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Nagano attractions: what would you like to see?

Choose Matsumoto Castle for a wooden keep and moat, or Nagano city's Zenkoji for temple approach walks. For art, compare Kusama at Matsumoto City Museum of Art, Higashiyama Kaii at Nagano Prefectural Art Museum and exhibitions at Obuse's Hokusai-kan. See city history at Matsumoto City Museum and old school architecture/education materials at Former Kaichi School. Check individual tickets, closures and access before matching sites to your base.

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Attraction prices and access

Attractions

Matsumoto Castle

松本城

Choose an exterior and moat walk or an interior visit to the black keep. If climbing its stairs is difficult, paid interior admission need not be part of your itinerary.

  • AdmissionAdult timed electronic ticket ¥1,200/on-site paper ticket ¥1,300; ages 6–15 ¥400; ages 5 and under free. For castle and City Museum visits over two days, compare the ¥1,500 adult online-only combined ticket. Choose a castle entry time; combined tickets cannot be cancelled after purchase.
  • HoursUsual hours 08:30–17:00, last admission 16:30. Closed 29–31 December. Check notices for busy-period restrictions and extended hours. Separate 1–3 January hours are 10:00–15:30, last admission 15:00.
  • Getting thereTake North Route bus 21 from Matsumoto Station's eastern Oshiro Exit to Matsumoto-jo/Shiyakusho-mae, then go to southern Kuromon Gate. Japanese official guidance gives approximately 20 minutes on foot from the station. The red bridge is not the Honmaru entrance.

Castle combined-ticket conditionsMatsumoto Castle: accessMatsumoto Castle: FAQsAlpico Kotsu: Matsumoto Town Sneaker

Visit Matsumoto Castle →Official facility informationSee the Matsumoto Castle and City Museum routeSee the castle, old school, art, Zenkoji and collections route2 nights, 3 days A: see the Matsumoto castle/art museum/City Museum route3 nights, 4 days A: see the Matsumoto Castle–Zenkoji and two-city art route3 nights, 4 days B: see the Matsumoto castle and art–Obuse/Nagano collections route4 nights, 5 days A: see the castle, art, Zenkoji, Hokusai and collections route
Attractions

Zenkoji Temple

善光寺

Distinguish Nakamise approach/grounds walks from paid visits to the main hall's inner sanctuary and dark underground Okaidan passage. A ticket to climb the Sanmon gate's upper floor is another choice.

  • AdmissionThe grounds and outer main-hall worship area are free. Inner sanctuary/Okaidan/history museum ticket: adults ¥800; junior/senior high students ¥300; elementary students ¥100. This differs from the ¥1,500 adult set ticket.
  • HoursInner sanctuary opens one hour before the morning service; closes 16:30 April–October, 16:15 March/November and 16:00 December–February. Service times vary by date. Every 28 December, admission ends when the morning service finishes.
  • Getting thereTake a Zenkoji-bound bus from Nagano Station Zenkoji Exit bus bay 1 to Zenkoji Daimon, then walk approximately five minutes to the main hall. The temple's approximately 15-minute ride guidance excludes waiting and walking.

Zenkoji: visitor informationZenkoji: seasonal inner sanctuary hours and 28 December exceptionZenkoji: access

Visit Zenkoji Temple →Official facility informationSee the Zenkoji and prefectural art museum routeSee the Matsumoto Castle–Zenkoji and two-city art route2 nights, 3 days B: see the Zenkoji/Obuse/prefectural art museum route4 nights, 5 days A: see the castle, art, Zenkoji, Hokusai and collections route4 nights, 5 days B: see the castle, old school, art, Zenkoji and collections route
Attractions

The Hokusai-kan Museum

北斎館

See wave, dragon and phoenix paintings on festival-float ceilings at The Hokusai-kan Museum in Obuse, alongside your visit-date special exhibition. This paid art museum is approximately 12 minutes on foot from Obuse Station, reached by Nagano Dentetsu from Nagano city. Exhibition changeover days affect visit scope and prices.

  • AdmissionDuring the 8 August–12 October 2026 special exhibition: adults ¥1,800; high school/university students ¥800; elementary/junior high students ¥500. Follow the relevant guidance for other exhibitions.
  • Hours09:00–17:00, last admission 16:30. Closed 31 December; shortened 1 January hours 10:00–15:00. On 13/23 October 2026, only certain areas including the festival-float room open, with listed adult admission ¥300. These dates do not offer the full special exhibition or discounts. Check changeover notices.
  • Getting thereTake Nagano Dentetsu from Nagano to Obuse, then walk twelve minutes according to official guidance. Adult local-train fare is ¥870 each way; limited express supplements and reserved-seat charges are extra. Check outward/return services for your dates in the Nagano Dentetsu guidance below.

The Hokusai-kan Museum: 2026 RISD exhibition dates and feesThe Hokusai-kan Museum: visitor informationExhibition changeover noticeNagano Dentetsu: Obuse Station fares and timetableNagano Dentetsu: Obuse local/limited express fares

Visit The Hokusai-kan Museum →Official facility informationSee the Zenkoji, Obuse and prefectural art museum routeSee the castle, art, Zenkoji, Hokusai and last-day collections route3 nights, 4 days B: see the Matsumoto castle and art–Obuse/Nagano collections routeThe Hokusai-kan Museum: festival-float ceiling paintings
Attractions

Matsumoto City Museum

松本市立博物館

See Matsumoto's history and everyday life, shaped around the castle, in permanent exhibits. This is a different facility from the City Museum of Art; give city history a day after the keep visit.

  • AdmissionPermanent exhibition: adults ages 18+ ¥500; university students ¥250 with student identification. High school students and younger, or under 18, free. Special exhibitions extra.
  • HoursExhibition rooms 09:00–17:00; ticket sales until 16:30. Closed Tuesdays (next weekday if a public holiday) and 29 December–3 January. Distinguish first-floor hours from exhibition-room hours.
  • Getting thereWalk approximately 15 minutes on foot from Matsumoto Station. Check the official access map and eastern exit towards the castle.

City Museum fees and closuresCity Museum walking access from the station

Visit Matsumoto City Museum →Official facility informationSee the Matsumoto Castle and City Museum routeSee the Matsumoto castle, art museum and City Museum route
Attractions

Nagano Prefectural Art Museum

長野県立美術館

East of Zenkoji, Nagano Prefectural Art Museum has main-building collection exhibits and Higashiyama Kaii's work. Give the temple and art a day each, checking main-building and Kaii Gallery changeover dates separately.

  • AdmissionCombined main-building/Higashiyama Kaii collection ticket: adults ¥700; university students and ages 75+ ¥500. High school students and younger, or under 18, free. Prices change if one gallery is closed; special exhibitions extra.
  • Hours09:00–17:00, gallery admission until 16:30. Closed Wednesdays (next weekday if a public holiday) and 28 December–3 January. Some galleries close for exhibition changes.
  • Getting thereTake route 10 towards Zenkoji from Nagano Station Zenkoji Exit bay 1. Weekdays use Zenkoji Daimon and an approximately ten-minute walk; weekends/public holidays use Shiroyama Koen-mae and an approximately one-minute walk. Distinguish this from routes 11/16/17 via Zenkoji-kita, three minutes on foot.

Prefectural art museum fees and hoursPrefectural art museum gallery operation FAQsPrefectural art museum access by bus stopNagano Prefectural Art Museum: weekday/weekend/public-holiday bus stops and walks

Visit Nagano Prefectural Art Museum →Official facility informationSee the Zenkoji and prefectural art museum routeSee the Matsumoto Castle–Zenkoji and two-city art route2 nights, 3 days B: see the Zenkoji/Obuse/prefectural art museum route3 nights, 4 days B: see the Matsumoto castle and art–Obuse/Nagano collections route4 nights, 5 days A: see the castle, art, Zenkoji, Hokusai and collections route4 nights, 5 days B: see the castle, old school, art, Zenkoji and collections route
Attractions

Former Kaichi School

旧開智学校校舎

Former Kaichi School combines Western-style school architecture with traditional Japanese materials. See front-facing angel/dragon sculptures and wooden corridors. Interior admission is paid; floors 1 and 2 are connected by stairs.

  • AdmissionAdult on-site admission ¥700/electronic ¥600. Online castle/school combined ticket ¥1,600, valid for two days.
  • Hours09:00–17:00, last admission 16:30. Closed the third Tuesday March–November, every Tuesday December–February (following day if a public holiday), and 29 December–3 January. Check the official closure calendar for your date.
  • Getting thereWalk approximately 25 minutes on foot from Matsumoto Station. 開智2-4-12. Floors 1 and 2 use stairs; change into indoor footwear at the entrance.
  • Entrance change noticeSite passage construction has finished; from 10 October 2026, the entrance and ticket office move to the northwest corner. Follow visit-date on-site signs to the new entrance.

Former Kaichi School: fees, hours and accessCastle combined-ticket conditionsFormer Kaichi School: facility and temporary noticesFormer Kaichi School: April 2026–March 2027 closure calendarFormer Kaichi School: construction finished; northwest entrance from 10 October

Visit Former Kaichi School →Official facility informationSee the castle, old school, art, Zenkoji and collections routeFormer Kaichi School: architectural highlights
Attractions

Matsumoto City Museum of Art

松本市美術館

Matsumoto City Museum of Art's Yayoi Kusama exhibition introduces early works and later series by the artist born here. Paid collection admission is ¥700 electronically/¥800 on site for adults. Approximately twelve minutes on foot from Matsumoto Station, it can have a separate day from the castle.

  • AdmissionAdult collection admission: electronic ¥700/counter ¥800. Two-day castle/art museum electronic combined ticket ¥1,700. Special exhibitions extra.
  • Hours09:00–17:00, last admission 16:30. Closed Mondays (next weekday if a public holiday). Additional closures in the checked 2026 calendar: 22 December and 28 December 2026–4 January 2027. Recheck the official visit-date calendar.
  • Getting thereOfficial guidance gives approximately twelve minutes on foot from Matsumoto Station or the bus terminal. 中央4-2-22. Distinguish the first-floor entrance hall from third-floor collection exhibits.

Matsumoto City Museum of Art: fees and hoursCastle combined-ticket conditionsMatsumoto City Museum of Art: operating calendarMatsumoto City Museum of Art: English access guidanceMatsumoto City Museum of Art: floor guide

Visit Matsumoto City Museum of Art →Official facility informationSee the Matsumoto castle, art museum and City Museum routeSee the Matsumoto castle and art–Obuse/Nagano collections route3 nights, 4 days A: see the Matsumoto Castle–Zenkoji and two-city art route4 nights, 5 days A: see the castle, art, Zenkoji, Hokusai and collections route4 nights, 5 days B: see the castle, old school, art, Zenkoji and collections routeMatsumoto City Museum of Art: Yayoi Kusama exhibition

Frequently asked questions

Do I enter Matsumoto Castle over the red bridge?

Honmaru admission uses southern Kuromon Gate. You cannot enter Honmaru from the red Uzumibashi bridge.

Matsumoto Castle: FAQs

Are the City Museum and Nagano Prefectural Art Museum in the same city?

No. The City Museum is in Matsumoto; the prefectural art museum is in Nagano city. Walk approximately 15 minutes from Matsumoto Station to the City Museum, or use a bus route from Nagano Station to the art museum. To see both, check intercity travel and each facility's closures.

City Museum fees and closuresCity Museum walking access from the stationPrefectural art museum fees and hoursPrefectural art museum access by bus stop

Official sources and check dates