Nagano Prefecture (Matsumoto) Events

This festival brings together soba noodle makers from all over Japan to Matsumoto Castle Park, where you can compare different types of handmade soba.

Not only Shinshu soba, but soba from various regions will be available. Since it's an outdoor event with a view of the castle, it is weather-dependent.

This is a night festival where Matsumoto Castle is entirely decorated with light and ice in winter. Centered around projection mapping on the National Treasure main keep, the entire castle town area, including Daimyo-machi Street and Chitose Bridge, is illuminated. Admission is free, and it's a winter highlight accessible from your accommodation for a night stroll.

During the festival period (usually a weekend in late January), the "National Treasure Matsumoto Castle Ice Sculpture Festival" is also held, featuring works by ice sculptors from across Japan and a giant ice slide in Matsumoto Castle Park. The dates for the 2026-27 season will be confirmed on the official website closer to the time, so please check before your visit.

This is one of Nagano's leading craft festivals, bringing together approximately 260 artisans from across Japan. Handmade items such as woodworking, pottery, glass, and textiles are showcased under the trees of Agata-no-Mori Park.

It's a weekend where you can experience "Matsumoto, the city of folk crafts and craftsmanship." The highlight is being able to talk directly with the artisans and choose items. The dates are usually in late May, but please check the official website closer to the time.

This is the summer festival of Matsumoto Shrine, located just north of Matsumoto Castle. On the eve festival on the 10th, fireworks are launched behind Matsumoto Castle (directly behind it), illuminating the summer night sky with the National Treasure main keep in silhouette.

It's one of the few fireworks displays you can walk to from your accommodation. Food stalls are also present, making the festival itself enjoyable. The dates are fixed annually on July 10th and 11th, but the fireworks display may be decided at the last minute due to weather, so please check Matsumoto City's tourism information before your visit.

Groups from all over Japan gather to beat taiko drums with the National Treasure main keep as a backdrop.

During the night stage, the illuminated Matsumoto Castle serves as the backdrop for the performance. It's an event that transcends language, making it easy to recommend to international visitors.

This is Matsumoto's biggest summer festival. Tens of thousands of people dance with the same choreography through the city streets to the same song called "Matsumoto Bon Bon."

Groups (ren) proceed in lines wearing matching yukata, making it a spectacular sight even just to watch. The dance is a simple repetition, so you can join in by imitating.

The venue stretches from the station to the castle town. The festival comes to you, within walking distance from your accommodation.

This is a summer fireworks festival with approximately 3,000 fireworks launched along the Susukigawa River, which flows through Matsumoto City.

It's a fireworks display relatively close to Matsumoto's accommodations, and you can sit by the river and look up. The dates are usually in early August, but please check the official website closer to the time.