What is the cancellation policy for this tour?

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

How long does this tour take?

This tour lasts approximately 3 hours.

Matsumoto Castle Tour and Sake Tasting

Q: Where does this tour start?

This tour starts at: Tour begins at Matsumoto Station at the front of the JR Line ticket office / Starbucks Coffee inside the station (2F).

3 hours

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Overview

Matsumoto brings together two threads of Japanese tradition: the stone and timber of defensive architecture, and the rice and water of sake brewing.

This tour starts at Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan's most striking original castles before moving through historic Nakamachi street, once the main commercial artery of Matsumoto's castle town and pauses at Kurassic-kan, a former sake brewery dating to 1888.

Then the route leads to a small sake brewery where spring water has defined local craft for generations. Matsumoto has long supported sake production, fed by a network of spring wells drawing from mountain runoff that surrounds the city. A glimpse into how Matsumoto's past still lives in the city today.

Your guide will walk you through a tasting of several sake varieties, each reflecting different rice strains, fermentation methods, and aging processes. Between pours, they'll explain how water quality, seasonal brewing cycles, and rice polishing ratios shape what's in your cup.

Gallery

Matsumoto Castle Tour and Sake Tasting — photo 1

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What's Included

✓ Included

Entry/Admission – Matsumoto Castle
Entry/Admission – Guided Sake Tasting
English Speaking Guide

✗ Not Included

Sake Brewery Tour
Miscellaneous fees during the activity (snacks, souvenirs, etc.)
Insurance (Travel Insurance, Private Insurance, etc...)

Itinerary

Stop 1

Matsumoto Castle, known for its black lacquered exterior. Built in the 1590s during Japan's Warring States period, the fortress was designed for defense: steep stairs, narrow passages, and gun ports throughout the main keep. Its purpose shifted after the wars ended. Around 1633, feudal lord Naomasa Matsudaira added the tsukimi yagura, a moon-viewing room, transforming part of this military fortress into a space for contemplation and ceremony.

Stop 2

Kurassic-kan is a former sake brewery dating to 1888 and a well-preserved example of late 19th-century architecture combined with early Meiji-era design elements that reflect Japan's gradual opening to Western influence. The building combines traditional kura storehouses (thick-walled, fireproof structures built to protect valuable goods) with Meiji-era design elements that marked Japan's opening to foreign trade and ideas.

Meeting & End Point

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Meeting Point

Tour begins at Matsumoto Station at the front of the JR Line ticket office / Starbucks Coffee inside the station (2F)

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End Point

Tour begins at Matsumoto Station at the front of the JR Line ticket office / Starbucks Coffee inside the station (2F)

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Good to Know

Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
This is a walking tour and includes a moderate walk.
Please note that the stairs to reach the top of Matsumoto Castle’s tower are steep and narrow.
please note, the legal drinking age in Japan is 20 years and over. Persons under that age are not allowed to consume alcohol on this tour.
There is no minimum age requirements.
Children less than 6 years old can participate for free (soft drinks for children’s can be arranged)