Looking to get away from the hussle and bussle of the big city, and generally just wanting to get away from it all after a very hectic summer, I decided to head off to Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City. I had heard that it was one of the major temples in Japan, a good to place to see, and it was not far from Tokyo. While making my preparations for my trip, I discovered that Matsumoto Castle was not far from Nagano City, so I decided to put it on my intinerary. At the end of August, after the summer travel peak, I headed off to Nagano Prefecture for the first time for a two-night, three-day trip.
Zenkoji Temple (Nagano City, Nagano)
It was a very quick trip from Tokyo to Nagano City, only 90 minutes on the super express, or shinkansen as it is known in Japan. My hotel was attached to station, so after checking in and relaxing for short while, I headed off to Zenkoji Temple with the Nikon in hand. I also had with me a map, in English, that I got for free from the tourist information centre inside Nagano Station.
The walk from Nagano Station to Zenkoji Temple was very simple and took about an hour at a very leisurely pace, stopping along the way to admire all the wonderful old buildings, and popping into the miriad of shops to check out their plethora of wares and souvenirs. There are an ample number of coffee shops, convenience stores, and vending machines along the way, so you do not need to worry if you leave your hotel without a bottle of water.
After a steady walk, a lot of it up a slight hill, then passing through the first and second gates, I arrived at the first main temple not overly impressed so far. But after paying the 500 yen admission fee to get into the main temple, my impression certainly changed; defintitely unique and worth the visit. The short walk underneath the temple included in the admission fee is also recommended.
To any visitor to Japan that is keen to take in a lot of temples, shrines, and castles while they are here, remember to bring slip on shoes with you. Over my three-day trip, I cannot count the number of times, and the amount of time I spent dealing with the laces on my sneakers.
Unfortunetly, photography was not allowed inside the main temple.
I have to add that I really did like Nagano City. The pace was relaxed and the people seemed very happy. It was nice to see people walking down the street or sitting in a coffee shop talking and laughing with their friends, rather than looking down, frowning into their smart phones.
Matsumoto Castle (Matsumoto City, Nagano)
I went to Matsumoto City from Nagano City by express train, planning for a six-hour day in Matsumoto to take in the city and Matsumoto Castle. The single trip took about 45 minutes and while there were a few tunnels along the way, the scenery from the train was breathtaking, too.
Again, the walk from the the station to my destination was not difficult, and compared to the steady uphill walk to Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City, the walk from Matsumoto Station to Matsumoto Castle was very flat. Even while stopping often along the way to take a few photos of the shine and other sites along the way, the walk was no more than 45 minutes.
Matsumoto Castle is unique in that it is black. It is very picturesque and will certainly deplete the bytes on the SD card in your camera. You are also able to take photographs inside the castle.
Admission to the main castle grounds is not free – not so expensive, but not free. For able-bodied visitors, I do recommend paying the entrance fee and going inside the castle to have a look at the small museum and to climb to the top to have a look at the view from sixth level. The climb to the top is exactly that – a climb. The stairs are steep, narrow, uneven, and many. You will be carrying your shoes in a plastic bag in one hand, and on many staircases (in some sections more like ladders than stairs) there is a handrail on only one side, so you will need to have good balance and not suffer from vertigo. If you are more than 150 centimetres tall, you also have to watch your head a lot.
I visited Matsumoto Castle on a week day, and not during a peak tourism time. I was able to get through the castle at a pace that was set by me, but I must add that during peak times, the wait can be hours. Choose you day carefully.
I was in Matsumoto City for six hours, and this was ample time to take in the castle, pop into a few shops, have lunch, and also have time for the requisite two-shot latte to wind down.
Transporation and Accomodation
If there is anyone out there interested in trains, all services that I used during this trip were provied by JR East (Japan Rail). The return trip from Tokyo to Nagano City was on the shinkansen (the super express or bullet train, and between Nagano City and Matsumoto City, the Shinonoi Line.
I stayed at the Nagano Metropolitan Hotel, also owned and run by JR East. It is very conveniently attached to Nagano Station allowing for easy access, even with a lot of luggage. I highly recommend it.
Ramblings and Ruminations 