Matsumoto

Getting Here and Around

Japan Air System (JAS) has daily flights between Matsumoto and Fukuoka, Osaka, and Sapporo. Trains are also available: Matsumoto is 1 hour from Nagano on JR Shinonoi Line, 2 hours and 40 minutes from Tokyo Shinjuku Station on JR Chuo Line, and 2¼ hours from Nagoya on JR Chuo Line. By highway bus it's 3¼ hours east of Takayama.

Matsumoto is very compact, so grab a map at the Tourist Information Center at the JR station and head for the old part of town near the Chitose-bashi Bridge at the end of Hon-machi-dori. Alternatively, Matsumoto's Town Sneaker shuttle bus (¥100) stops at the main sights, and the tourist office can direct you to one of the many locations lending free bicycles.