Sightsee-and-Go Trail

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Aubrey Maxwell
5 years ago
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1 Sightsee-and-Go Trail

2 If you are subject to an unforgiving schedule but still want to experience the best of Matsumoto City, this is the walk for you. This selfguided walking tour allows you to see (most of) Matsumoto s main attractions, including the castle, the old streets, and the Kaichi school. The route can easily be extended or shortened, depending on your preferences. If you have the time, we recommend wrapping up the day at the 100 sushi restaurant close to the hostel, or with a bite of horse sashimi a local delicacy. Matsumoto Backpackers wishes you a pleasant day. If you have any questions, please ask one of our staff members. OPTIONAL The Jorinji temple-shrine complex also called the Fox Shrine is easy to overlook but nonetheless interesting. While many of the buildings are relatively new, the shrine dates back to the 16 th century. The wooden front gate built in the late 17 th century is a silent reminder of this. The bell tower was constructed in The temple features a pleasing Japanese garden and the colourful shrine beside it has a small set of torii archways. If you happen to pass onto Isemachi Street on the hour after visiting the complex, stop for a few minutes in front of the community centre to appreciate the Karakuri Clock s musical display. OPTIONAL One of the few colourful shrines in Matsumoto City (the others being predominantly black and brown), Fukashi Shrine is also the city s oldest shrine it was established in the 14 th century. The shrine is significant for two main reasons. First of all, it is the premier location of Matsumoto s biggest new year s festival, where citizens give thanks for the old year and wish for prosperity in the new. Secondly, the shrine is important to students as they come here to pray for good results in upcoming examinations. If you are lucky, you may see the shrine s priest offering blessings to visitors.

OPTIONAL The Well of Genchi, located here at the far end of Takasago Street, has been a local source of water for generations, and remains in use today.

3 OPTIONAL The Well of Genchi, located here at the far end of Takasago Street, has been a local source of water for generations, and remains in use today. Although water was readily available from the river in old Matsumoto, many citizens chose to draw water from this well instead as the water was reputedly of exceptional quality (and was therefore also used to make sake). As a result of the well s reputation, the local lord had a guard posted at the well permanently to ensure its quality, making it the only well in Japan that was officially guarded. There are many other wells in Matsumoto City look for them during the rest of your walk and try the water quality for yourself! OPTIONAL Takasago Street is often referred to in Matsumoto as the Ningyo Doll Street as there are several shops here selling these quintessentially Japanese statues. Ningyo dolls came into fashion during the Edo Period as Japan opened up to international trade. Doll sets were often presented as expensive gifts or as displays of wealth and prestige. Doll-makers were subject to strict government regulations on height and materials. Ningyo dolls sold on Takasago street today come in a variety of forms and continue to be made in a traditional manner out of high-quality materials including straw, wood, human or silk hair, and fine textiles. Naka- (centre of middle) Machi (town) was as the name suggests an important street in the centre of Edo-period Matsumoto. As the street was historically a merchant quarter, the beautiful black-andwhite buildings many of which are well over a hundred years old are made out of thick mud to ensure that valuable wares inside were protected from fire. Note also the staggered street pattern, intended to confuse enemies. The street remains retail-oriented today and shops sell traditional lacquerware, kimonos, and handcrafts. There are also various eateries serving traditional and contemporary dishes. On Sundays and national holidays, it is possible to attend a Shamisen (a Japanese string instrument) performance for 700 at 13:30 and 15:00.

4 Nawate Street, now a quaint, historic, shop-lined street, was once a quiet lane in the shadow of the castle s outermost defences. When the castle walls were demolished in the late 19 th century, the street transformed into its current appearance. Little evidence of its earlier history remains, except for the S-shape in the road at the street s western end (at the Sensai Bridge). This was the site of the castle s most important gate the Ote Gate. Nawate Street is also called Frog Street as frog-themed souvenirs are sold throughout and at the street s western end there is a statue of frogs in samurai armour. Moreover, there is Yohashira shrine, where a celebration in honour of Yebisu the business god is held every 17 th and 18 th November. If you are lucky, you may also witness a traditional Japanese wedding. Just beside the shrine there is a French-style restaurant called Sweet, which has been around since the early 20 th century and which is one of our recommendations for breakfast. Daimyocho Street was, during the Edo period, the main street of the Sannomaru, or samurai residential district. It was a part of the castle and ordinary townsfolk were not allowed here without a permit. Note the symbols on the lamps lining the street these are the symbols of the clans which held Matsumoto castle over the years (Ishikawa, Ogasawara, Tada, Matsudaira, Hotta, and Mizuno). While not a remnant of the Edo Period, the architecturally fascinating bookstore on this street is nonetheless intriguing. When the castle keep was saved from certain destruction by Matsumoto s citizens, it was restored in the early 20 th century. Many tourists coming to see the castle were sad to find it inaccessible. The owner of this bookstore then decided to transform the building into a 1:20 scale model of Matsumoto Castle s keep, and it has retained this look ever since.

5 Although Matsumoto s ninomaru or outer citadel is now a park, it was formerly one of the castle s most important areas. In Ninomaru Palace and Kosanji Palace, the lord lived, received guests, and conducted political negotiations. There were also warehouses for rice and gunpowder, and a traditional tea garden. The ninomaru was accessible via a number of gates. The East Gate or Taikomon was restored using traditional materials in Originally the gate was paired with a drum tower which was used to relay messages to samurai and townspeople. There is a massive, imposing stone the Genba Ishi built into the gate. Legend has it that when builders complained the stone was immovable, a local samurai cut down one of the workers. The rest then promptly agreed the stone was not so immovable after all. There are plans to restore additional sections of the outer citadel. Matsumoto s castle keep was constructed in 1594, although the site was first fortified nearly a hundred years before. Following the destruction of most of the castle in the late 19th century, Matsumoto citizens saved the keep. It was designated a national treasure in 1936 and was subsequently restored using traditional and modern materials to ensure longevity. The keep remains the oldest surviving in Japan. There are two main remaining buildings in the honmaru (inner citadel). The first is the Kuro- (black) mon (gate). It was restored in It is still possible to see some of the original roof tiles marked with clan symbols on this gate. Then there is the keep itself, which consists of the Inui Keep, the Watari Tower, the Tatsumitsuke Tower, and the Tsukimi Tower. Matsumoto Castle is also one of only two castles in Japan to have a moon-viewing wing. Built in 1633, this tower is markedly different in style from the rest of the castle as it was not built to withstand assault but for comfort. Entry to the castle costs 610 and this ticket includes the museum.

6 The two shrines standing here have long been intimately linked to Matsumoto castle. A shrine was originally erected here by the Lord of Toda when he visited Matsumoto in the 17th century. In 1914, the complex was enlarged when Wakamiya Hachiman shrine was relocated here from another part of the city. The two shrines, as a complex, were then renamed Matsumoto Shrine in The shrine features a well and a large keyaki tree, which is taken care of by local parishioners. OPTIONAL The Old Kaichi School dates from 1876 and is architecturally and historically intriguing. The school was built as one of Japan s first western-style schools following the education reform of 1872 in a bid to compete with the West. Before such schools came into being, only children of samurai were entitled to higher education, while common people were only allowed to attend Buddhist-run primary schools. The building of this school allowed people of all classes in Matsumoto to enjoy further education. Community members thought this opportunity so important that they, despite being poor, donated 70% of the total building cost. The school is architecturally relevant as from the outside it appears western in style, but has in fact been constructed using many traditional Japanese materials such as shoji paper, mud, and bamboo, as well as repurposed temple parts. Only its glass windows were imported from France. The school now houses Japan s most comprehensive collection of educational history materials and can be accessed for 300.

Matsumoto originated as a strategically important castle-town and traces of its dramatic military history can be found throughout the city. This self-

Samurai City Trail Matsumoto originated as a strategically important castle-town and traces of its dramatic military history can be found throughout the city. This self-guided tour is great for those interested