Matsumoto Castle is one of Japan’s most important surviving early-modern castles. Located in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, the castle is famous for its striking black-lacquered exterior and its five-story, six-level main keep, standing dramatically against the backdrop of the Northern Alps.
Originally known as Fukashi Castle, it played an important role in the conflicts that shaped Shinano Province during the Warring States period. During the Edo period, it became the administrative center of the Matsumoto Domain and remained at the heart of the region’s political and cultural life.
Although the castle faced several threats to its survival over the centuries, local efforts helped preserve it. Today, Matsumoto Castle is one of the symbols of Matsumoto and an important cultural heritage site that conveys the history of Japanese castle architecture from the Warring States period through the early modern era.
Along with Himeji Castle, Inuyama Castle, Hikone Castle, and Matsue Castle, Matsumoto Castle is one of Japan’s five castles designated as National Treasures. The castle grounds as a whole are also designated as a National Historic Site.
The history of Matsumoto Castle dates back to the Eisho era (1504–1520) of the Warring States period. The Ogasawara clan, who served as the military governors of Shinano, established Hayashi Castle as their main base and built Fukashi Castle as one of its subsidiary fortifications.
Fukashi Castle stood at a strategically important location overlooking the Matsumoto Basin. It functioned as an important military stronghold for controlling and defending the surrounding area during a period of continuous conflict among powerful warlords in Shinano.
During the Tenbun era, the powerful warlord Takeda Shingen of Kai Province began a major campaign to expand his influence into Shinano.
In 1550, Hayashi Castle and Fukashi Castle fell in succession, forcing Ogasawara Nagatoki to flee Shinano. The Takeda clan dismantled Hayashi Castle while developing Fukashi Castle as a key base for governing the Matsumoto Basin.
Baba Nobuharu was appointed castle commander, and Fukashi Castle became an important center supporting the Takeda clan’s administration of Shinano.
In 1582, Oda Nobunaga was killed in the Honnoji Incident, leading to the collapse of the Takeda regime and renewed struggles for control of Shinano.
During this turbulent period, Ogasawara Sadayoshi, supported by former retainers of the Ogasawara clan, recaptured Fukashi Castle. He subsequently changed its name to Matsumoto Castle, establishing the name that has survived to the present day.
In 1590, after Toyotomi Hideyoshi completed the unification of Japan, Tokugawa Ieyasu was transferred from the region to the Kanto area. Ogasawara Hidemasa, then lord of Matsumoto Castle, also moved with Ieyasu.
The castle was subsequently placed under the control of Ishikawa Kazumasa and his son Yasunaga. They carried out extensive improvements to the castle and surrounding castle town, including the construction of the main keep.
These developments transformed Matsumoto Castle from a Warring States military stronghold into a fully developed early-modern Japanese castle.
The exact construction date of the main keep has long been debated. However, recent research has provided new clues. A tree-ring dating survey conducted in 2025 revealed that major structural timbers used in the main keep were felled around 1596, providing important evidence for understanding when the present castle keep was constructed.
During the Edo period, Matsumoto Castle served as the administrative headquarters of the Matsumoto Domain and became the political center of the region.
After the Ishikawa family, the Ogasawara, Toda, Matsudaira, Hotta, and Mizuno families successively governed the domain. The Toda-Matsudaira family ultimately remained in control until the Meiji Restoration.
During this period, the castle town also developed as a center of commerce and culture, laying the foundations for the historic cityscape that can still be experienced around Matsumoto today.
The greatest attraction of Matsumoto Castle is its surviving five-story, six-level main keep. Although the exterior appears to have five stories, the interior contains a level that cannot be seen from outside, giving the structure six levels in total.
The main keep, Inui Small Keep, and connecting Watari Tower are believed to date from the late Warring States period. The Tatsumi Attached Tower and Tsukimi Tower were added during the early Edo period.
Together, these five structures form one of the most distinctive surviving castle complexes in Japan.
The castle keep complex consists of five structures: the Main Keep, Inui Small Keep, Watari Tower, Tatsumi Attached Tower, and Tsukimi Tower.
The Main Keep and Inui Small Keep are connected by the Watari Tower, while the Tatsumi Attached Tower and Tsukimi Tower extend the complex into an intricate arrangement.
Rather than standing as completely independent buildings, these structures are connected to form a single castle keep complex. Their staggered arrangement creates different silhouettes depending on the direction from which the castle is viewed.
Matsumoto Castle retains numerous features specifically designed for combat. Among the most recognizable are the sama, or defensive openings in the walls.
Some openings were designed for archers, while others were intended for firearms. These narrow openings allowed defenders to fire at attackers while remaining protected behind the walls, reflecting the importance of firearms during the late Warring States period.
The lower levels of the keep also contain stone-dropping openings. These were designed to allow defenders to drop stones or fire guns at enemies attempting to approach the castle walls or climb the stone foundations.
A total of 11 stone-dropping openings survive across the Main Keep, Inui Small Keep, and Watari Tower.
The walls of the castle keep were also designed with defense in mind. In particular, the walls on the first and second levels are exceptionally thick, reflecting the need to protect the interior against attacks with matchlock firearms.
The arrangement of the defensive openings and the distance between the keep and surrounding moats were also carefully designed for protection.
Matsumoto Castle was therefore not simply a tall structure built to provide a commanding view. It was a military facility designed to prevent enemy forces from entering and to defend the castle.
Inside the castle keep, visitors quickly discover that the structure is much more complex than its exterior suggests. The stairways are narrow and steep, and their locations and directions differ from one level to another.
As visitors climb toward the upper floors, they must repeatedly change direction. This complicated arrangement also served a defensive purpose, making it difficult for an enemy who entered the keep to move quickly toward the upper levels.
Massive pillars and beams support each floor while also creating spaces suited to movement and defense within the castle.
On the upper levels, the number of supporting pillars decreases, creating more open spaces from which the surrounding landscape could be observed. Entering the keep provides a vivid impression of the sophisticated timber construction techniques used by Japanese castle builders.
One of the most fascinating features of Matsumoto Castle is the way late-Warring-States architecture designed for warfare coexists with elegant structures added during the peaceful early Edo period.
The Main Keep, Inui Small Keep, and Watari Tower contain numerous defensive features, including arrow slits, firearm openings, and stone-dropping openings. In contrast, the Tatsumi Attached Tower and Tsukimi Tower were built during the early Edo period and contain few features specifically intended for combat.
The Tsukimi Tower is especially distinctive. Designed for viewing the moon, it features open sections with removable wooden doors and elegant vermilion railings. Its graceful design contrasts sharply with the heavily fortified architecture of the main keep.
Standing side by side are a castle keep built to withstand warfare and a moon-viewing tower created during an era of relative peace. Matsumoto Castle therefore allows visitors to see the changing values of Japanese society through architecture itself.
The coexistence of military function and peaceful aesthetics within the same castle complex is one of Matsumoto Castle’s most important historical characteristics.
Matsumoto Castle was built on the flat land of the Matsumoto Basin rather than on a mountain or hill. It is therefore classified as a hirajiro, or flatland castle.
Because the castle could not rely on natural elevation for defense, its builders created moats, earthen embankments, gates, and other fortifications around the castle.
Matsumoto Castle was surrounded by three layers of moats known as the Inner Moat, Outer Moat, and General Moat.
The area enclosed by the Inner Moat formed the main bailey, where the castle keep and palace buildings stood. The area enclosed by the Outer Moat formed the second bailey, while the area beyond it formed the third bailey.
The main bailey contained the castle keep and palace, the second bailey housed facilities associated with domain administration, and the third bailey included residences for samurai retainers. A castle town gradually developed around these fortified areas.
The Main Keep, Inui Small Keep, Watari Tower, Tatsumi Attached Tower, and Tsukimi Tower are all designated as National Treasures. The entire castle site is also protected as a National Historic Site.
The castle was designated a National Treasure in 1936 and was designated again as a National Treasure under Japan’s Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties in 1952.
Through ongoing preservation and repair work, these exceptionally valuable wooden castle structures continue to be protected for future generations.
Another attraction of Matsumoto Castle is the variety of views available from around the grounds. The appearance of the castle changes significantly depending on where it is viewed from.
The black castle keep rising against the Northern Alps creates an especially dramatic scene. The reflection of the castle in the moat, known as “Upside-Down Matsumoto Castle,” is another memorable sight.
The view of the castle across the red Ume Bridge is also particularly attractive and has become a popular setting for photographs.
In spring, cherry trees around Matsumoto Castle burst into bloom, creating a beautiful contrast between the dark castle keep and delicate pink blossoms.
Seasonal evening events are also held, allowing visitors to enjoy the illuminated castle together with the cherry blossoms.
In summer, the castle stands against vivid blue skies and lush green vegetation. In autumn, the surrounding trees change color, creating a calm and elegant atmosphere around the historic architecture.
When snow falls, the black castle keep becomes surrounded by a blanket of white, creating a striking winter landscape.
On clear winter days, the view of Matsumoto Castle with the snow-covered peaks of the Northern Alps in the background is particularly impressive.
Near Matsumoto Castle, Nakamachi Street preserves the atmosphere of the historic castle town. Traditional storehouses with white plaster walls and distinctive black-and-white namako-style wall patterns line the street.
Matsumoto is also known for its abundant underground water. Wells and natural springs can be found throughout the historic city center, including Genchi Well, one of the springs associated with the Matsumoto Castle Town Spring Water Group.
Exploring these waterways and historic streets provides another way to experience the distinctive water culture and history of Matsumoto.
Matsumoto Castle is within walking distance of Matsumoto Station, making it easy to combine a visit to the castle with sightseeing around the city center.
After exploring the National Treasure castle keep, visitors can continue on foot to Nakamachi Street and the historic spring-water sites. Exploring these areas together provides a deeper appreciation of Matsumoto’s history, architecture, and traditional culture.
With its magnificent setting against the Northern Alps, its late-Warring-States defensive features, its elegant Edo-period Tsukimi Tower, and the historic streets of the surrounding castle town, Matsumoto Castle offers a remarkable opportunity to experience centuries of Japanese history through architecture and landscape.
8:30 - 17:00 (last admission by 16:30)
Year-end (December 29 through 31)
Keep and Honmaru Garden
Adults 700 yen
Child 300 yen
20 minutes on foot from Matsumoto Station (East Exit (Castle Exit)) on JR Shinonoi Line, Oito Line, and Alpico Kotsu Kamikochi Line
Approximately 7 minutes on foot from Kita-Matsumoto Station (East Exit (Castle Exit)) on the JR Oito Line
Bus:
From Matsumoto Station bus stop, take the Matsumoto Dentetsu Bus Town Sneaker North Course for approximately 10 minutes and get off at the Matsumoto Castle Kuromon stop.
From Matsumoto Bus Terminal, take the Matsumoto Dentetsu Bus bound for Asama Onsen, etc. (approx. 10 min.) and get off at Daimyo-machi Bus Stop.
By car:
15 minutes by car from the Matsumoto Interchange