Matsumoto, Nagano

Matsumoto 松本市
Core city
From top (left to right): Matsumoto Castle, A heritage building of Kaichi School, A view of Kamikōchi, Mount Yake and Azusa creek, Nawate souvenir shopping street, A street view of Asama Spa.
Flag Seal
Location of Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture
Matsumoto
Coordinates: 36°14′16.8″N 137°58′19.1″E / 36.238000°N 137.971972°E / 36.238000; 137.971972
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu)
Prefecture	Nagano Prefecture
First official recorded	4th century
City settled	May 1, 1907
Government
• Mayor	Yoshinao Gaun
Area
• Total	978.47 km2 (377.79 sq mi)
Population  (March 1, 2019)
• Total	239,466
• Density	240/km2 (630/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number	0263-34-3000
Address	3–7 Marunouchi, Matsumoto-shi, Nagano-ken 390-8620
Climate	Cfa/Dfa
Website	Official website
Symbols
Flower	Japanese azalea
Tree	Japanese Red Pine

Matsumoto (松本市, Matsumoto-shi) is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.^[1] Matsumoto is designated as a core city since 1 April 2021.^[2] As of 1 March 2019^[update], the city had a population of 239,466 in 105,207 households^[3] and a population density of 240 persons per km². The total area of the city is 978.47 square kilometres (377.79 sq mi).

Matsumoto is located in the former Shinano Province and was the provincial capital from the Heian period onwards. The area developed as the castle town of Matsumoto Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of the Edo period. Modern Matsumoto Town was established with the creation of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It was raised to city status on May 1, 1907.

On February 1, 1925, Matsumoto absorbed the village of Matsumoto (from Higashichikuma District).

The city expanded further by annexing the Kanda hamlet of the village of Nakayama from Higashichikuma District on April 1, 1943, the villages of Nakayama, Shimadachi and Shimauchi (all from Higashichikuma District) on April 1, 1954, the villages of Wada, Niimura, Kanbayashi, Sasaga, Yoshikawa, Kotobuki, Okada, Iriyamabe, Satoyamabe and Imai (all from Higashichikuma District) on August 1, 1954. Kitauchida and Gakenoyu hamlets were annexed from the Minamiuchida ward of the village of Kataoka in the city of Shiojiri on April 1, 1960 and April 1, 1961. The village of Hongo (from Higashichikuma District) on May 1, 1974 and parts of Seba hamlet (the hamlet of Kukohigashi) were annexed from Shiojiri on April 1, 1982.

Between the days of June 27 and June 28, 1994, the Matsumoto Incident sarin gas attack occurred.

Matsumoto was proclaimed a special city with increased local autonomy on November 1, 2000. Matsumoto annexed the villages of Azumi, Azusagawa and Nagawa (all from Minamiazumi District), and the village of Shiga (from Higashichikuma District) on April 1, 2005. This was followed by the town of Hata (from Higashichikuma District,) on March 31, 2010. Matsumoto was proclaimed a core city with increased local autonomy on April 1, 2021.

Matsumoto is located in the Matsumoto Basin of central Nagano Prefecture surrounded by mountains and is acclaimed for its beautiful views. It is approximately 75 kilometers south of the prefectural capital at Nagano City, and 167 kilometers from central Tokyo. The 3000 meter Hida Mountains are to the west of the city, with 3190 meter Mount Hotakadake on the border of Matsumoto with Takayama, Gifu as the highest point within the city limits.

• Gifu Prefecture
  • Takayama
• Nagano Prefecture
  • Okaya
  • Aoki
  • Asahi
  • Azumino
  • Chikuhoku
  • Kiso-machi
  • Kiso-mura
  • Nagawa
  • Ōmachi
  • Shimosuwa
  • Shiojiri
  • Ueda
  • Yamagata

Matsumoto has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification: Dfa) bordering on a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfa), with hot summers and cold winters. Precipitation is quite high in summer, but the weather is somewhat drier in winter. The average annual temperature in Matsumoto is 12.2 °C (54.0 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,045.1 mm (41.15 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.1 °C (77.2 °F), and lowest in January, at around −0.3 °C (31.5 °F).^[4]

Per Japanese census data,^[10] the population of Matsumoto has recently plateaued after a long period of growth.

Matsumoto has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 31 members. The city contributes six members to the Nagano Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, Matsumoto is grouped with Ōmachi, Azumino, Higashichikuma District, Nagano, Kitaazumi District, Nagano, Kamiminochi District, Nagano and part of the city of Nagano to form Nagano 2nd District in the lower house of the National Diet.

Matsumoto is a regional commercial center and noted for traditional woodworking and silk spinning, electronics and its dairy industry. Seasonal tourism to the surrounding mountains and onsen hot spring resorts is also an important source of local income.^[11]

• Shinshu University
• Matsumoto University
• Matsusho Gakuen Junior College
• Matsumoto Junior College

Matsumoto has 29 public elementary schools operated by the city government, one operated by the national government and one private elementary school. The city also manages 19 public middle schools, with one more middle school shared between Matsumoto and neighbouring Asahi. There is one public middle school operated by the national government and one private middle school. The city has seven public high schools operated by the Nagano Prefectural Board of Education and six private high schools. The city also has a North Korean school, Nagano Korean Elementary and Junior High School (長野朝鮮初中級学校).

Kaichi School opened in 1876; farmers gave 70% of the funds to have it built. According to Philippe Mesmer of Le Monde, Kaichi "was one of the first modern schools built in Japan."^[12] After the school closed, it was converted into a museum.^[12]

• Matsumoto Airport

• East Japan Railway Company – Shinonoi Line
  • Murai – Hirata – Minami-Matsumoto – Matsumoto
• East Japan Railway Company – Ōito Line
  • Matsumoto – Kita-Matsumoto – Shimauchi – Shimatakamatsu
• Alpico Kōtsū – Kamikōchi Line
  • Matsumoto – Nishi-Matsumoto – Nagisa – Shinano-Arai – Ōniwa – Shimonii – Kitanii-Matsumotodaigakumae – Niimura – Samizo – Moriguchi – Shimojima – Hata – Endō – Shin-Shimashima

• Nagano Expressway
• National Route 19
• National Route 143
• National Route 147
• National Route 158
• National Route 254
• National Route 403

• Fujisawa, Kanagawa, from July 29, 1961
• Himeji, Hyōgo, from November 17, 1966
• Takayama, Gifu, from November 1, 1971

• Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, from 1958
• Kathmandu, Nepal, from November 17, 1989
• Langfang, Hebei, China, friendship city from March 21, 1995
• Grindelwald, Canton of Bern, Switzerland, from April 20, 1972

Matsumoto is attractive to travelers not only because of its traditional culture but also its moderate climate and local products. Matsumoto soba is famous for its delicate taste.^[13] Local attractions include:

• Asama Onsen
• Hayashi Castle, Sengoku period castle ruins, a National Historic Site
• Kaichi School Museum, Meiji period building housing the first middle school in Japan
• Kamikōchi mountain area
• The Kiso Valley, a valley located Southwest of Matsumoto along which the historic Nakasendo route of the Edo period went through
• Kōbōyama Kofun, Kofun period burial mound, a National Historic Site
• Matsumoto Castle, built more than 400 years ago. It is a Japanese National Treasure
• Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto, held every August by conductor Seiji Ozawa and featuring the Saito Kinen Orchestra

Outside the rail station is also a statue of a little girl with a violin, remembering the Suzuki method of teaching music, created by Shinichi Suzuki who lived in the city in his later life.

Matsumoto is represented in the J. League of football with its local club, Matsumoto Yamaga FC based at the Alwin Stadium in Kambayashi.

It was one of the host cities of the official Women's Volleyball World Championship for its 1998 and 2010 editions.

Yoshinori Ueda was born here.^[14]

• Hakusen Nagashi [jp] – series of television dramas starting in 1996.
• Orange – manga series written by Ichigo Takano
• Perfect World – manga series written by Rie Aruga

• 
  Four Pillars Shrine
• 
  Kaichi School
• 
  Garden in former Matsumoto High School (present day of Shinshu University)
• 
  Matsumoto Alwin football stadium
• 
  View of downtown Matsumoto from Mount Koubou
• 
  Kappa Bridge in Kamikōchi
• 
  Matsumoto City Museum of Art
• 
  Matsumoto Ukiyoe Museum
• 
  Azusa River in Kamikōchi
• 
  Taisho Pond in Kamikōchi

Media related to Matsumoto, Nagano at Wikimedia Commons

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Matsumoto.

• Official Website (in Japanese)
• Matsumoto City Tourism Website (in English)