Matsumoto Castle & Wasabi Farm Tour: Samurai & Food

A 150-year-old miso brewery feeds you lunch inside the tour, not before or after it.

This full-day tour from Nagano (8:00 AM, 8.5 hours) or Matsumoto (9:30 AM, 6.25 hours) strings together Matsumoto Castle, a working miso brewery with onigiri lunch, free time at Japan's largest wasabi farm, a countryside winery tasting, and the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum. Five stops that would take days to piece together alone. A live English guide handles the route and the miso brewery tour. You explore the castle and farm at your own pace. On Mondays, the final stop is Matsumoto City History Village instead of the museum. Transportation between all stops is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Matsumoto Castle and Local Culture

• Depart from Nagano Station
• Pickup at Matsumoto Station
• Visit Matsumoto Castle
• Tour miso brewery and eat lunch
• Explore wasabi farm
• Wine tasting at countryside winery
• Visit Japan Ukiyo-e Museum or History Village
• Drop-off at Matsumoto Station
• Return to Nagano Station

The experience

You arrive at Nagano Station or Matsumoto Station and meet your guide at the marked spot: Beck's Coffee outside the Shinkansen gates in Nagano, or the Alps West Exit in Matsumoto. From there, the route moves through five distinct stops without backtracking. Matsumoto Castle comes first: the black-walled landmark sits at the heart of the city, and you walk through it on your own, taking as long as you want to photograph the interior and climb the wooden stairs. The guide gives a brief introduction, then steps back.

The miso brewery is the centerpiece of the day. You get a guided tour of a 150-year-old working brewery, then sit down to a lunch of miso soup and handmade onigiri: a meal built around what you just watched being made. After lunch, the route moves to Daio Wasabi Farm, Japan's largest, where you have free time to wander the lush grounds, buy local souvenirs, and try optional snacks like wasabi soft-serve or croquettes if you want them. Next is a countryside winery where you taste around five small samples of locally made Japanese wine at the counter, with views of vineyards and mountains. The final stop is the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, home to the world's largest private collection of woodblock prints by Hokusai, Hiroshige and other masters, or Matsumoto City History Village on Mondays.

Drop-off is at Matsumoto Station by 15:45 if that's where you started, or the route continues back to Nagano Station, arriving around 17:00. The tour departs on time. If you're late, the guide can wait up to 10 minutes. If you're planning onward travel, book trains leaving after 16:30 from Matsumoto or after 17:30 from Nagano to avoid a tight connection.

What’s included

• Entry to Matsumoto Castle.
• a guided tour of the 150-year-old miso brewery with a traditional lunch of miso soup and handmade onigiri.
• free time to explore Daio Wasabi Farm.
• a casual wine tasting of around five small samples at a countryside winery.
• entry to the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum (or Matsumoto City History Village on Mondays).
• transportation between all tour stops.
• a live English-speaking guide.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 09:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (3 to 9 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by o8Experience

Is this one for you?Pick the 8:00 AM departure from Nagano if you're arriving by Shinkansen and need to catch an evening train onward. Choose the 9:30 AM from Matsumoto if that's where you're staying and prefer a shorter day.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 9 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I join this tour if I'm staying in Nagano, not Matsumoto?

Yes, the tour departs from Nagano Station at 8:00 AM, meeting at Beck's Coffee just outside the Shinkansen gates. You'll return to Nagano Station around 17:00 after the final museum stop.

What exactly happens at the miso brewery?

Your guide leads you through a 150-year-old working brewery to see how miso is made, then you sit down to a traditional lunch of miso soup and handmade onigiri. It's a guided tour plus a meal, not just a quick stop.

Do I have to eat everything at the wasabi farm, or can I just walk around?

The wasabi farm gives you free time to explore at your own pace. The snacks like wasabi soft-serve and croquettes are optional. You can browse souvenirs, photograph the grounds, or simply wander without buying anything.

What's the difference between the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum and Matsumoto City History Village?

The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum holds the world's largest private collection of woodblock prints by masters like Hokusai. On Mondays and substitute holidays, the tour ends at Matsumoto City History Village instead, which focuses on local history rather than ukiyo-e art.

How much time do I spend at each stop?

Matsumoto Castle and the wasabi farm are self-paced, so you control how long you stay. The miso brewery visit and lunch take about an hour together; the winery tasting is casual and unhurried; the museum visit varies by interest. The guide keeps the overall route moving to fit everything into the day.

Is the wine tasting included, or do I have to buy?

The casual tasting is included: around five small samples of locally made Japanese wine served at the counter. You're welcome to browse the winery shop or stroll the grounds, but additional purchases are optional.