Matsumoto is perfectly surrounded by natural beauty and filled with pure mountain air. A superb castle, a magnificent setting, cultural sophistication, civic pride... these are some of the things that impress visitors about Matsumoto. It's also a compact city, still centered on the castle and a network of streets radiating from the castle walls and moat. It's quick and easy to get to know and feel at home in Matsumoto. There is also a great deal to do and see in Matsumoto. You can pick and choose from numerous museums, explore the castle, stroll around the old and new parts of the town, take a local bus to the charming villages on the city outskirts, or go up to the heights of Utsukushigahara for a panoramic view of the whole region. Matsumoto is also the gateway to Kamikochi, Norikura and other scenic areas in the Chubu Sangaku (Japan Alps) National Park.