Matsumoto Experience

27/05/2026

📆 June is not the month most people thing of when planning a trip to Matsumoto. The cherry blossom crowds have gone, the summer heat has not arrived and the city settles into a quiet rhythm. But June has many festivals that are centered on the streets and spaces that make Matsumoto and its surroundings worth exploring on foot. Your complete guide to events in the area this month.
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10 Things to Do in and around Matsumoto June 2026 Posted on 2026.05.27 in EventsJune is not the month most people thing of when planning a trip to Matsumoto. The cherry blossom crowds have gone, the summer heat has not arrived and the city settles into a quiet rhythm. But June has many festivals tha...

28/04/2026

Our Daio Wasabi Farm Tour today. While spring flowers still linger, the dazzling new greenery is beautiful as we head into early summer. You will learn about wasabi, about Azumino, and then grate your own wasabi for a delicious lunch (included in the tour).

20/04/2026

⚔️ Select your Sword and become the star of your own Samurai story!

Experience a live hands-on Samurai Sword Fighting activity with a Master Samurai who will teach you some of these ancient fighting techniques. You will meet passionate people who will patiently guide you every step of the way, all the while emphasizing the importance of just having fun!

You can choose your own colors for your outfit which consists of a yukata (light kimono), hakama (wide-leg pants), and obi (belt). You can even select your swords!

⬇️ Book Now
https://matsumotoexp.com/activity/samurai-sword
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13/04/2026

🏞️ Kamikochi will soon open for the season with bus service from Matsumoto starting on April 17th. There will be limited facilities open until the Grand Opening Ceremony takes place at the Kappa Bridge on April 27th. All facilities will be open after that. The park will be open to visitors until November 15, 2026.

Kamikochi Opens for the Season on April 17, 2026 Posted on 2026.04.13 in NewsKamikochi will soon open for the season with bus service from Matsumoto starting on April 17th. There will be limited facilities open until the Grand Opening Ceremony takes place at the Kappa Bridge on April 27th. All facil...

09/04/2026

Cherry blossoms are in full bloom in Matsumoto City. The combination of the national treasure castle, the mountains of the Northern Alps and the cherry blossoms is stunning. If you were not able to see them this spring, please come next year🌸

07/04/2026

🌸 The cherry blossoms are reaching their peak bloom here in Matsumoto! Japan has a deep connection to its sakura, or cherry blossom trees. The timing of the blossoms coincides with the school year, giving the flowers a feeling of new beginnings. Locals here often engage in hanami, or cherry blossom viewing parties. If you’d like to have a hanami of your own, we recommend heading to one of these places!

3 Cherry Blossom Viewing Sites in Matsumoto City Posted on 2026.04.07 in Activities and SpotsIt’s that time of year again – the cherry blossoms are reaching their peak bloom here in Matsumoto! Japan has a deep connection to its sakura, or cherry blossom trees. The timing of the blossoms coincide...

02/04/2026

🌙 By day, Matsumoto Castle draws visitors as one of Japan's most magnificent original castles. After sunset, when tour groups disperse and and the lights illuminate the black-and-white walls against the night sky, something quieter emerges. The moat becomes a dark mirror for the illuminated towers, and the historic streets leading to the castle settle into an almost timeless stillness.

⬇️ Read More:
https://matsumotoexp.com/activities-and-spots/what-to-do-in-matsumoto-castle-area-at-night
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27/03/2026

Under pleasant weather, I guided a tour of the Daio Wasabi Farm this morning🇺🇸🇮🇹 Now both wasabi and ume (Japanese apricot) flowers are in full bloom. After that, the well-known cherry blossoms will bloom 🌸 Come join our tour!

19/03/2026

🍶 Nagano Prefecture is Japan’s second largest producer of “sake” making Matsumoto – Nagano’s second largest city – an ideal place to enjoy a brewery tour and delve into the warm world of sake.

Our Local Sake Brewery Tour & Guided Tasting takes you to a 150 year old “sakagura” (sake brewery) to discover the art of brewing, as explained by a brewery worker. Though the machinery is modern, traditional methods are still employed to produce small batches of sake of a quality that only time and studied attention can produce.

Join us on this immersive tour as you begin or continue your journey of discovery of Japan’s long tradition of sake

⬇️ Book Now
https://matsumotoexp.com/activity/local-sake-brewery-tour-and-tasting-in-a-traditional-japanese-house
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18/02/2026

🎬 After Godzilla Minus One, directed by Matsumoto-born filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki, a 3.5-meter Godzilla has taken up residence in the east-west pedestrian passage of Matsumoto Station. The statue will be officially unveiled on February 21st.

Godzilla in the Castle Town Posted on 2026.02.18 in NewsA 3.5-meter Godzilla has taken up residence in the east-west pedestrian passage of Matsumoto Station. The statue, built by the Shonai Morimori-kai, a volunteer group from the city's Shonai district, was installed on February 15th and will be of...