What other travelers are saying about Matsumoto Castle
Truly a treasure as this castle is well preserved and you are able to tour the ground and the inside of the castle. When you go inside the castle, you will need to take off your shoes. They give you plastic bags to hold your shoes while you tour the castle. The inside is mostly empty but there is a display of guns on the lower floors. You can see the woodwork. The stairs are quite steep, almost like ladders.
You can book tickets online, which may be smart when it's busy. We bought ours when we got there rather than buying in advance and risk missing the time slot. We went in the winter and it was not busy, there was no wait to get tickets or go inside.
We were there around 1-2 hours in total.
At night in the winter, there is a light show where lights are projected onto the castle.
Matsumoto Castle is open daily from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with the last entry at 4:30 PM. Extended hours apply during Golden Week (April 29–May 5) and the Obon holiday in mid-August, opening from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The castle is closed from December 29 to 31.
Admission is ¥700 for adults and ¥300 for children aged 6–15. Children aged five and under enter free. Discounts are available for groups and Matsumoto residents. Visitors with disabilities and one caregiver can enter for free with a disability certificate.
Due to its historic architecture, Matsumoto Castle lacks modern accessibility features. The Great Keep has steep, narrow stairs and no elevator, which may pose challenges for visitors with mobility issues.
There is no luggage storage available inside Matsumoto Castle. Visitors are advised to arrange to store large bags or luggage before arrival.
Pets, including those in carriers or bags, are prohibited in the Honmaru Garden or the castle. Certified service dogs are permitted with prior permission from the castle management office.
A visit to Matsumoto Castle should be high on your list of priorities when you visit Japan. It is one example of an original and well preserved castle (the other eleven being Himeji, Hikone, Matsue, Inuyama, Maruoka, Marugame, Kochi, Matsuyama, Uwajima, Bitchu-Matsuyama, and Hirosaki).
Matsumoto Castle is one of five castles that are designated as National Treasures of Japan (the other four being Himeji, Hikone, Matsue and Inuyama).
Photographers love Matsumoto as it looks great from all sides, especially from the moat. The castle grounds are also extremely photogenic during every season and you will be able to see flowers or snow, or summer birds depending on when you visit.
If you pay the fee to enter the tower, be prepared to carry your shoes with you and be prepared to climb some steep steps. Original castles are known to have incredibly steep stairs, and the modern reconstructions are a little more forgiving.
An awe-inspiring castle. You can feel the history as soon as you step onto the castle grounds. As other reviewers have mentioned, the stairs within the castle are very steep and narrow. Be sure to watch your head as you climb. When you get to the top, be sure to look up and catch the shrine hidden in the rafters. The gift shop has a wide variety of nice souvenirs too. You'll want to bring a good camera because the castle is so photogenic, especially at night.
Stunning view to visit one of the few castles left in Japan. We took up having an English language tour guide which provides an extra introduction to the history and also a chance to interact with a local. The limited night light display is also well worth visiting if you are in the area
Matsumoto Castle 松本城 is a must-see historical treasure in Nagano — striking, atmospheric, and deeply authentic. As one of Japan’s original surviving castles (not a modern reconstruction), it preserves a five-story, six-floor main keep from the late 16th century, giving visitors a rare look into real castle architecture.
The contrast of its dark exterior — earning it the nickname “Crow Castle” — against the surrounding landscape creates a striking and photogenic silhouette, especially with the traditional red bridge and wide moat around it.
Inside the keep, the narrow, steep wooden staircases and low ceilings add a sense of history and authenticity. Climb to the top and you get a rewarding 360-degree view of the castle grounds — and on a good day, the distant Japanese Alps provide an impressive backdrop.
The castle grounds and surroundings offer more than just the main tower: walking around the moat, strolling nearby historic streets, and exploring the old castle-town atmosphere add nice variety to the visit.
