Matsumoto-jō Castle — Attraction in Matsumoto

A beautiful and unique black castle located in Matsumoto. It is easy to get 'castle burnout' in Japan, but Matsumoto Castle is stunning. The wooden structure has multiple stories and is situated on manicured grounds.

I made the mistake of opting for a free guided tour by an English speaking guide located at the gates. I thought it was a tour of the castle with a guide, it ended up being 45 mins of standing basically in the same spot in the sun while the guide confusingly explained the complicated history of the ruling dynasties while furiously flicking through a folder of information. After we went through the ticket gates he took a photo of me and then said the tour was over! It wasn't what I was expecting but the gentleman was nice enough. By that time however, it was starting to get busy (9.45am) and I joined a short queue to enter the castle.

You must take your shoes off and then carry them in a plastic bag around with you. This then only gives you one free hand to navigate the very steep and dangerous stairs. The stairs are very narrow, very high and over 60 degree incline - almost a ladder in parts. Some stairs have two directional traffic on very low width staircases. Add in polished wooden floors, slightly sweaty socks and you are saying your prayers each step you take.

Not to be dramatic, but my life flashed before my eyes about 3 times and it was mostly from people above me slipping and me thinking I was going to get flattened and me muttering something about being too young to die.

Dont attempt this if you arent decently fit.. its hard work to get to the top level and if you have a medical emergency it wont end well.

The castle should look into a locker system for the shoes - to give everyone use of both hands for the...

Absolutely love Japanese original castles. Being a visitor of Hime-ji (the "white" castle) twice, Matsumoto castle was a must here on our third visit to Japan as it's know as the opposite as the "black" castle. I will never stop visiting original castles in Japan, the history, architecture, care to restoration work, views and pictures you come out with cannot be compared. We enjoyed ourselves here for about 3 hours that started with a 30 minute free tour from an English speaking guide (you can pick one up at the front entrance at limited hours during the week). Unlike Hime-ji where they stay with you through the castle and beyond, at Matsumoto she walked us through the initial history and up through the garden to the line to get in and then we parted ways (which was fine, just different). There was a bit of a line to get through on this nice June day, and like most castle, they stairs are very steep and some floors cramped. If tight spaces and narrow stairs would both you, then I would recommend staying on the outside of this one. They had a large showcase of guns displayed inside as they were absorbed from a locals collection after his death when the family had no other use for them, something I wasn't expecting to see.

We were in for an extra treat as our guide asked us to come back after dark, which we were surprised to hear the grounds were open after dusk (many close in Japan at that point). In June, they have lights out so you can safely walk around and see the castle from a different perspective from the outside at that time. I've also been told they do projections in winter, now we'll have to plan to go back again. This quickly became one of my favorite places in Japan, if you are thinking about...

I had the pleasure of visiting Matsumoto Castle today, and the experience was nothing short of incredible.

The castle is absolutely stunning — with its bold black exterior and dramatic silhouette, it truly lives up to its nickname, “Crow Castle.” The architecture is incredibly well-preserved, and stepping inside feels like stepping back in time. As you climb the steep wooden staircases and explore the exhibits, you get a real sense of the castle’s history and the samurai who once walked its halls.

Although the cherry blossoms hadn’t fully arrived yet (I later found out they’re expected around mid-April this year), the surrounding landscape still had a quiet, early-spring beauty to it. A few buds were starting to show here and there, giving hints of the spectacular bloom to come. The moats and castle grounds were calm and peaceful, and the lack of crowds made it feel like I had the whole place to myself — a rare treat in Japan during sakura season.

Even without peak cherry blossoms, the views were breathtaking. The snow-capped Japanese Alps in the background, the reflection of the castle in the still water, and the historic atmosphere made for an unforgettable visit. I can only imagine how magical it must look once the sakura are in full bloom.

If you’re planning a trip to Matsumoto Castle specifically for the cherry blossoms, early to mid-April is probably your best bet. But even if you come a little early like I did, you won’t be disappointed. It’s a beautiful and culturally rich destination, and I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone visiting Japan...