Private Tour

Private Matsumoto Castle & Sake – Taste of Local Life

Overview

Available languages

English

3 hours

Mobile ticket

Discover Matsumoto on a relaxed private walking tour that blends samurai history, charming streets and local flavors.

Meet your guide at Matsumoto Station and step back in time at Matsumoto Castle, a 16th-century national treasure. Climb its wooden stairways, feel the atmosphere of the tatami-lined rooms, and enjoy panoramic views from the castle keep while hearing stories from Japan’s feudal era.

After the castle, your guide will lead you through Matsumoto’s old town. Stroll along lively Nawate Street, known as “Frog Street,” and the elegant Nakamachi district with its well-preserved kura-style merchant houses. Along the way, your guide will point out favorite snack shops and a cozy, family-run sake bar where you can sample regional specialties and sake at your own expense.

The tour finishes back in central Matsumoto, close to the station, so you can continue exploring on your own or catch your next train after a memorable afternoon in one of Japan’s most atmospheric castle towns.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Sometimes it takes more than 30 min to enter Matsumoto castle

Walking shoes are recommended

Minimum alcahol drinking age is 20 years. So we offer another drink for under 20.

In case of late arrival, the tour cannot be extended.

o8Experience is a locally based tour company offering private and small-group experiences across Nagano and surrounding regions. From food and culture to nature and history, we create meaningful journeys tailored to curious travelers. Visit o8Experience to discover more.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Meet Up with our guide just in front of Starbucks in Matsumoto station and walk to get Matsumoto castle

15 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Matsumoto Castle

Arrival at Matsumoto castle. You go to enter Matsumoto castle and see inside of national treasure. It takes about 45min to 60min to look around.

1 hour • Admission Included

What‘s Included

Guided walk through Nakamachi and Nawate historic streets

Private English-speaking guide

Matsumoto castle entrance fees

Sake tasting fees at the local bar/brewery

Street food and snacks (e.g. taiyaki, dango, oyaki)

Transportation fee to meeting point

There are no mandatory in-destination costs.

Additional drinks

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Options

Explore Matsumoto

Pickup included

Reviews

5.00

6 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Great Experience
shannonq770,,Oct 31, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The tour was amazing; Masa was very warm and friendly and did a great job guiding us around Matsumoto castle, nawate shopping street and nakamachi shopping street. The sake tour was great fun and I would highly recommend this tour to anyone else in the area.
Walk and Sake tasting
tammy G,,Oct 13, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
We had a fantastic time on this tour! Our guide was knowledgeable and fun. Sake sampling at 300 year old brewery and the owner was kind and interesting and also gave us samples of local dishes. Also our guide took great pictures along the way
Excellent tour of Matsumoto
Darlene M,,Oct 12, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
We had a wonderful relaxing afternoon spent with our guide Matsu. He was very courteous and provided us with lots of information about the area and the sites we were seeing. He also saved us over an hour waiting in line time by purchasing tokens that allowed us to walk right in to Matsumoto Castle. We tasted sake made on site by a family that has been making it there for 300 years using the spring water that comes out right at their front door. We also walked down Frog Street and a food vendors street. In addition we visited a 500 year old former Samurai house and a Shinto shrine with a temple. Highly recommend this tour.
Great experience with dough
P6138QLricardoj,,Jul 22, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Masa was a great host and tells you jokes, knows a lot about history and takes care of you during the tour. Reservation with him definitely.
Great tour guide!
Allison M,,Mar 26, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Masa was a great guide! He helped us see Matsumoto castle while explaining the signficance of its history, and took great photos throughout. Afterwards, he brought us to a local sake brewery where we drank with locals, which was a great time. Lastly, he showed us some local shops and bought us taiyaki to try, which was delicious. I would recommend anyone to take a tour with him!
Highlight of our vacation
Shannon,,Feb 16, 2021
- Review from Viator
5.00
What a fantastic tour! Very personalized and relaxing. Our guide was amazing, he was friendly and accommodating. Two highlights...there was a real samurai guarding the castle grounds who was so excited to take a picture with us and the sake tasting was A+. Highly recommend!