The “crow castle”, nicknamed for it’s black colour is regarded as one of the best castles in Japan, and was a very big part of the reason we travelled to Matsumoto. Around 500 years old and only narrowly saved from demolition in the late 1800s by the residents of Matsumoto, it’s now a big drawcard for the area.
Most castles are built on hills, but this one is on the flat so it has an impressive moat
The keep has been refurbished a few times since its completion in the late 1500s
The castle also has a spectacular view of the alps
Matsumoto castle appears to have only 5 floors, but there is a hidden floor sandwiched between 2 and 4
The battles these windows must have seen
You can clearly see the 5 floors from the pagoda roofs. Don’t forget the hidden one though!
The castle is lit up at night, and is a very serene place to spend some time
