Matsumoto Castle hosts Castle Week from 3 November
Published on 10/24/2026 at 17:41 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSCastle Week and historic structure
- Matsumoto Castle management has scheduled Castle Week for 3 November 2026.
- Taikomon Gate will host a Chambord Castle exhibition from 3 to 10 November 2026.
- The surviving castle structure was constructed in 1594 and has five external stories.
- Matsumoto Castle is located in Matsumoto, Japan, near Matsumoto Station.
Matsumoto Castle, a National Treasure in Matsumoto, Japan, will host Matsumoto Castle Week from 3 November 2026. The castle announced the programme on 23 October, including a special opening of Taikomon Gate and an exhibition linking the Japanese castle with Chambord Castle.
The week runs until 10 November 2026, giving visitors a defined autumn programme at one of Japan's best-known historic sites.
Matsumoto Castle Week opens Taikomon Gate
The castle's operator has announced a programme running from 3 to 10 November 2026, with several activities grouped under Matsumoto Castle Week. The central visitor change is the special opening of Taikomon Gate, where a temporary exhibition titled Matsumoto Castle and Chambord Castle will be presented.
The exhibition compares the two castles through panels and video. The official programme describes them as buildings constructed in similar periods, with architectural features that reflect their respective eras. This gives the special opening a direct connection to the castle's own history rather than making it only a general city event.
The operator's Castle Week programme also lists a chrysanthemum exhibition from 29 October to 13 November 2026, traditional drum performances on 3 and 7 November, and an autumn tea gathering on 3 November. A children's night tour of the keep is listed for 6 to 8 November, but registration has already reached capacity and it is not part of the practical options below.
A 1594 keep meets a new castle comparison
Matsumoto Castle was constructed in 1594 and is described by its operator as the oldest surviving example of a castle with five external stories and six internal floors. Its preservation followed a period when the site was threatened with demolition during the Meiji era.
The castle later received National Treasure status, and local residents played a central role in preserving it. The official history of the keep identifies Taikomon, or Drum Gate, as one of the named points of interest within the site.
That link between the temporary programme and the building is unusually clear: the gate opened for the 2026 exhibition is itself part of the castle's historic layout. Visitors therefore encounter the Chambord comparison at a named architectural feature, while the keep supplies the longer historical setting for the week.
Chambord gives the programme an international context
The exhibition also reflects a new relationship between Matsumoto Castle and the French castle of Chambord. The programme presents the two buildings together through visual material, allowing visitors to consider how different architectural traditions can be shown within one historic site.
The wider week includes activities connected with the castle and its grounds, rather than an event merely taking place somewhere in Matsumoto. The special gate opening, the exhibition and the performances all use the castle as their setting or subject.
Visiting Matsumoto Castle: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Matsumoto Castle Week takes place at Matsumoto Castle from 3 to 10 November 2026. Taikomon Gate is the venue for the special exhibition on Matsumoto Castle and Chambord Castle.
- The programme adds a special opening of Taikomon Gate during the week. The children's night tour from 6 to 8 November is not available to new participants because registration is full.
- Matsumoto Castle is in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture. The castle can be reached from Matsumoto Station using the Town Sneaker North Route to the Matsumoto Castle and City Hall stop, or on foot from the station.
- The keep has five external stories and six internal floors, so the interior visit includes a substantial climb through a historic structure.
- Japanese is the official language and the national currency is the Japanese yen.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Matsumoto Castle
When does Matsumoto Castle Week take place at Matsumoto Castle?
Matsumoto Castle Week runs from 3 to 10 November 2026. The programme includes a special opening of Taikomon Gate.
What is being shown at Taikomon Gate?
The exhibition Matsumoto Castle and Chambord Castle uses panels and video to compare the two historic buildings during the week.
Where is Matsumoto Castle and how do you get there?
The castle is in Matsumoto, Japan. It can be reached from Matsumoto Station by the Town Sneaker North Route or on foot.
