roof tops (and two swans!) at Matsumoto Castle. One of four National Treasures in Japan.

Visitors at the main entrance embrace the snowfall by holding umbrellas

Mid-February snowfall at Matsumoto Castle

Photo opportunity with the samurai mascot

Miniature snowmen just outside of the main entrance

Visitors must remove their shoes and wear slippers (or just your socks) before they can proceed with the tour

The lookout from the minor keep called Inui Kotenshu (north west of main tower)

There are many historical displays throughout the castle

Wooden steps can be extremely steep, very wide, and hard on your soles. Be very careful!

Small children assist one another as they make their way up the challenging staircase

A miniature shrine placed in the attic portion of the 5th floor

A peek outside the castle windows from the 4th Floor

The Moon-Viewing Wing has openings to the east, north and south. It is connected to the Main Tower on its western side.

Inui Kotenshu is a minor keep structurally different from the Main Tower through the use of numerous round pillars

If you're lucky, you'll find a ninja along the main pathway. Act swiftly for a photo opp!

The striking red footbridge over the moat behind the castle

A day trip to Nagano Prefecture included a stop at one of Japan’s National Treasures, Matsumoto Castle.

In mid-February, temperatures can fall below freezing, so visitors can expect to see snow in the small town of Matsumoto City. But, that doesn’t deter the hundreds who flock to see the elegant black and white structure standing amidst the castle town of temples, shrines, and residential areas. Built between 1593-1594 by Kazumasa and Yasunaga Ishikawa, Matsumoto has the oldest castle keep remaining in Japan. Unlike other castles in the region, the original wooden interior of Matsumoto Castle is guaranteed to make visitors feel like a samurai warrior!

Bundle up and be prepared to remove your shoes as you tour the grand structure. Admission is 600yen for Adults and 300yen for students. Hours are 8:30am to 5:00pm.

To access, from JR Matsumoto train station, take a short 15-minute walk or 5-minute bus. By car, it is a 15-minute drive from Matsumoto IC.

More info

Find out more about Matsumoto Castle.

Jessica A Paje @jessica.paje

Originally from San Diego, California, I lived in Yokosuka, Japan, for 5 years. In 2010, I arrived with a new outlook on my future. Mainly, to refocus on family and let my curiosities take us to places we’ve only dreamt of. Along the way, we’d hopefully develop new friendships and simply collect ...