Matsumoto

History

Matsumoto is located in the former Shinano Province and was the provincial capital from the Heian period onwards. The area developed as the castle town of Matsumoto Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of the Edo period. Modern Matsumoto Town was established with the creation of the municipalities system on 1 April 1889. It was raised to city status on 1 May 1907.

On 1 February 1925, Matsumoto absorbed the village of Matsumoto (from Higashichikuma District).

The city expanded further by annexing the Kanda hamlet of the village of Nakayama from Higashichikuma District on 1 April 1943, the villages of Nakayama, Shimadachi and Shimauchi (all from Higashichikuma District) on 1 April 1954, the villages of Wada, Niimura, Kanbayashi, Sasaga, Yoshikawa, Kotobuki, Okada, Iriyamabe, Satoyamabe and Imai (all from Higashichikuma District) on 1 August 1954. Kitauchida and Gakenoyu hamlets were annexed from the Minamiuchida ward of the village of Kataoka in the city of Shiojiri on 1 April 1960 and 1 April 1961. The village of Hongo (from Higashichikuma District) on 1 May 1974 and parts of Seba hamlet (the hamlet of Kukohigashi) were annexed from Shiojiri on 1 April 1982.

On 27 June 1994, the Matsumoto sarin attack occurred.

Matsumoto was proclaimed a special city with increased local autonomy on 1 November 2000. Matsumoto annexed the villages of Azumi, Azusagawa and Nagawa (all from Minamiazumi District), and the village of Shiga (from Higashichikuma District) on 1 April 2005. This was followed by the town of Hata (from Higashichikuma District) on 31 March 2010. Matsumoto was proclaimed a core city with increased local autonomy on 1 April 2021.

Geography

Matsumoto is located in the Matsumoto Basin of central Nagano Prefecture surrounded by mountains and is acclaimed for its beautiful views. It is approximately 75 kilometers south of the prefectural capital at Nagano City, and 167 kilometers from central Tokyo. The 3000 meter Hida Mountains are to the west of the city, with 3190 meter Mount Hotakadake on the border of Matsumoto with Takayama, Gifu as the highest point within the city limits.

Surrounding municipalities

Gifu Prefecture

Takayama

Nagano Prefecture

Okaya

Aoki

Asahi

Azumino

Chikuhoku

Kiso-machi

Kiso-mura

Nagawa

Ōmachi

Shimosuwa

Shiojiri

Ueda

Yamagata

Climate

Matsumoto has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification: Dfa) bordering on a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfa), with hot summers and cold winters. Precipitation is quite high in summer, but the weather is somewhat drier in winter. The average annual temperature in Matsumoto is 12.2 °C (54.0 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,045.1 mm (41.15 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.1 °C (77.2 °F), and lowest in January, at around −0.3 °C (31.5 °F).

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Matsumoto has recently plateaued after a long period of growth.

Government

Matsumoto has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 31 members. The city contributes six members to the Nagano Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, Matsumoto is grouped with Ōmachi, Azumino, Higashichikuma District, Nagano, Kitaazumi District, Nagano, Kamiminochi District, Nagano and part of the city of Nagano to form Nagano 2nd District in the lower house of the National Diet.

Economy

Matsumoto is a regional commercial center and noted for traditional woodworking and silk spinning, electronics and its dairy industry. Seasonal tourism to the surrounding mountains and onsen hot spring resorts is also an important source of local income.

Education

Universities and colleges

Shinshu University

Matsumoto University

Matsusho Gakuen Junior College

Matsumoto Junior College

Primary and secondary education

Matsumoto has 29 public elementary schools operated by the city government, one operated by the national government and one private elementary school. The city also manages 19 public middle schools, with one more middle school shared between Matsumoto and neighbouring Asahi. There is one public middle school operated by the national government and one private middle school. The city has seven public high schools operated by the Nagano Prefectural Board of Education and six private high schools. The city also has a North Korean school, Nagano Korean Elementary and Junior High School (長野朝鮮初中級学校).

Kaichi School opened in 1876; farmers gave 70% of the funds to have it built. According to Philippe Mesmer of Le Monde, Kaichi "was one of the first modern schools built in Japan." After the school closed, it was converted into a museum.

Transportation

Airport

The city is served by Matsumoto Airport. However, the airport only provides limited domestic routes. The nearest airports are:

Toyama Airport, located 184 km (114 mi) north west.

Chubu Centrair International Airport, located 255 km (158 mi) south west.

Haneda Airport, located 239 km (149 mi) south east.

Narita International Airport, located 293 km (182 mi) south east.

Railway

East Japan Railway Company – Shinonoi Line

Murai – Hirata – Minami-Matsumoto – Matsumoto

East Japan Railway Company – Ōito Line

Matsumoto – Kita-Matsumoto – Shimauchi – Shimatakamatsu

Alpico Kōtsū – Kamikōchi Line

Matsumoto – Nishi-Matsumoto – Nagisa – Shinano-Arai – Ōniwa – Shimonii – Kitanii-Matsumotodaigakumae – Niimura – Samizo – Moriguchi – Shimojima – Hata – Endō – Shin-Shimashima

Highway

Nagano Expressway

National Route 19

National Route 143

National Route 147

National Route 158

National Route 254

National Route 403

Sister cities

Domestic

Fujisawa, Kanagawa, from July 29, 1961

Himeji, Hyōgo, from November 17, 1966

Takayama, Gifu, from November 1, 1971

International

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, from 1958

Kathmandu, Nepal, from November 17, 1989

Langfang, Hebei, China, friendship city from March 21, 1995

Grindelwald, Canton of Bern, Switzerland, from April 20, 1972

Salzburg, Salzburg (state), Austria, from July 25, 2026

Local attractions

Matsumoto is attractive to travelers not only because of its traditional culture but also its moderate climate and local products. Matsumoto soba is famous for its delicate taste. Local attractions include:

Asama Onsen

Hayashi Castle, Sengoku period castle ruins, a National Historic Site

Kaichi School Museum, Meiji period building housing the first middle school in Japan

Kamikōchi mountain area

The Kiso Valley, a valley located Southwest of Matsumoto along which the historic Nakasendo route of the Edo period went through

Kōbōyama Kofun, Kofun period burial mound, a National Historic Site

Matsumoto Castle, built more than 400 years ago. It is a Japanese National Treasure

Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto, held every August by conductor Seiji Ozawa and featuring the Saito Kinen Orchestra

Matsumoto Castle Projection Mapping, A projection mapping event that began in 2021. It was planned to attract more visitors during the winter season, when tourist numbers tend to decline, and the number of attendees has increased every year. 2025 season, it reached a record high of 170,000 visitors.

Outside the rail station is also a statue of a little girl with a violin, commemorating the Suzuki method of teaching music, created by Shinichi Suzuki who lived in the city in his later life.

Sports

Matsumoto is represented in the J. League of football with its local club, Matsumoto Yamaga FC based at the Alwin Stadium in Kambayashi.

It was one of the host cities of the official Women's Volleyball World Championship for its 1998 and 2010 editions.

Yoshinori Ueda was born here.

In popular culture

Hakusen Nagashi – series of television dramas starting in 1996.

Orange – manga series written by Ichigo Takano

Perfect World – manga series written by Rie Aruga

Notable people

Shōichi Fujimori

Akira Iwai

Akiko Kumai

Yayoi Kusama

Masao Oka