Matsumoto, nagano Prefecture
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Matsumoto is in a central plain in Nagano Prefecture and is seen as a gateway to the Japanese Alps. Mountain ranges can be seen on either side of the town, with the Hida Mountains to the west, capped by the 3,190 metre-high Hotakadake. A key sight is Matsumoto Castle which dates from the 1500s and is one of the 12 remaining tenshu keep castles in Japan. It has a storied history of changing hands over the years as different clans and shoguns rose to power and fell from prominence. During the Meiji period all fortifications in Japan were ordered to be destroyed, but a local dignitary was able to apply pressure to have it saved and handed over to the local government. The castle is also known as the ‘crow castle’ due to its black exterior.
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This was early November, but unseasonably warm.
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Like all trains in Japan, local trains spark joy - of course they do! This one is a stopping train on the way to the Kamikochi Valley. Note the extensive rail infrastructure. Even a relatively small town such as this will boast multiple tracks.
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