Nagano Prefecture (Matsumoto) Events

This festival brings soba noodle makers from all over Japan to Matsumoto Castle Park, where you can compare various types of handmade soba.

Not only Shinshu soba, but soba from various regions will be available. Since it's an outdoor event with a view of the castle, it is weather-dependent.

You can witness an artillery demonstration by matchlock gunners in armor, with the National Treasure Matsumoto Castle as a backdrop. The powerful roar and white smoke are impressive even if you don't understand the language.

The sound is very loud, so families with small children should watch from a slightly further distance. Canceled in case of rain.

This is a night festival where Matsumoto Castle is entirely illuminated with light and ice in winter. Centered around projection mapping on the National Treasure castle tower, the entire castle town area, including Daimyo-machi Street and Chitose Bridge, is adorned. Admission is free, and it's a winter highlight that can be reached by a night stroll from your accommodation.

During the festival period (usually a weekend in late January), the "National Treasure Matsumoto Castle Ice Sculpture Festival" is also held, featuring works by ice sculptors from across Japan and a giant ice slide in Matsumoto Castle Park. The dates for the 2026-27 season will be confirmed on the official website closer to the time, so please check before your visit.

Matsumoto Castle during the first three days of the New Year. You can visit the National Treasure castle tower at the beginning of the year.

An alternative to Hatsumode (first shrine visit of the year) for those staying in Matsumoto during the New Year holidays. Please check the official website for opening hours.

This is a night festival where Matsumoto Castle is entirely illuminated with light and ice in winter. Centered around projection mapping on the National Treasure castle tower, the entire castle town area, including Daimyo-machi Street and Chitose Bridge, is adorned. Admission is free, and it's a winter highlight that can be reached by a night stroll from your accommodation.

During the festival period (usually a weekend in late January), the "National Treasure Matsumoto Castle Ice Sculpture Festival" is also held, featuring works by ice sculptors from all over Japan and a giant ice slide in Matsumoto Castle Park. The dates for the 2026-27 season will be confirmed on the official website closer to the time, so please check before your visit.

This is one of Nagano's premier craft festivals, bringing together approximately 260 artisans from across Japan. Handmade goods such as woodworking, pottery, glass, and textiles are displayed under the trees of Agata no Mori Park.

A weekend to experience "Matsumoto, the city of folk crafts and craftsmanship." The highlight is being able to talk directly with the artisans and choose items. The dates are usually in late May, but please check the official website closer to the time.

This is the summer festival of Matsumoto Shrine, located just north of Matsumoto Castle. During the eve festival on the 10th, fireworks are launched behind Matsumoto Castle (directly behind it), illuminating the summer night sky with the National Treasure castle tower in silhouette.

One of the few fireworks displays accessible on foot from your accommodation. Food stalls are also present, making the festival itself enjoyable. The dates are fixed annually on July 10 and 11, but the fireworks display may be decided at the last minute due to weather, so please check Matsumoto City's tourism information before your visit.

Groups from all over Japan beat taiko drums with the National Treasure castle tower as a backdrop.

For the night stage, the illuminated Matsumoto Castle itself becomes the background. This festival is easy to recommend to international guests as it transcends language barriers.

This is Matsumoto's biggest summer festival. Tens of thousands of people dance with the same choreography through the city streets to the same song, "Matsumoto Bon Bon."

Groups line up in matching yukata and proceed, making it a spectacular sight even just to watch. The dance is a simple repetition, so you can join in by imitating it.

The venue stretches from the station front to the castle town. The festival comes to you, within walking distance from your accommodation.

This is a summer fireworks festival with approximately 3,000 fireworks launched along the Susukigawa River, which flows through the city of Matsumoto.

It's a fireworks display relatively close to Matsumoto's accommodations, and you can sit by the river and look up. The date is usually in early August, but please check the official website closer to the time.

This is an international music festival in Matsumoto at the end of summer, started by Seiji Ozawa. Orchestra performances and operas by the Saito Kinen Orchestra are held in the city of Matsumoto.

Tickets are required for each performance, and popular performances sell out quickly. Please check the official website for the program and ticket release dates.