Matsumoto

Matsumoto is home to one of Japan's most striking castles. Matsumoto Castle's jet-black walls and six-storey keep, reflected in its surrounding moat with the Japanese Alps as a backdrop, make it one of only five castles designated a National Treasure. Built in the late 16th century, it's the oldest surviving five-storey castle donjon in Japan.

The city itself is a cultured, walkable base for alpine adventures. Nawate-dori and Nakamachi-dori streets are lined with Meiji-era storehouses converted into cafés, craft galleries, and soba restaurants. Matsumoto is also a gateway to the Kamikochi alpine valley and the Northern Alps — and in August, the internationally renowned Saito Kinen Festival fills the city with world-class classical music.