# Matsushiro Castle, Japan: what it is and when to go > Matsushiro Castle is a Japanese castle in Nagano prefecture, Japan (松代城). Interests: History. The best time to visit is February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 29 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 31. It has articles in 9 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/matsushiro-castle/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-02 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Japanese castle in Nagano prefecture, Japan · History - **Local name:** 松代城 - **Where:** Japan - **Best time:** February to May and October to November. - **Nearest airport:** HND Tokyo, 182 km as the crow flies - **Price:** Gratis - **Website:** [sanadahoumotsukan.com](https://www.sanadahoumotsukan.com/facility_detail.php?n=7) - **Coordinates:** 36.56592, 138.19605 ## What it is and where Matsushiro Castle is a Japanese castle in Nagano prefecture, Japan (松代城). It has articles in 9 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. It is in [Nagano](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/nagano/), where this site lists 211 more places to see, 9.6 km from the centre. Its coordinates are 36.56592, 138.19605; the nearest main airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND, Tokyo), 182 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=36.56592%2C138.196048) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=36.56592%2C138.196048) 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 Matsushiro Castle is **February to May and October to November**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 9 h 46 | | February | Best time | 10 h 39 | | March | Best time | 11 h 43 | | April | Best time | 12 h 56 | | May | Best time | 13 h 57 | | June | Possible | 14 h 29 | | July | Possible | 14 h 16 | | August | Possible | 13 h 24 | | September | Possible | 12 h 13 | | October | Best time | 11 h 02 | | November | Best time | 10 h 01 | | December | Possible | 9 h 31 | In June there are 14 h 29 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 31. 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 - [Chōkoku-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/chokokuji-temple/): Buddhist temple in Japan · 845 m - [の音wines](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/wines/): Winery · 3.7 km - [Nagano Bridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/nagano-bridge/): Bridge in Japan · 6.0 km - [Nagano Chausuyama Zoo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/chausuyama-zoo/): With kids · Wildlife · 7.5 km - [Susobanakyo Onsen](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/susobanakyo-onsen/): Hot spring bath · 10 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 Matsushiro Castle? It is a Japanese castle in Nagano prefecture, Japan (松代城 in the local language). It has articles in 9 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 Matsushiro Castle? February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 29 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 31. ### How do you get to Matsushiro Castle? The nearest main airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND), 182 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=36.56592%2C138.196048) 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 [Chōkoku-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/chokokuji-temple/), [の音wines](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/wines/), [Nagano Bridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/nagano-bridge/). The rest is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/5217915021), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11104236), CC0. More about Matsushiro Castle on [Wikipedia](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%BE%E4%BB%A3%E5%9F%8E). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).