Matsumoto Castle
- from JPY 700
Sign up free — See who's going and message them.
Is this your place? Get the badge for your websiteAbout
More photos 11
1 / 11
Why go
- The main tower, the oldest of the twelve surviving original main towers in Japan
- The Tsukimi-yagura moon-viewing tower, the only one in Japan built onto a main tower
- Teppo Gura on the second floor of the keep, a gun museum with guns, armor and other weapons
Opening hours
Today08:30 – 17:00Show all
Season and conditions
- Open every day of the week, Monday to Sunday.
- The black lacquer on the outer walls is renewed every year, because it is sensitive to ultraviolet light.
What you see
- From the top of the main tower, visitors look out over the surroundings of the castle.
- Three moons can be seen: in the sky, in the moat water and in sake.
What's in season
- NowNovEvent week runs from the 3rd to the 10th; its children's night tour of the main tower is one of the main events.
- NowNovDuring event week the drum gate is opened for a special viewing.
- NowNovChrysanthemums grown by local fans and city schoolchildren are shown at the castle during event week.
- NowNovA drum group tied to the castle performs, and a tea-school group offers a hospitality tea ceremony.
- NowNovAn old-style gunnery demonstration and a joint tea gathering are held as related events.
History
The Takeda clan took it in 1550 and used it as a base to control the Matsumoto Basin. Kazumasa and his son later enlarged it into a castle and raised the keep, largely finished by 1593–94. Under the Tokugawa shogunate it became the seat of Matsumoto Domain. In 1872 the new government ordered feudal fortifications torn down, and most of the castle was lost. Local residents, led by Ichikawa Ryōzō, campaigned to save the tower, and the city later acquired it. The tower had begun to lean, and a repair from 1903 to 1913 set its floors level again.
- 1504The Ogasawara clan builds the first fort on the site, called Fukashi Castle.
- 1550The Takeda clan takes the castle after the Siege of Fukashi.
- 1593–94Kazumasa and his son complete most of the castle, including the keep.
- 1633Matsudaira Naomasa builds two towers, among them the moon-viewing tower, after news of a planned visit by Tokugawa Iemitsu.
- 1872Most structures are razed; the main tower is saved by local residents.
Show all
- 1903–1913A repair corrects the lean of the main tower by realigning its floors.
- 1930The castle is named a National Historic Site.
- 1950–1955A government-funded restoration rebuilds the designated buildings; the black outer walls are lacquered from then on.
How to get there
- 15 minOn footAbout a 15-minute walk north of the station.
Shorts
-
Matsumoto Castle | The Black Castle of JapanNagori Journey
-
Matsumoto Castle is Japan's Most Authentic Fortress! #MatsumotoCastl…Shot around The World by NoutSi
-
Matsumoto Castle, Nagano, JapanU Pixx
-
Matsumoto Castle Sunrise - JapanVisual Escape - Relaxing Music with 4K Visuals
-
Exploring Matsumoto Castle, Japan’s Black Castle!Travel with NoutSi
-
UNDERRATED Places in Japan! Discover the CROW CASTLE in Matsumoto!Hangry By Nature
-
Samurai Gunner at Matsumoto CastleGun Samurai
-
Matsumoto Castle at NIGHTDevin Graham
Sources: Matsumoto Castle - Wikipedia · Matsumoto - Wikivoyage (see) · Matsumoto Castle, National Treasure of Japan · 国宝 松本城 - 松本城をより楽しむ公式ホームページ · Matsumoto Castle, National Treasure of Japan · Burg Matsumoto - Wikipedia · Château de Matsumoto - Wikipedia · checked 25 Oct 2026
- Website
- matsumoto-castle.jp/
- Phone
- +81 263-32-2902
Plan from here: Evening walk →
Questions and answers
How do I get to Matsumoto Castle from the station?
Matsumoto Castle is about a 15-minute walk north of the station in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture.
What are the opening hours of Matsumoto Castle?
Matsumoto Castle is open every day, Monday to Sunday, from 08:30 to 17:00.
Is Matsumoto Castle worth visiting with children?
During the castle's event week, which runs from the 3rd to the 10th of the 11th month, a children's night tour of the main tower is one of the main events.
What can you see inside Matsumoto Castle?
The second floor of the keep holds Teppo Gura, a gun museum with guns, armor and other weapons.
- See who's going — faces, not ticket counts.
- Write to someone who shares your interests — no swipes, no matches, no paywall.
- Pick the event or the place to meet at — and go together.