Matsumoto Castle, built in the late 16th century, is a National Treasure and one of only five castles in Japan designated as such. Its striking black lacquer and white plaster exterior earned it the nickname 'Crow Castle', and the six-storey main keep is one of the country's oldest surviving wooden castle towers. Seasonal events include cherry blossom illuminations in April, the Taiko drum festival in summer, and moon-viewing events in autumn — all with the Northern Alps as a backdrop.
- Type
- Venue
- Category
- Culture
- Season
- Year-round
- Month
- Year-round (special events in spring and summer)
- Region
- Chubu
- Prefecture
- Nagano
- City
- Matsumoto
Highlights
- ◆One of Japan's five National Treasure castles
- ◆Original 16th-century wooden keep in pristine condition
- ◆Moat reflections framed by Northern Japan Alps
- ◆Cherry blossom and seasonal illumination events
- ◆On-site Matsumoto City Museum of Art nearby