◆ This is the right way to get to Matsumoto Castle

　When you visit Matsumto Castle, we suggest that you come by train. The castle towers are not only the place to see. There is a lot more to see in our town.

Almost all tourists visiting Matsumoto Castle by car or tour bus park their vehicles at the parking lot near the so-called ‘Red Bridge’, which is the back gate to the castle. If you happen to get off here, the better way to enter the castle is to walk around the moat to the east and get in through the Drum Gate or the Black Gate, which is the main entrance.

If you come by train, and get off at Matsumoto Station,(A on the Map) please take the east main exit and keep on walking straight two blocks till you come to the crossing named Fukashi 2 chome, where you will see a Circle K convenience store.


　Please turn left. This street is called Honmachi(B on the Map),which is one of the main streets and was once a merchants’ town. The city has changed drastically since that time.





　Walking along the left side of the street for a while, you will come across a stone with sacred festoons.(C on the Map) It is called ushitunagiishi,which literally means “a stone to tie oxen to”.During the Warring States era (1467~1568), the Takeda and the Uesugi clans had some battles in this area. The Imagawa, which was against the Takeda, stopped sending salt to them, so people in Matsumoto suffered very much, since the city is surrounded with high mountains and did not have any way to produce salt. The Uesugi were not able to endure seeing the people suffer, and sent salt via Itoigawa and Omachi by using oxen. The salt got here on January 10, 1568. A festival was started to celebrate the arrival of salt and has been held every year ever since.


　Walk farther a little and you will come to a T junction on the right. This street crossing to Honnmachi is called Nakamachi(D on the Map). It was a town of merchants and craftsmen. There are lots of well-preserved dozo or earthen storehouses. They improve the image of the town. The street is a good place to shop for souvenirs as well as do window shopping.



　Now we are coming to a big bridge Chitose Bridge. The Metoba River below flows through the middle of the city. After crossing the bridge, the road takes a reverse L-shape. There was an outer moat parallel to the river, and Otemon, the main entrance to the castle used to stand there.

The height of the gate was about that of the third floor of the bank in front of us. It is fun to imagine what it was like in those days.


A narrow street on the right along the river is called Nawate(E on the Map).There are lots of small shops along this alley. Cars are off limits here, so you can walk and have fun without being bothered. 　Now that we have crossed the bridge, we are now in Daimyouchou(F on the Map), once, one of the castle complex sites. There used to be huge houses of high ranking samurai along both sides of the street.


　　We can see the towers of the castle from here. If you go straight, you will come to the castle but it is not the right way. You have to turn right here and keep walking along the moat. The best way is to go through the Drum Gate.
　Click the picture below to see more details about the Drum Gate(G on the Map).








　　Did you enjoy the guide of the drum gate? We are heading to the Black Gate.(H on the Map)


　
We are heading toward the Black Gate. Please have fun watching beautiful carp and swans in the moat. If the weather is fine, this is one of the best spots to take pictures of the castle towers against the Japan Alps.


　Well, how did you like the scenery?

　How about taking pictures here, too? If you are lucky, you can catch carp, swans, ducks and pigeons in one frame in a moment.



　Now let’s go and buy a ticket and get into the main enclosure. The ticket office is in the courtyard of the Black Gate. Working hours of the office are usually from 8:30 to 16:30. The 600 yen entrance fee for adults includes the Folklore Museum nearby.


　The Black Gate was reconstructed in 1960. The second gate and the fence were done in 1988. If you knock on the pillar of the gate, you will hear a hollow sound. It is made of only plywood because of the lack of public works expenditure.




If you look at the fence carefully, you will notice that it looks like a folding screen. Avoiding dead angles is one of the defensive devices against enemy attacks.