Getting to Matsumoto
By direct JR limited express train
- Direct
- 2.5 h
- ¥6,620
Covered by:Japan Rail Pass
JR "Azusa" limited express trains require just over 2.5 hours for the journey between Tokyo's Shinjuku Station and Matsumoto. The one way trip costs 6620 yen and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR East Nagano Niigata Area Pass. There are one or two trains per hour.
By shinkansen and limited express train via Nagano
- 1 transfer
- 2.5 h
- ¥10,000
Covered by:Japan Rail Pass
Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano (80 minutes, multiple trains/hour) and transfer to a JR "Shinano" limited express to Matsumoto (50 minutes, one train/hour). With a good connection, the entire one way trip takes around 2.5 hours, costs around 10,000 yen and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR East Nagano Niigata Area Pass.
By local JR trains
- 3 transfers
- 5 h
- ¥4,070
Covered by:Japan Rail Pass
By local trains, the one way journey between Tokyo (Shinjuku Station) and Matsumoto along the JR Chuo and Shinanoi Lines takes about five hours, typically requires about three transfers of trains and costs 4070 yen. With a Seishun 18 Kippu you could do the trip for as little as 2410 yen.
By highway bus
- Direct
- 3 h
- ¥3,900
Highway buses operate hourly between Tokyo (Shinjuku Bus Terminal) and Matsumoto (Matsumoto Bus Terminal near Matsumoto Station). The one way trip takes just over three hours and costs 3900 yen. Discounts apply when tickets are purchased online. Online reservations can be made through Willer.
Above fees and schedules are subject to change. Be sure to check current yen exchange rates.
Getting around
Central Matsumoto can be explored on foot. The castle is about a 15 minute walk from Matsumoto Station. Alternatively, bicycles can be rented for free from multiple locations across the city, including the M Wing Building near the station, the Matsumoto City Museum next to the castle and selected shops and hotels.
The Town Sneakers are three tourist-oriented loop bus lines, which cost 200 yen per ride or 500 yen per day (the one day pass also includes a 10% discount on admission to Matsumoto Castle). Buses on the loop lines operate approximately every 20-30 minutes (the south line hourly). Besides the "Town Sneaker" buses, there also exists a regular network of city buses.
Questions? Ask in our forum.
Links and Resources
Hotels around Matsumoto
Top rated in Matsumotopoweredby
Budget:
Budget-friendly
Tabi-shiro is located in Matsumoto, 2.7 km from The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum. Guests can enjoy the on-site bar. The rooms have a shared bathroom. Tabi-shiro features free WiFi . There is a shared kitchen at the property. Shirahone Hot Spring is 32 km from tabi-shiro, while Matsumoto Castle is 400 metres from the property.
9.3Booking.com
Mid-range
Located in Matsumoto, within 3.4 km of Matsumoto Station and 6.1 km of The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, cafe&stay CASTANA provides accommodation with a terrace and free WiFi throughout the property as well as free private parking for guests who drive. This 3-star inn offers free shuttle service. The property is non-smoking and is situated 25 km from Canora Hall. The inn will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms with a desk, a kettle, a fridge, a microwave, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. At cafe&stay CASTANA each room comes with bed linen and towels. Matsumoto Castle is 3.8 km from the accommodation, while Suwa-Lake is 28 km away. The nearest airport is Matsumoto Airport, 11 km from cafe&stay CASTANA.
9.3Booking.com
Onyado Nono Matsumoto Natural Hot Spring
Luxury
Located within 600 metres of Matsumoto Station and 3.9 km of The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, Onyado Nono Matsumoto Natural Hot Spring provides rooms in Matsumoto. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a shared lounge and a 24-hour front desk, along with free WiFi. Private parking is available on site. At the hotel, all rooms have a desk. Each room is equipped with air conditioning and a flat-screen TV, and certain rooms at Onyado Nono Matsumoto Natural Hot Spring have a mountain view. At the accommodation each room is fitted with bed linen and towels. Guests at Onyado Nono Matsumoto Natural Hot Spring can enjoy a buffet breakfast. The hotel offers 4-star accommodation with a sauna and spa centre. Canora Hall is 27 km from Onyado Nono Matsumoto Natural Hot Spring, while Matsumoto Castle is 1.6 km away. The nearest airport is Matsumoto Airport, 11 km from the accommodation.
9.2Booking.com
Budget-friendly
Guest House Raicho offers accommodation in Norikura Kogen in Chubu Sangaku National Park. Mt. Norikura Ski Resort is a 3-minute drive away, and pick-up service to and from the resort is provided every morning. Free WiFi and free parking is available on site. Guests can also enjoy bathing in the sulfur hot-spring, which makes use of pure spring water. Towels and toothbrush are provided at a fee. Kamikochi Sawando Car Park is a 20-minute drive away from the property. Kamikochi Bus Terminal is a 30-minute bus ride from Kamikochi Sawando Car Park, and a 60-minute direct bus ride from Norikura Kogen. Guests can have breakfast at an extra cost upon request. Guests can make their own meals at the shared kitchen on site. Activities available around the area include out-of-area skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing near a waterfall, hiking, cycling and fishing. Guests can also visit the Northern Alps or Matsumoto City, both tourist destinations that can be accessed from the property.
9.1Booking.com
Kamikochi Nishi-itoya Mountain lodge
Mid-range
Located 47 km from The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, Kamikochi Nishi-itoya Mountain lodge offers accommodation with a balcony, as well as a garden and a shared lounge. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, full-day security and luggage storage space, along with free WiFi throughout the property. Featuring family rooms, this property also provides guests with a sun terrace. At the ryokan, every unit has a wardrobe, a flat-screen TV, a shared bathroom, bed linen and towels. The units are fitted with a safety deposit box and certain rooms include river views. The units include a tatami. An Asian breakfast is available daily at the ryokan. There is a coffee shop, and packed lunches are also available. Guests at Kamikochi Nishi-itoya Mountain lodge will be able to enjoy activities in and around Matsumoto, like hiking. The ryokan has a picnic area where you can spend a day out in the open. Takayama Station is 47 km from the accommodation, while Matsumoto Station is 49 km away. The nearest airport is Matsumoto Airport, 52 km from Kamikochi Nishi-itoya Mountain lodge.
9.0Booking.com
Budget-friendly
A 5-minute drive from National Treasure Matsumoto Castle, Ryokan Seifuso is next to Shinshu University and boasts a view of the Northern Alps and the freshness of the Metoba River. It is ideal for sightseeing such as Kamikochi, a mountainous scenic spot, Norikura Kogen, which has abundant trekking courses, Azumino, an original landscape of Japan blessed with Dosojin and spring water, and Utsukushigahara Kogen, which was praised by Kihachi Ozaki, a mountain poet. There are many overseas visitors from over 30 countries every year (English available) for sports camps, and university seminars. The air-conditioned rooms are equipped with a refrigerator, TV and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms and toilets are shared. Ryokan Seifuso is entirely non-smoking. Free parking (2 locations, 12 spaces, on-site), free rental bicycles and chargeable electric bicycles for sightseeing in the city. For meals, freshly prepared seasonal Japanese dishes are served. Western breakfast is available upon request (reservation made at reception), and vegetarian options are also available. The mellow honey yogurt from the eldest son of a beekeeper is extremely popular.
8.9Booking.com
See AlsoMatsumoto Cherry Blossom SpotsLuxury
Set in Matsumoto, 500 metres from Matsumoto Station, Tabino Hotel lit Matsumoto offers air-conditioned accommodation and a restaurant. The property is around 3.5 km from The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, 27 km from Canora Hall and 1.4 km from Matsumoto Castle. The accommodation features a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage space for guests. All guest rooms at the hotel come with a seating area and a flat-screen TV. The rooms come with a kettle and a private bathroom with a bidet and free toiletries, while selected rooms also feature a kitchenette fitted with a microwave. At Tabino Hotel lit Matsumoto rooms have bed linen and towels. Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a buffet breakfast. Suwa-Lake is 30 km from Tabino Hotel lit Matsumoto, while Kamisuwa Station is 33 km from the property. The nearest airport is Matsumoto Airport, 11 km from the hotel.
8.8Booking.com
Mid-range
Amid stunning nature in the heart of Kamikochi located within Chubu Sangaku National Park, Kamikochi Hotel Shirakabaso offers Japanese-style rooms with free wired internet and a restaurant. It features a public bath. Rooms offer a traditional Japanese d?cor of tatami-mat (woven straw) floors, futon bedding, and paper sliding doors at the seating area. They are fitted with an LCD TV, a fridge and en suite toilet. Western rooms come with bathing facilities. Shirakabaso Hotel serves a dinner prepared with local produce in its dining room, while Restaurant Le Blanc offers a buffet of Japanese and Western dishes. Guests at the Shirakabaso can marvel in the beauty of the Japanese Alps on a hike, or browse in the hotel shop. The hotel is located in front of the Kappa Bridge, and it offers easy access to scenic spots. It is a 30-minute walk from Taisho Pond.
8.6Booking.com
Mid-range
Boasting unique milk-coloured bubbly hot spring baths, Awanoyu provides traditional Japanese-style rooms and heartfelt hospitality. Guests can unwind in the open-air baths, try on yukata robes and savour delicately prepared Japanese meals at the ryokan. Free WiFi is offered at the lounge area and in all guest rooms. Fitted with tatami (woven-straw) flooring and traditional futon bedding, each room comes with a low desk and seating cushions. There are also chairs beside the windows looking out to the lush trees. Other in-room facilities include a TV, a fridge and a telephone. The Awanoyu Ryokan offers karaoke facilities, drinks vending machines and safety deposit boxes. Luggage storage services are also available. The ryokan is a 1-hour drive from Matsumoto Interchange on Nagano Expressway. Matsumoto City and Matsumoto Castle are a 75-minute drive away. Featuring many local ingredients, the Japanese multi-course dinner and breakfast are served in the private room.
8.6Booking.com
Iroha Grand Hotel Matsumoto Eki-Mae
Mid-range
Iroha Grand Hotel Matsumoto Eki-Mae is located in Matsumoto, 3 km from The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum and 29 km from Canora Hall. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage space, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The property is non-smoking and is set 400 metres from Matsumoto Station. The units come with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a fridge, a coffee machine, a bidet, free toiletries and a desk. Featuring a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer, rooms at the hotel also provide guests with a city view. At Iroha Grand Hotel Matsumoto Eki-Mae every room has bed linen and towels. A buffet breakfast is available every morning at the accommodation. Matsumoto Castle is 1.1 km from Iroha Grand Hotel Matsumoto Eki-Mae, while Suwa-Lake is 32 km away. The nearest airport is Matsumoto Airport, 12 km from the hotel.
8.5Booking.com
Experiences around Matsumoto
Top rated in Naganopoweredby
1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys & Snow Fun In Shiga Kogen
Discover Shiga Kogen by enjoying snow activities and sledding in the snow-covered landscape
SKY BLUE Paragliding Experience in Nagano from Hakuba
¥18,000
★★★★★
1Go out of your comfort zone and take a once in a lifetime experience with this paragliding adventure!
1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano
¥20,950
★★★★★
63Visit Zenko-ji Temple - one of the oldest and most important temples in Japan
Snow Monkey Tour from Tokyo with Beef Sukiyaki Lunch
¥16,979
★★★★★
159Enjoy a comfortable trip to Jigokudani Onsen and famous snow monkeys bathing in thermal water!
Nikko/Karuizawa/Gumma/Yokohama Customizable Chartered Car Tour
¥62,900
Departing from Tokyo city, 10-hour chartered one-day tour
