Matsumoto Castle

We hated to say goodbye to our Ryokan hosts but there are miles to travel before we sleep, so after a superb traditional Japanese breakfast, we boarded the train back to Nagano and then on to Matsumoto. At breakfast, our host explained to us what the two set ups of traditional dolls in the dining lounge were all about. One was for her 12 year old granddaughter and the other her 16 year old granddaughter. This Ryokan has been in her family for 150 years and they were most gracious hosts. She spoke to us through google translate and when Gilles and I were leaving she typed this message to us on her phone. “May you continue to be best friends for the rest of your life just like the Emperor and Empress of Japan”. In Matsumoto we visited the Matsumoto Castle, the oldest wooden castle in Japan dating back to 1595, and a national treasure from the Guadalupe era. As you can see, the people of this town really cherish their castle and celebrate the Samauri culture. We climbed to the top tower in the castle where we were rewarded with great views of the Alps and the cosmopolitan town filled with cafes and galleries.Read more