Matsumoto Castle
Moat? Check. Stunning bridge with red paint? Check. Nearly impossible to climb stairs? Definitely check. Matsumoto marked another chance to experience one of Japan’s historic castles and get a glimpse into the lifestyle that the shogunate enjoyed during a very different time. It also stands as one of the most well preserved keeps, over 400 years old.
A warm, sunny June afternoon provided the backdrop for this visit. The castle itself sits within a park grounds, and tourists should plan to come on a day when there is a festival or light-up happening at night (sadly, I did not have time to experience this first hand). It is also distinct as a flatland castle, situated at the same elevation as the rest of the park, unlike other castles that required quite a hike to reach. This was a false sense of security though, as the interior was the most difficult to navigate of any I have seen. This is not like Osaka Castle with its curated stairs or even elevator. The stairs were more like ladders in some cases and reaching the top floor was a daunting task, one that was ultimately anticlimactic since there wasn’t much to see in the loft or much of a view out of the upper windows. Still, it was a very worthy visit, and one of Nagano prefecture’s gems.
Photos taken with the Nikon Z9 and NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens