Go!Central Japan × Centrip JapanThe Heart of Central Japan- Its Nature, History, and Culture –

After a relaxing morning in Azumino, take the JR Oito Line 30 minutes east to Matsumoto. Just a 15-minute walk from the station and you'll find yourself at Matsumoto Castle. Matsumoto Castle is a certified national treasure and one of only two five-level castle keeps in Japan. Its striking black and white look makes it a special place for castle aficionados and the backdrop of the Northern Japanese Alps makes it a perfect subject for photographers looking to take some memorable shots of their trip to Japan. The castle is known by the nickname karasujo, which means Crow Castle in Japanese, due to its black walls. While portions of the castle have been reconstructed for preservation purposes, much of the castle remains in its original form.

Staying the night in Matsumoto is recommended. If you're in the mood for a late afternoon snack, the Shinshu Region, where Matsumoto is located, is famous for its delicious apples. In addition to picking up an apple to bite into, you'll also find a wide variety of apple-based foods that make great snacks or presents for friends and family back home. Some popular favorites include apple juice, apple jam, and apple cookies.

For dinner, Matsumoto is a great place to eat Japanese noodles. Each area of Japan boasts its own local variety of noodle, and Matsumoto is no different. Check out Shinshu soba for an authentic taste of Matsumoto. The pure mountain water of the area and its soil, rich in volcanic ash, are said to make the taste of Shinshu soba distinct from, and tastier than other types of soba from around Japan. It's literally a taste of the mountains.