1-Day Tour from Nagano and Matsumoto: Experience Matsumoto Castle and Narai-juku

Defined by its mountains and natural landscapes, Central Japan is the literal heartland of this beautiful country and a road less travelled by many international visitors. This engaging one-day tour takes you to Matsumoto Castle – one of the few remaining original castles in Japan and a registered National Treasure – before heading to the beautifully preserved, 1-km long post town known as Narai-juku, located on the Nakasendo road. Led by a locally-based guide and including direct transport to Narai-juku from Matsumoto and Nagano, this tour captures the essence of Old Japan at two of its best preserved historical sites.

Highlights

• Visit Matsumoto Castle – one of Japan’s few remaining original castles and a registered National Treasure – on a guided tour and learn all about its history, legend and secrets
• Stroll through the famous “Kaeru Michi” or “Frog Street” also known as Nawate-dori. Home to more than 50 shops, restaurants, and cafes most famous for selling all things frog-related.
• Explore the famous post town of Narai-juku, the biggest post town on the Nakasendo road and one of the best preserved in all of Japan, known for its charming streets lined with wooden buildings.

Want to join this tour from Tokyo? It’s easy to do! Scroll to the bottom for our FAQs including train services that can you use to join the tour!

Description

The tour starts at Nagano Station, where you guide will greet you at 08:15 and have you board the tour bus and head to Matsumoto Station, the second pick up point of the tour, where boarding will begin at 09:45. Once all guests have boarded the bus, the tour will head for the historic center of Matsumoto, established as a castle town in the days of the Samurai.

The tour begins at Nawate-dori, also known as “Frog Street”, which is home to more than 50 shops, restaurants, and cafes most famous for selling all things frog-related. Located adjacent to the Metoba River which runs through Matsumoto, you would never believe from its appearance today that this river was once heavily polluted.

As a result of that pollution, the frogs which had once blessed the surroundings with their nighttime chorus became unable to live in the parts of the river near Nawate-dori, spurring local residents to start efforts to clean up the water and recreate a suitable environment for the frogs. This was the start of the long-time connection between Nawate-dori and frogs.

The street sells an array of specialities including many flavors of ‘o-senbei’ (rice crackers), ‘taiyaki’ (fish-shaped pastries), ‘dagashi’ (traditional candy), ice cream, and much, much more!

Once we have finished up at Nawate-dori, we will begin exploring the Matsumoto Castle grounds. The castle dates back to the end of the ‘Warring States Period’ with much of the original structure still intact. One of the most beautiful historic buildings in Japan, it is one of only two 6-storey castles remaining today – yet only exists due to the intervention of local residents who have saved it from destruction more than once.  You will be guided into the castle grounds as your guide reveals the history and features which make it so lauded, before heading into the castle itself and ascending all the way to the top of its six stories! Inside you will find intricate woodwork, beautiful views of Matsumoto City, and a collection of historical guns, artifacts, and other items which will give you a glimpse into the life of a Japanese warrior when the castle was first built.

From there, you will have some free time to take a longer look around the castle grounds, visit a few shops around the castle, or buy some food at a convenience store to eat on the bus ride to Narai-juku. There is a Family Mart, one of the most popular chains of Japanese convenience stores, right outside of the castle grounds which has all the essentials and will serve you well should you require anything from a quick snack to a ‘bento’ box lunch to-go.

Once everyone has met back up in front of the castle, we will begin our journey to Narai-juku. This will take around 1 hour, but you need not worry about getting bored for the whole ride is blessed with scenic views of fields and mountains – often capped with a glistening blanket of snow. Your guide will explain more about the Shinshu region and the history of Narai-juku and the Nakasendo road while you are enroute to your destination.

Situated in the middle of the Nakasendo road which once connected Tokyo (then known as Edo) to Kyoto, Narai-juku is today the longest and amongst the best preserved of all post towns remaining in Japan. As it is located deep in the mountains, and immediately before a very tough section of road, it flourished as a place for travelers to rest up and prepare for the next leg of their journey. With all this economic activity, it eventually became famed throughout Japan as “Narai of a Thousand Inns”; And while that is perhaps an exaggeration, the number of historic buildings lining the street here will surely surprise you.

We will arrive at the entrance to Narai-juku, near the train station, from where your guide will begin the guided portion of the tour. As you walk down the main street, you will learn about the quirks of Narai-juku’s construction and hear stories from its golden age. In winter, there are often almost no other tourists – domestic or foreign – in Narai-juku, and you can enjoy having the whole area almost to yourself. When snow is thick on the ground, you may be able to hear nothing more than the flowing springs in town and the calls of wildlife in the nearby forests, creating a tranquil atmosphere that only enhances the stateliness of the buildings. Nearing the end of town, you will find the Shizume Shrine, built in 1664 and registered as a cultural heritage site. Set in a forest of tall, old cedar trees, it provides the perfect place to stop and rest while you take in the scenery.

During this portion of the tour, you will also be able to partake in a seasonal activity in order to better understand Narai-juku and its culture.

Your guide will then give you 1 hour of free time, during which you may peruse the shops on the main street or enter into a café or restaurant for some refreshments. Guests looking for a little more walking may also continue walking down the Nakasendo for a while, enjoying the crisp air and beautiful scenery that blesses this region. At the end of this time, you will meet your guide again and get ready to board our private vehicle back to Matsumoto.

*If you prefer to end the tour at Narai-juku – for those who would have procured accommodation in town– you will be free to to do so. See our FAQs below for details.

TOUR MEETUP POINT

1 / HOTEL KOKUSAI 21 @ 07:50

The meetup point is at the entrance of Hotel Kokusai 21. Please note that this is group tour and there are other pick-up points the the tour will need to depart on-time. Please be at the entrance prior to the meetup time and look for the guide wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour tag. The tour will need to depart on-time.

2 / NAGANO STATION @ 08:15  — MAIN MEETUP POINT — All Year Round

The meetup point is inside the station, in front of the Information Board directly across from the Shinkansen ticket gates. Be sure to look for the guide wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour tag and ensure you are there prior to the meetup time as the tour will need to depart by 08:20.

3 / MATSUMOTO STATION @ 09:45

The meetup point is at the West Exit of the station, in front of the taxi stand. Be sure to look for the guide wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour tag.

NOTES

Included

• Transportation fee to and between all listed destinations and activities including Matsumoto and Narai-juku
• Entry ticket to Matsumoto Castle and guided tour
• Guided walk at Narai-juku + Seasonal Activity
• English-speaking guide

Excluded

• Lunch
• Additional travel costs including train tickets
• Accommodation (unless requested)

Other Information

• This tour spends the majority of the day outdoors including at Matsumoto Castle and Narai-juku. Please ensure you are prepared for changing weather conditions by carrying a waterproof jacket, umbrella, hat and sunglasses. As both Matsumoto and Narai-juku are located at a relatively high elevation, the sun can be strong so we also recommend bringing sunscreen.
• In winter, there will often be snow on the ground both in Matsumoto City and in Narai-juku. The temperatures may also be quite cold, with days where even the high is below 0 degrees Celsius being not uncommon. We ask that you wear water-proof, winter shoes and warm clothing in order to best enjoy your tour.
• This tour includes a reasonable amount of walking including at Matsumoto Castle and at Narai-juku. We will also be entering the castle and climbing to the top-floor. This climb is steep and staircases are tight and therefore may not be appropriate for some people. Please follow the instruction of your guide if they suggest you wait outside where you can freely stroll and enjoy the historic grounds.
• This tour is not wheelchair accessible and may not be suitable for guests who are mobility impaired. Should this be a concern, please contact us prior to booking to discuss suitability.
• At Narai-juku, you guide will allow you to explore Narai-juku yourselves. However, please ensure that you cooperate with your guide’s instructions regarding meeting places and times. The tour bus will need to depart on-time.
• The tour application deadline is 2 days before the tour date at 17:00.