# Matsumae Castle, Japan: what it is and when to go > Matsumae Castle is a Japanese castle in Matsumae, Hokkaido (松前城). Interests: History. The best time to visit is February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 59 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 01. It has articles in 15 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/matsumae-castle/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-02 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Japanese castle in Matsumae, Hokkaido · History - **Local name:** 松前城 - **Where:** Japan - **Best time:** February to May and October to November. - **Nearest airport:** CTS Sapporo, 199 km as the crow flies - **Price:** 360 JPY - **Website:** [town.matsumae.hokkaido.jp](https://www.town.matsumae.hokkaido.jp/bunkazai/detail/00001681.html) - **Coordinates:** 41.42979, 140.10837 ## What it is and where Matsumae Castle is a Japanese castle in Matsumae, Hokkaido (松前城). It has articles in 15 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Its coordinates are 41.42979, 140.10837; the nearest main airport is New Chitose Airport (CTS, Sapporo), 199 km as the crow flies. How to get around Japan (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=41.429791%2C140.108375) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=41.429791%2C140.108375) It is one of the [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/historia/) places in Japan. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go The best time to visit Matsumae Castle is **February to May and October to November**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 9 h 19 | | February | Best time | 10 h 24 | | March | Best time | 11 h 40 | | April | Best time | 13 h 07 | | May | Best time | 14 h 20 | | June | Possible | 14 h 59 | | July | Possible | 14 h 43 | | August | Possible | 13 h 40 | | September | Possible | 12 h 16 | | October | Best time | 10 h 51 | | November | Best time | 9 h 37 | | December | Possible | 9 h 01 | In June there are 14 h 59 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 01. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. When to go to Japan in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to Japan To enter Japan there are 10 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “A valid passport covering your whole stay”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Japan checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Japanese yen (JPY); plugs: Type A and B · 100 V · 50/60 Hz (you need an adapter); emergencies: 110 police · 119 ambulance and fire. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [Shirakami misaki Lighthouse](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/shirakami-cape-lighthouse/): Lighthouse in Japan · 8.2 km - [Mount Daisengen](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-daisengen/): Mountain in Matsumae and Kaminokuni, Hokkaido, Japan · 17 km - [Nanatsu-dake](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-nanatsu/): Mountain in Japan · 23 km - [Matsumae Koshima Lighthouse](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/matsumae-kojima-lighthouse/): Lighthouse in Japan · 26 km - [Tappizaki Lighthouse](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/cape-tappi-lighthouse/): Lighthouse in Japan · 27 km Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). ## More in Japan: History - [Mount Fuji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/monte-fuji/): volcano in Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures, Japan - [Kiyomizu-dera](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kiyomizu-dera/): Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto - [Himeji Castle](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/himeji-2/): Japanese castle complex - [Hiroshima Peace Memorial](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/cupula-de-genbaku/): architectural structure - [Itsukushima Shrine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/santuario-itsukushima/): Shinto shrine in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan - [Kinkaku-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kinkaku-ji/): Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan Every Japan place under History, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/historia/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Matsumae Castle? It is a Japanese castle in Matsumae, Hokkaido (松前城 in the local language). It has articles in 15 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. ### When is the best time to visit Matsumae Castle? February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 59 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 01. ### How do you get to Matsumae Castle? The nearest main airport is New Chitose Airport (CTS), 199 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=41.429791%2C140.108375) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Japan is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Japan map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [Shirakami misaki Lighthouse](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/shirakami-cape-lighthouse/), [Mount Daisengen](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-daisengen/), [Nanatsu-dake](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-nanatsu/). The rest is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/488836870), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1143974), CC0. More about Matsumae Castle on [Wikipedia](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%BE%E5%89%8D%E5%9F%8E). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).