We are always looking to enhance the travel experience of visitors to Matsumoto and as such, this winter we are happy to offer our new Samurai Sword Fighting & Castle Illumination Tour. Available from December 16th to February 14th, this exclusive tour takes you on a nighttime journey into Matsumoto’s proud samurai past by combining a guided experience at the winter illumination of the castle followed by a samurai sword workshop instructed by a resident samurai master.
It All Begins at the Castle!
Staring from Matsumoto Castle, you will first enjoy the spectacular winter illumination including projection-mapping directly onto the historic structure. The light show reflects the castle’s history, legends and centrality to the story of Matsumoto itself.
Matsumoto Castle Winter Illumination
From there, you’ll be accompanied into the presence a real-life samurai master, charged with instructing you in the use of a ‘katana’ (samurai sword) including attacking and defensive stances. Dressed in a samurai outfit, you will step into the world of Japan’s legendary warriors – the first time we have offered this experience at night.
Samurai Sword Fighting Workshop
Color & Light to Warm the Winter Night
The Winter Illumination Festival is one of the most popular events taking place in Matsumoto each year. This year promises to be even more spectacular with the introduction of projection-mapping over the castle, with the castle grounds and historic streets surrounding it also illuminated.
Bringing light and vitality into the cold winter night, the festival draws visitors from all over Japan and even from abroad. The crisp winter air only enhances the impact of the light and visual display, and always proves as popular with international visitors as it is with Japanese.
Explore Matsumoto’s Feudal Past
Matsumoto is a city proud of its samurai past and with that in mind, we invite all visitors to try their hand at the most quintessential of samurai artforms, the fabled samurai sword! The samurai master’s passion and expertise is certain to inspire you to linger longer and learn more about Matsumoto’s proud feudal past, something you can do by combining this tour with a daytime castle tour - including entry inside the historic structure, on the following day.
Our Samurai Sword Fighting & Castle Illumination Tour lasts approximately 2 hours and is available from December 16th 2023 to February 14th 2024. We look forward to welcoming you to Matsumoto this winter!
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