Below is a list of Matsumoto's most popular spots for cherry blossom viewing (hanami), including the typical timing for best viewing in the average year and japan-guide.com ratings. See also our nationwide list of famous cherry blossom spots.
15 minute walk from Matsumoto Station Inner grounds: 8:30 to 17:00, 700 yen
Matsumoto Castle is one of the most beautiful of Japan's original castles. There are about 300 cherry trees planted around the castle moats and inside the paid inner grounds of the castle.
Koboyama Park•
Mid April
15 minute bus ride south of Matsumoto Station Admission: free
Koboyama Park is a unique hill (actually an ancient kofun tomb) in southern Matsumoto City that is almost entirely covered by nearly 2000 cherry trees. The top of the park has views of the Japan Alps across the valley and there many nice spots for hanami picnics.
Joyama Park
Mid April
20 minute bus ride north of Matsumoto Station Admission: free
Joyama Park is a medium sized park on the hills north of Matsumoto's city center with some impressive rows of cherry trees and a lawn area.
Alps Park
Mid April
20 minute bus ride north of Matsumoto Station Admission: free
A little bit further up on the same hill as Joyama Park (see above) is Alps Park, a spacious community park with a few groups of cherry trees and a beautiful weeping cherry tree. Views of the Japanese Alps can be enjoyed on days with good visibility.
Ratings: best of the best
best of Japan
outstanding
Located in Matsumoto, within 3.4 km of Matsumoto Station and 6.1 km of The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, cafe&stay CASTANA provides accommodation with a terrace and free WiFi throughout the property as well as free private parking for guests who drive. This 3-star inn offers free shuttle service. The property is non-smoking and is situated 25 km from Canora Hall. The inn will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms with a desk, a kettle, a fridge, a microwave, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. At cafe&stay CASTANA each room comes with bed linen and towels. Matsumoto Castle is 3.8 km from the accommodation, while Suwa-Lake is 28 km away. The nearest airport is Matsumoto Airport, 11 km from cafe&stay CASTANA.
Featuring 4-star accommodation, Onyado Nono Matsumoto Natural Hot Spring is located in Matsumoto, 600 metres from Matsumoto Station and 3.9 km from The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a shared lounge and a 24-hour front desk, along with free WiFi. Private parking is available on site. All units in the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV. Guest rooms at Onyado Nono Matsumoto Natural Hot Spring include air conditioning and a desk. Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a buffet breakfast. Onyado Nono Matsumoto Natural Hot Spring offers 4-star accommodation with a sauna and spa centre. Canora Hall is 27 km from the hotel, while Matsumoto Castle is 1.6 km away. The nearest airport is Matsumoto Airport, 11 km from Onyado Nono Matsumoto Natural Hot Spring.
Guest House Raicho offers accommodation in Norikura Kogen in Chubu Sangaku National Park. Mt. Norikura Ski Resort is a 3-minute drive away, and pick-up service to and from the resort is provided every morning. Free WiFi and free parking is available on site. Guests can also enjoy bathing in the sulfur hot-spring, which makes use of pure spring water. Towels and toothbrush are provided at a fee. Kamikochi Sawando Car Park is a 20-minute drive away from the property. Kamikochi Bus Terminal is a 30-minute bus ride from Kamikochi Sawando Car Park, and a 60-minute direct bus ride from Norikura Kogen. Guests can have breakfast at an extra cost upon request. Guests can make their own meals at the shared kitchen on site. Activities available around the area include out-of-area skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing near a waterfall, hiking, cycling and fishing. Guests can also visit the Northern Alps or Matsumoto City, both tourist destinations that can be accessed from the property.
Kamikochi Nishi-itoya Mountain lodge features a garden, shared lounge, a terrace and restaurant in Matsumoto. The property is set 47 km from Takayama Station, 49 km from Matsumoto Station and 50 km from Hida Minzoku Mura Folk Village. The property is non-smoking and is located 47 km from The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum. At the ryokan, each room comes with a wardrobe, a flat-screen TV, a shared bathroom, bed linen and towels. All rooms come with a safety deposit box and free WiFi, while certain rooms include a river view. Guests at Kamikochi Nishi-itoya Mountain lodge can enjoy an ? la carte or an Asian breakfast. Guests at the accommodation will be able to enjoy activities in and around Matsumoto, like hiking. Kappa Bridge is 200 metres from Kamikochi Nishi-itoya Mountain lodge, while Kamikochi is 200 metres away. The nearest airport is Matsumoto Airport, 52 km from the ryokan.
Featuring 3-star accommodation, Tabino Hotel lit Matsumoto is situated in Matsumoto, 3.5 km from The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum and 27 km from Canora Hall. Featuring a restaurant, the 3-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom. The property is non-smoking and is set 500 metres from Matsumoto Station. All guest rooms at the hotel come with a seating area and a flat-screen TV. Rooms have a kettle, while selected rooms also feature a kitchenette with a microwave. At Tabino Hotel lit Matsumoto the rooms come with bed linen and towels. Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a buffet breakfast. Staff at Tabino Hotel lit Matsumoto are available to provide information at the 24-hour front desk. Matsumoto Castle is 1.4 km from the hotel, while Suwa-Lake is 30 km from the property. The nearest airport is Matsumoto Airport, 11 km from Tabino Hotel lit Matsumoto.
Located in the Utsukushigahara hot-spring area, Hotel Shoho offers Japanese and Western accommodation with mountain views. Guests can relax in the indoor/outdoor hot-spring baths and request massages for an extra cost. A free shuttle is available from JR Matsumoto Train Station, which is a 20-minute drive away and runs on a fixed schedule. The air-conditioned rooms feature a flat-screen TV, a fridge and a safety deposit box. Japanese Yukata robes and toothbrush set are provided, and the en suite bathroom comes with a hairdryer. Guests can choose to stay in rooms with tatami (woven-straw) floors and Japanese futon bedding or in rooms with Western-style beds. For an extra cost, guests can use the private reservable hot-spring baths and sing at the karaoke rooms. Bicycles can be rented to travel around the area, while sauna rooms are on-site as well. Local products can be purchased at the souvenir shop and free Wi-Fi is available at the public areas. Traditional multi-course meals are served for dinner and a Japanese/Western buffet for breakfast. Shoho Hotel is a 15-minute drive from Matsumoto Castle and a 5-minute drive from Matsumoto Folkcraft Museum. Utsukushigahara Highlands are a 1-hour drive and Matsumoto Airport is a 30-minute drive away.
A 5-minute drive from National Treasure Matsumoto Castle, Ryokan Seifuso is next to Shinshu University and boasts a view of the Northern Alps and the freshness of the Metoba River. It is ideal for sightseeing such as Kamikochi, a mountainous scenic spot, Norikura Kogen, which has abundant trekking courses, Azumino, an original landscape of Japan blessed with Dosojin and spring water, and Utsukushigahara Kogen, which was praised by Kihachi Ozaki, a mountain poet. There are many overseas visitors from over 30 countries every year (English available) for sports camps, and university seminars. The air-conditioned rooms are equipped with a refrigerator, TV and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms and toilets are shared. Ryokan Seifuso is entirely non-smoking. Free parking (2 locations, 12 spaces, on-site), free rental bicycles and chargeable electric bicycles for sightseeing in the city. For meals, freshly prepared seasonal Japanese dishes are served. Western breakfast is available upon request (reservation made at reception), and vegetarian options are also available. The mellow honey yogurt from the eldest son of a beekeeper is extremely popular.
Amid stunning nature in the heart of Kamikochi located within Chubu Sangaku National Park, Kamikochi Hotel Shirakabaso offers Japanese-style rooms with free wired internet and a restaurant. It features a public bath. Rooms offer a traditional Japanese d?cor of tatami-mat (woven straw) floors, futon bedding, and paper sliding doors at the seating area. They are fitted with an LCD TV, a fridge and en suite toilet. Western rooms come with bathing facilities. Shirakabaso Hotel serves a dinner prepared with local produce in its dining room, while Restaurant Le Blanc offers a buffet of Japanese and Western dishes. Guests at the Shirakabaso can marvel in the beauty of the Japanese Alps on a hike, or browse in the hotel shop. The hotel is located in front of the Kappa Bridge, and it offers easy access to scenic spots. It is a 30-minute walk from Taisho Pond.
Located less than 1 km from Matsumoto Station, Minka House offers 1-star accommodation in Matsumoto and features a garden, a restaurant and a bar. Featuring free bikes, the 1-star guest house has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a shared bathroom. The property is non-smoking and is situated 3.9 km from The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum. Guest rooms include bed linen. Canora Hall is 27 km from the guest house, while Matsumoto Castle is 1.3 km away. The nearest airport is Matsumoto Airport, 12 km from Minka House.
Hotel Tamanoyu features spacious public hot spring baths, as well as private ones. For further relaxation, it offers massages, Japanese cuisine and small classical concerts. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, and facilities are wheelchair-friendly. Tamanoyu offers comfortable rooms with a Japanese or Western decor, all fitted with an LCD TV, a mini-fridge and an electric kettle. Free green tea is provided, and guests are free to roam the hotel in Japanese samue casual wear. Guests can unwind in public spring baths or reserve an outdoor hot spring bath for private use free of charge. Tamanoyu Hotel houses a souvenir shop and drinks vending machines. A Japanese breakfast and traditional multi-course dinner are served at the dining room. Local beers and Japanese sake can be enjoyed at the salon, which often features live classical and fork music. Hotel Tamanoyu is a 10-minute drive from Matsumoto-jo Castle and shopping street Nakamachi-dori, featuring classic Japanese architecture. It's also a 10-minute drive from the historical Former Kaichi School (Kyu Kaichi Gakko).