Matsumoto surroundings

At the foot of the Northern Japanese Alps, around Matsumoto, nature and culture rhyme with beauty. Hiking, mountaineering, magnificent landscapes to discover as well as art museums and onsen will open the doors of a less popular Japan.

What to see

Asama hot spring

In this peaceful hot spring, you can indulge in the pleasures of the onsen. This place is also the ideal starting point for excursions to the Utsukushigahara plateau or to Misuzu Lake.

• 20 min by bus from Matsumoto.http: //welcome.city.matsumoto.nagano.jp/contents04+index.htm

Misuzu Lake

This artificial lake with a circumference of 3 km is an ideal place for camping, boating or fishing in summer and for ice skating in winter. The panoramic lookout tower, accessible 10 min by cable car, offers a wonderful view over the lake and the horizon cut out by the alpine peaks.

• 30 min by bus from Matsumoto.

Utsukushigahara Plateau

Located at an altitude of 2,000 m, this 5 km2 plateau offers an extraordinary circular view that allows one to contemplate almost every one of the peaks of the Northern Japanese Alps. The landscape varies considerably depending on the season of the year. In May and June, snow still covers the peaks while on the plateau the azaleas are in full bloom. In July and August, the alpine flora appears in all its splendor. In October, the slopes of the mountains are illuminated with the colors of autumn.

• 1 h 30 min by bus from Matsumoto.http: //www.utsukushi2034.jp/

Utsukushigahara Open Air Museum

At one end of the Utsukushigahara plateau, 450 sculptures are exhibited in an open-air museum.

・ At 1 hr 30 min by bus from the end of the Matsumoto bus route, get off at the “Kogen Bijutsukan” stop (accessible only in summer)

Azumino

At the foot of the mountains lies the plain of Azumino, in the center of which you will find the small town of Hotaka. There they can enjoy the authentic Japanese countryside and its hiking trails. The region is dotted with Dosojin, precious stone statuettes representing protective divinities.

• Approximately 2 hr 30 min by express bus ride from Shinjuku end of line, stop: Azumino Hotaka
• Approximately 30 min by train from Matsumoto stationhttp: //www.azumino-e-tabi.net/en/

Rokuzan Museum of Art

A striking red brick building, whose construction recalls the style of European churches, houses a museum displaying the works of Rokuzan Ogiwara (1879 – 1910), nicknamed “the Oriental Rodin”.

• 7 min walk from Hotaka Station.

Daio wasabi farm

It is the largest farm in Japan for the cultivation of wasabi or Japanese horseradish. A hiking trail that starts from Hotaka station will allow you to reach the farm in 40 minutes. If you prefer, you can rent bicycles at the station.

• 40 min walk from Hotaka Station, 10 min drive