6 Garden & Palace Tours in Nagano to Build a Day Around

1.Matsumoto Castle Tour & Samurai Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 128 reviews · 3 hours · from $88Our pick

Meet your English-speaking guide at Matsumoto Station for a two-hour tour of National Treasure Matsumoto Castle, followed by a one-hour samurai lesson. Dress in samurai clothing, choose a practice sword, and learn basic stances and techniques from a sword master.

“Matsumoto Castle was a site to see. It's amazing how well preserved it's been kept. Our tour guide Saiyuko was great! Kei and Saiyuko were very knowledgeable.”

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2.1-Day Tour from Nagano and Matsumoto Kamikochi & Matsumoto Castle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 105 reviews · from $201Top rated

Travel from Nagano to Matsumoto Castle, Nawate-dori, and Kamikochi with an English-speaking guide such as Shin, Endo, or Devan. You get castle admission, guided walks, direct transport, and three hours of free time in the Japanese Alps. The day runs about nine hours.

“Our tour was amazing! Our tour guide (Endo) and the driver were fantastic and very accommodating. Extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Would recommend to anyone!”

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3.Full-Day Tour: Matsumoto Castle & Kamikochi Alpine Valley

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 78 reviews · 12 hours · from $180

Travel by coach from Nagano or Matsumoto to historic Matsumoto Castle, Nawate-Dori’s frog-themed shops, and Kamikochi at 1,500 meters. An English-speaking guide such as Joyce, Jens, Shin, or Endo leads the day, with castle entry, transport, and a guided alpine walk included.

“Shin was our guide for our day trip to Matsumoto Castle & Kamikochi, and our family thoroughly enjoyed this experience! Shin was attentive and helped us learn about the history of the places we visited. Of course the highlight of our trip was the Alpine Valley. The walk to the Kappa bridge is breathtaking and it’s a MUST experience if you are visiting Nagano!”

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4.Matsumoto Castle Tour & Samurai Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews · from $88

Meet near Matsumoto Station, walk with an English-speaking guide to National Treasure Matsumoto Castle, then learn samurai movements at Nakamachi Kurassic-kan. Choose a costume and practice sword forms with instructors such as Miharu-sensei. The swords are theatrical, not sharp.

“De rondleiding in Matsumoto Castle was zeer leerrijk en dus zeker de moeite waard. De samurai experience was een telleurstelling. Ik had verwacht een haktest te mogen doen met een scherp zwaard. Ik heb vijf seconden een metalen oefenzwaard vastgehad en voor de rest een houten zwaard. Jan Bossaerts”

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5.Matsumoto Castle Town Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 58 reviews · 3 hours · from $63Best value

Follow a historic route from Matsumoto Station to Japan’s famous black castle, where guides such as Tom, Shin, Naomi, and Kei explain its samurai past. Then browse Nawate’s frog-themed shops and Nakamachi’s craft stores, cafes, and restaurants on a small-group, three-hour walk.

“What an amazing tour! I was fortunate to be the only person in the tour, and the tour guide (whose name I have forgotten!) was really approachable and friendly. She introduced a lot of information about Matsumoto Castle, the history and its people, as well as some facts about the city and its shrines. Also fortunate to experience Matsumoto in snow (apparently it is very rare) so got to take some amazing pictures! Highly recommended if you are ever visiting Matsumoto.”

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6.Nagano/Matsumoto: Matsumoto Castle and Narai-juku Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · 1 day · from $180

Join an English-speaking guide for a full day through samurai-era Matsumoto and the Kiso Valley. Visit Matsumoto Castle, browse Frog Street, and walk Narai-juku, with transport, castle admission, and guided tours included. Guides may include Shawn, Joyce, or Nadin.

“The second whole day trip with the same company. Again. Fantastic. Thank you Nadin for giving us so deep and interesting facts about Japan and taking care about me as a vegetarian :). The best, top. Just do it when you in Nagano or so.”

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