subject: Matsumoto - A Beautiful Holiday Locale [print this page] Matsumoto - A Beautiful Holiday Locale Matsumoto - A Beautiful Holiday Locale
You have quite a few distinctive options when it comes to picking a holiday spot for your yearly vacation. You can take the convenient route and quickly select one of the normal holiday hot spots, you know the ones I'm talking about... the big resorts and the major vacation cities that absolutely everyone under the sun goes to each and every year.
But why would you want to do what nearly everybody else does? Why not look into something a little more sensational, something that you can tell your pals about for years to come.
I recommend traditional Matsumoto in Japan.
When most people give thought to Japan as a holiday vacation destination they usually either think about either Tokyo or Kyoto (or maybe Okinawa), and both of these cities are surely worth your time, but if you'd like to get off the beaten path and try something a little special and fascinating then Matsumoto may be precisely what you're looking for.
It's best known for its enchanting castle, the Matsumoto Castle which is the most ancient castle of its kind in all of Japan. You can also have a look at Mount Hotaka if you're into backpacking or mountaineering. I recommend the Kamikochi Mountain resort if you're interested in looking into the different mountaineering areas.
Deciding on the right time of year to start is vital. The months of April and October are the very best time of year to visit for various factors.
Apart from the castle and the gorgeous mountain landscapes, Matsumoto is also a very nice little city that is located in the central Honshu region known as Chubu. You can think of it as the entry to the Japanese Alps if you need a European comparison.
The city itself is smoothly split up by a river, called the Metoba River which cuts the city in half in a north/south sort of way.
The Southside of the city gives you traditional older buildings, many of which have been modified into quaint little inns and hotels as well as a number of shops. In the western side of the city you can find a large modern museum that has over 100,000 wood block prints that are very lovely.
The castle itself is surrounded by a moat and was actually built in 1504. It consists of a normal five tiered donjon as well as a concealed floor underneath.
If you enjoy Asian civilization, and specifically Japanese culture then Matsumoto may be precisely what you're looking for. So put away that guidebook to Disney World and throw out that map to the Grand Canyon and instead book a flight to Tokyo and then grab a quick train ride out to delightful and historic Matsumoto.
