Matsumoto Castle and Kamikochi One Day Course

The beautiful black keep of Matsumoto Castle, a National Treasure, and Kamikochi at the foot of the Northern Alps. This course packs the charm of a castle town and stunning mountain scenery into a single day. Dress for easy movement.

Course Route

8:30 Start at Matsumoto Castle Enter the keep as the gates open, usually at 8:30. In the clear morning air, photograph the black castle reflected in the moat. Admission is roughly 1,300 yen for adults and 400 yen for children. 9:30 Stroll the castle town Walk Nawate Street and Nakamachi Street to enjoy the warehouse style townscape and cafes. The castle is about a twenty minute walk from JR Matsumoto Station, so it pairs well with a town stroll. 11:00 Travel to Kamikochi Take the Matsumoto Electric Railway (Kamikochi Line) from Matsumoto to Shinshimashima in about thirty minutes, then a Kamikochi bound bus for about one hour. Private cars are restricted, so public transport or bus is the standard way in. Direct buses also run from the Matsumoto Bus Terminal. 13:00 Explore Kamikochi Walk along the Azusa River from Kappabashi Bridge toward Taisho Pond and Myojin Pond. From Kappabashi to Myojin Pond it is roughly a one hour flat walk each way. The clear streams and the Hotaka peaks are superb. 16:00 Head back Take the bus down the mountain and return toward Matsumoto.

Highlights

Matsumoto Castle has one of the oldest surviving five tier, six story keeps in Japan. Its jet black exterior earns it the nickname Crow Castle. Kamikochi is a mountain scenic area at about 1500 meters, where the Hotaka peaks beyond Kappabashi Bridge and the crystal clear Azusa River are the main draws.

Practical Travel Notes

• Matsumoto Castle fees and hours: Admission is roughly 1,300 yen for adults and 400 yen for children (electronic tickets can be cheaper). It is usually open 8:30 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30), with extended hours during major holidays and the Obon period. It is open year round except at year end.
• Getting to Kamikochi: Private cars are restricted year round. The standard route is the Matsumoto Electric Railway to Shinshimashima, then an Alpico bus to Kamikochi. Direct seasonal buses from the Matsumoto Bus Terminal are also handy, with one way fares in the few thousand yen range. Some services require reservations.
• Time in Kamikochi: From Kappabashi, allow about an hour each way toward Taisho Pond or Myojin Pond. Budget two to three hours including the round trip and breaks.
• Open season: Kamikochi is open roughly from mid April to mid November. It closes in winter, so check the opening information before you go.
• Clothing and gear: The elevation is high and weather changes fast, so bring a layer and rain gear even in summer. The trails are flat but long, so comfortable shoes help.
• Budget: Adding the castle admission and a round trip by bus and rail of a few thousand yen, plus lunch, figure roughly five to eight thousand yen for the day.

A Quick Tip

To cover both in one day, see the castle briefly in the early morning and save plenty of time for Kamikochi in the afternoon. Kamikochi closes in winter, so check the opening information before you go.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Kamikochi Visitor Center (within walking distance of Kappa Bridge): Open 8:00-17:00, admission free. The centre opens from late April to 15 November and stays open every day during that period (closed in winter). It has exhibitions and talks on the natural environment of Kamikochi, making it a handy place to gather information before you set off walking.
• Kamikochi Information Center (next to the bus terminal): Open 8:00-17:00, from late April to 15 November with no closing days during that period. It has shower rooms, a multipurpose room that can also be used for nursing, and wheelchairs and baby carriers for loan.
• Matsumoto City Museum (3-chome Ote, Matsumoto City): The permanent exhibition rooms are open 9:00-17:00 (tickets sold until 16:30), with admission at 500 yen for adults (18 and over), 250 yen for university students and free of charge for high school students and younger. The exhibition rooms are closed every Tuesday (the following weekday when Tuesday is a public holiday) and from 29 December to 3 January. The first floor alone is open from 9:00 to 21:00.
• Enquiries: 0263-95-2606 (Kamikochi Visitor Center / 0263-94-2537 in winter), 0263-95-2433 (Kamikochi Information Center), 0263-32-0133 (Matsumoto City Museum)
• Official information: Kamikochi official website (public facilities), Matsumoto City Museum official website

* The above is a guide based on information published by each facility and local authority. Times and prices are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.