1 Day Tour from Hakuba Matsumoto Castle with Soba Making

Duration11h

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish

Group sizeUp to 45 travelers

Overview

Discover Matsumoto, a historic castle town known not only for its original wooden castle, a National Treasure, but also for its local soba production, sake breweries, and artistic culture. Just 1.5 hours away from the ski resorts in Hakuba, this tour is the perfect option for guests who want to take a break from skiing for a day or experience some of Japan’s rich culture on their way to or from the ski resorts.

Starting from four areas in Hakuba, this tour will bring guests to Matsumoto City to experience the rich culture that Central Japan has to offer. First you will get a hands-on experience of making "soba" buckwheat noodles, then get to enjoy those noodles for your lunch! Next, you will visit the historic Matsumoto Castle, while learning about its history from your guide. Then, visit Matsumoto City Museum of Art, famous for its collection of Yayoi Kusama's artwork. Lastly, taste the local specialties at a sake brewery, before heading back to Hakuba to end the day.

Options

Join from Tsugaike Kogen Heights Bus Stop

Join from Tsugaike Kogen: Please wait at 7:40am at the Tsugaike kogen Heights Bus Stop.
Starting point:
Tsugaike Kogen, Chikuniko, Otari, Kitaazumi District, Nagano 399-9422, Japan

Join from Happo Bus Terminal

Please wait at 8:15am inside the bus terminal. Be sure to look for the guide wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour tag.
Starting point:
Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal / Happo Information Center, Japan, 399-9301 Nagano, Kitaazumi District, Hakuba, Hokujō, 大字北城八方5734-1

Join from Hakuba Tokyu Hotel (Wadano Area)

Join from Hakuba Tokyu Hotel: Please wait at 8:00am at the entrance of the hotel lobby.
Starting point:
Hakuba Tokyu Hotel, 4688 Hokujō, Hakuba, Kitaazumi District, Nagano 399-9301, Japan

Join from La Vigne Hotel, Echoland

Join from Hotel La Vigne: Please wait at 8:30am at the bus lot directly next to La Vigne Hakuba, not at the hotel entrance.

What's included

Entry to Matsumoto City Museum of Art
Entry to Matsumoto Castle
English-speaking guide
Transportation from Hakuba to Matsumoto, and between activities/attractions
Soba noodle lunch

Additional food, snacks & drinks
Shinkansen / ‘Bullet Train’ tickets
Accommodation

What to expect

Matsumoto Castle
1h 40m · Admission ticket included

Your guide will take you on a tour of the historic Matsumoto Castle. This 400-year-old wooden castle is one of the oldest preserved castles in the country, and one of only five castles in Japan to be designated a National Treasure. The six-story castle is surrounded by two moats, painted with black lacquer, and sits before a beautiful backdrop of the Northern Japan Alps, making for one of the most stunning and iconic scenes of historical Japan.
Matsumoto City Museum of Art
1h 40m · Admission ticket included

After learning about Matsumoto's historic past at the castle, take a step into its contemporary history at this must-see art museum. The museum features a permanent exhibit of work by world-renowned artist Yayoi Kusama, who was born and raised in Matsumoto. Kusama is most famous for her larger-than-life yellow pumpkin sculptures with polka-dot patterns, several of which have been displayed across the globe, as well as her “Infinity Rooms,” which use mirrors to create infinite spaces of light and pattern.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Please wait at the bus lot directly next to Hotel La Vigne Hakuba, not at the hotel entrance. Make sure you arrive before 08:30 and look for the guide carrying a company name's tour sign or badge.

Meeting point

Please wait inside the bus terminal and stay warm. Several tours operate from the bus terminal be sure to look for the guide wearing a company name's tour tag and confirm that you're joining the correct tour. Please ensure you are at the terminal before the meeting time.

Meeting point

Please wait at the Hakuba Tokyu Hotel entrance of the hotel lobby. Please ensure you are at the hotel entrance prior to the meeting time and look for the guide wearing a company name's tour tag. The tour cannot wait and will need to depart on-time.

Meeting point

Please wait at the Tsugaike Kogen Heights Bus Stop in the Tsugaike area of Hakuba. Make sure you arrive before 07:40 and look for the guide carrying the company name's tour sign or badge. The tour cannot wait and will need to depart on-time, so please be punctual to ensure a smooth departure.

End point

Please wait at the bus lot directly next to Hotel La Vigne Hakuba, not at the hotel entrance. Make sure you arrive before 08:30 and look for the guide carrying a company name's tour sign or badge.

End point

Please wait inside the bus terminal and stay warm. Several tours operate from the bus terminal be sure to look for the guide wearing a company name's tour tag and confirm that you're joining the correct tour. Please ensure you are at the terminal before the meeting time.

End point

Please wait at the Hakuba Tokyu Hotel entrance of the hotel lobby. Please ensure you are at the hotel entrance prior to the meeting time and look for the guide wearing a company name's tour tag. The tour cannot wait and will need to depart on-time.

End point

Please wait at the Tsugaike Kogen Heights Bus Stop in the Tsugaike area of Hakuba. Make sure you arrive before 07:40 and look for the guide carrying the company name's tour sign or badge. The tour cannot wait and will need to depart on-time, so please be punctual to ensure a smooth departure.

Additional information

Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.