A well-preserved feudal castle located in the city of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It's one of Japan's most complete and beautiful original castles, often referred to as the "Crow Castle" due to its dark grey exterior.

A popular tourist destination located in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It's famous for its wasabi cultivation and offers visitors a unique opportunity to learn about the process of growing wasabi.

Pedestrian street with a lively vibe featuring shops, cafes, food vendors & frog-themed souvenirs.

Known for its traditional storehouses, called kura, which are characterized by their black-and-white, criss-cross patterned walls. This beautiful street is also a popular shopping area where you can buy Japanese handicrafts, such as pottery, lacquerware, and wooden crafts. There are many cafes, restaurants, and soba shops, as well, so it is a great place to search for a place to eat.

It is one of the three main shrines in Shinano Province. The Engishiki Jinmyocho describes it as a Myojin Taisha and it is now a Beppyo shrine. It is a Sōja shrine. It enshrines all the kami of the shrines in Shinano Province

Just across a small bridge on the way to Matsumoto Castle, Nawate Street is a row of small shops with a subtle but recurring frog theme. The banks of the river once echoed with the voices of frogs. Kaeru, the Japanese word for “frog” can also mean “to return home.” Thus, as a symbol of the frog history and to invoke a safe return home, a statue of a frog marks the entrance to the street.

Matsumoto Museum of Art’s most popular attraction is their permanent Yayoi Kusama works. Kusama was born in Matsumoto and was able to find relief from her visual and auditory hallucinations through her artistic expressions.

Small traditional religious shrine & popular destination for viewing colorful autumn foliage.

This western-style building, fused with Japanese elements, was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1961. Relocated two years later during work on the nearby Metoba River, in 1965 the old school building was turned into an education museum