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Matsumoto Castle

長野県

A National Treasure among Japan's twelve original castle keeps — the oldest existing five-story donjon (1593–94) commanding views of the Northern Alps

Founded

1594

Type

Castle

Visited

Want to go

Access

About 15 min walk from JR Matsumoto Station

4-1 Marunouchi, Matsumoto, Nagano

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Info

Castle

Founded 1594

432 years

Overview

A National Treasure and one of Japan's twelve original surviving castle towers, built in the Keicho era (1593-1594). The five-story keep — regarded as Japan's oldest five-story keep — reflects in the moat against the Northern Alps backdrop, earning the name Karasu-jo (Crow Castle). Saved from Meiji-era demolition by a citizen movement. Its famous firearms collection and scenic setting draw visitor…

Origins

The site of Matsumoto Castle is believed to have originally hosted Fukashi Castle, constructed by the Ogasawara clan during the Sengoku period. In the 1550s, Takeda Shingen seized control of Shinano Province and used the castle as a regional base. Following the turmoil of 1582 known as the Tenshō Ji…

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100 Famous Japanese Castles

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Related Articles
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Japan's 100 Famous Castles: How to Read Castle Layouts and Ruins

A guide to reading the layouts and surviving structures of Japan's 100 Famous Castles, organized by region and castle design type. Covers key terms including honmaru, kuruwa, horikiri, and koguchi, with primary source citations.

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Related Figures
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Takeda Shingen

Tiger of Kai — Furinkazan

Age 73 at founding (posthumous)

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The predecessor of Matsumoto Castle, Fukashi Castle, was developed by Shingen around 1550 as a base for controlling Shinano. It served as the center of Takeda authority in the Matsumoto region, from which Shingen launched campaigns into northern Shinano and the Ina Valley. After the fall of the Takeda clan, the Ogasawara clan retook the castle and renamed both castle and town Matsumoto.

Oda Nobunaga

Revolutionary of Tenka Fubu

Age 60 at founding (posthumous)

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During Nobunaga's 1582 campaign to destroy the Takeda clan, his forces swept through Shinano including the Matsumoto area. The former Takeda lands came under Oda control, but Nobunaga's death at Honnoji the same year upended the situation. The present Matsumoto Castle keep was later built by the Ishikawa clan, who entered the domain in the Keicho era.

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Visiting Information

Hours

8:30 AM–5:00 PM (last entry 4:30 PM). Extended to 8:00 AM–6:00 PM during Golden Week and Obon; Jan 1–3 hours are 10:00 AM–3:30 PM. Closed December 29–31.

Admission

Main keep admission: adults ¥1,300, elementary/junior-high students ¥400, preschoolers free. The castle grounds are free; only the main keep requires a fee.

As of 2026-07-17. Subject to change.

Also Worth Visiting

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Koboyama Kofun

One of eastern Japan's oldest tumuli, a 3rd-century keyhole-square mound where a triangular-rim mirror was excavated, a national historic site showing Shinano's chieftain society

A shrine on the site of Matsumoto Castle's third bailey, enshrining domain lord Mizuno Tadanao, home to the Matsumoto Bonbon summer festival

220m

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