(Spring Only) Private 1-Day Tour: Cherry Blossoms of Takato Castle Park

Blooming every spring, Japan’s fabled cherry blossoms are stunning to behold and at the top of many international visitor’s must-see lists. Starting from Nagano Station, this one-day only tour transports you to Takato Castle Park – heralded as one of the Top 3 blossom-viewing spots in all of Japan! Located on the ruins of Takato Castle, the park was first opened to the public in 1875 and now boasts an estimated 1500 cherry blossom trees – forecast to be in full bloom on the day of the tour. Also including a stop at Matsumoto Castle, a registered National Treasure, this completely private tour is a convenient and fun way to enjoy of one of Japan’s most famous blossom-viewing spots in combination with one of the last remaining Japanese castles.

Highlights

• Visit Takato Castle Park – one of Japan’s Top 3 cherry blossom-viewing spots
• Experience ‘hanami’ (flower viewing) as you wander under a canopy of an estimated 1500 ‘Kohigan’ trees – known as one of the most beautiful blossom varieties
• Visit Matsumoto Castle, one of the last remaining original castles in Japan and registered National Treasure
• Enjoy the castle’s Cherry Blossom Festival including evening illumination and traditional music performances

Description

With pickup from Nagano Station at 11:00 or from Matsumoto Station at 12:00, first make yourself comfortable in the tour vehicle while you are transported across Nagano Prefecture toward the park. Arriving at approximately 13:20, you will soon be impressed by the amount of cherry blossom trees around the castle ruins.

Your guide will walk you to the Takato Castle Park where they will help you familiarize with the area, before arranging a meetup time and place and setting you free to enjoy the estimated 1500 blossom trees in full bloom – one of the most beautiful sights in Japan.

While the original castle no longer stands, the original foundation walls and reconstructed curved bridge and drum tower capture the historic nature of the park and are popular photo spots that hint at the past glories of the former castle. Located on the top of a hill the park affords a beautiful view of the snow-capped Northern Alps and promises to be a highlight of your visit to Japan. With food vendors both inside and outside the park, and nearby restaurants selling meals and seasonal snacks including sakura mochi, yakitori, and ice cream, you can stroll through the park or sit and just soak in the atmosphere.

Around 15:30 your guide will have you board the vehicle and head toward Matsumoto, home of one of the last remaining original castles in Japan. Built approximately 400 years ago, Matsumoto Castle is a registered National Treasure known for its aesthetic beauty and towering 6-story construction. Set against the same backdrop of the Northern Alps, the castle is by itself one of Japan’s most iconic buildings and another of Nagano`s most famous places for blossom-viewing.

Your guide will accompany you into the castle grounds, where you may enjoy the evening illumination of the surrounding trees and traditional music performances that mark the castle’s cherry blossom festival. As one of the last original castles in Japan, it is the perfect place to enhance your appreciation of what once stood in Takato and in doing so, see two of Japan’s most stunning spring-time vistas!

Around 18:30, your guide will collect you and board your vehicle and begin the journey back toward Nagano. Arriving at Nagano Station between 19:30 and 20:00*, the tour concludes and your guide will wish you well on your continuing exploration of Japan in the beauty of spring! For those who choose to be dropped off in Matsumoto, you may stay at the castle after your guide says goodbye to continue enjoying the show, or have our bus take you back to the station area at 18:30. We may also be able to accommodate a drop off at your hotel if it is located nearby.

*Arrival times at Takato Castle Park, Matsumoto Castle and the tour conclusion at JR Nagano Station are estimates and could be delayed by traffic.

TOUR MEETUP POINT

1  /  NAGANO STATION @ 10:35

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.

2 / MATSUMOTO STATION @ 12:00

The meetup point is outside of the West Exit of Matsumoto Station, at the bottom of the escalator. You will see your guide waiting there for you at 12:00 with a Snow Monkey Resorts Tour Tag around their neck.

NOTES

Included

• Transportation from Nagano to and between all listed activities/attractions
• English-speaking guide
• Entrance to Takato Castle Park
• Entrance to Matsumoto Castle grounds

Excluded

• Lunch
• Shinkansen / ‘Bullet Train’ tickets
• Accommodation (unless requested)

Other Information

• Please wear suitable shoes and clothing for an outdoor tour in spring.
• This tour is not wheelchair accessible and may not be suitable for mobility-impaired travelers. Should you have any concerns about your ability to join the tour, please contact us to discuss prior to booking.
• This tour is scheduled to coincide with the peak bloom at Takato Joshi Park however we cannot guarantee the condition of the blossoms on the day of the tour. In case of bad condition we might have to change the blossom-viewing site to Joetsu Park, Ueda Castle or Suzaka Garyu Park. If this is necessary, we will notify you in advance.
• Arrival times at Takato Joshi Park, Matsumoto Castle, and the tour’s conclusion at JR Nagano Station are our best estimates and can be affected by traffic.
• The tour application deadline is 2 days before the tour at 15:00.