7 Best Sights in Matsumoto, The Japan Alps and the North Chubu Coast

At the country's largest wasabi farm, the green horseradish roots are cultivated in flat gravel beds irrigated by melted snow from the Alps. The chilly mineral water is ideal for the durable wasabi. The on-site shop sells the farm's products, which range from wasabi cheese to wasabi chocolate and wasabi ice cream (sounds bad, tastes pretty good), while the several cafés and restaurant's also serve wasabi-focused fare. The closest train station is Hotaka, 31 minutes (¥330) north along the JR Oito Line from Matsumoto Station. To reach the farm from Hotaka Station, take a 40-minute walk along a path (the station attendant will direct you), rent a bike, or hop in a taxi for about ¥1,300.

The museum is devoted to the lively, colorful, and widely popular ukiyo-e woodblock prints of Edo-period artists. The 70 or so works on display change monthly but can include Hiroshige's scenes of the Tokaido (the main trading route through Honshu in feudal Japan), Hokusai's views of Mt. Fuji, and Sharaku's Kabuki actors.

Nicknamed "Crow Castle" for its black walls, this local landmark began as a small fortress with moats in 1504. It was remodeled into its current three-turreted form between 1592 and 1614, just as Japan became a consolidated nation under a central government. The civil wars ended and the peaceful Edo period (1603–1868) began, rendering medieval castles obsolete. Its late construction explains why the 95-foot-tall tenshukaku (inner tower) is the oldest surviving tower in Japan—no battles were ever fought here. Exhibits on each floor break up the challenging climb up very steep stairs. If you hunker down to look through rectangular openings (broad enough to scan for potential enemies) on the sixth floor, you'll have a gorgeous view of the surrounding mountains. 

At the end of July there is a taiko (Japanese drum) festival, and on November 3 the Matsumoto Castle Festival features a samurai parade, martial arts displays, and outdoor tea ceremonies. In late January an ice-sculpture exhibition is held in the museum's park. The castle is a 15-minute walk from the station.

The red polka dots on the facade of this museum, east of the Nakamachi district, are a very firm nod to arguably the most famous person to come from Matsumoto: artist Yayoi Kusama. Part of the permanent collection focuses on Kusama's avant-garde art and art installations, and includes a version of the iconic yellow and black pumpkin sculpture installed on Naoshima Island. There are also exhibits of calligraphy, painting, and sculpture from other Matsumoto-born artists.

Next to the Ukiyo-e Museum is Japan's oldest wooden courthouse. Displays pertain to the history of law enforcement from the feudal period to the modern era.

In the Edo era (1603--1868) Nakamachi was Matsumoto's central district, through which passed a key highway connecting the region to Kyoto, Nagoya, and Zenko-ji Temple in Nagano. Today, the main street here is still lined with old wooden buildings and white-painted kura (warehouses) that house craft stores, galleries, and hip cafés. It's a lovely place for a stroll. Running parallel, just across the Metoba River, Nawate Street has a similarly retro vibe, though that comes alive more at night because of its cluster of restaurants and bars. Nakamachi is a five-minute walk south of the castle or 10 minutes east of Matsumoto Station. The Town Sneaker bus also stops there.

This museum displays the work of Rokuzan Ogiwara, a sculptor who was influenced by Auguste Rodin and pioneered modern sculptural styles in Japan. He is especially known for his female figures in repose and male figures in heroic poses. The museum, centered on an ivy-covered brick building with a stunning bell tower, is in Hotaka, 31 minutes north of Matsumoto Station on the JR Oito Line (¥330). From Hotaka Station, it's a 10-minute walk to the museum.