Summer Weekend in Matsumoto and Waterfalls in Norikura (Nagano)

This trip report highlights a long weekend trip we took to Matsumoto and Norikura in [Nagano prefecture. ](https://www.go-nagano.net/en/) Japan is still closed for tourism. We are currently based in Japan and I hope this report is helpful for future planning or others currently residing in Japan.

Getting There: We are currently living in Western Tokyo so drove our own car but you could easily take a train to Matsumoto and then either take a bus up the mountain to Norikura or rent a car in Matsumoto and drive up to Norikura from there.

– [Getting To and Around Matsumoto](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6053.html)
– [Getting To and Around Norikura](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6046.html)

Once in the mountains of Norikura you can get around by bus but you’ll have a lot more flexibility if you have your own vehicle as won’t be dependent on the bus timetable in the mountains. If you have any plans to or even think you *may* want to rent a car in Japan be sure to get your International Driver’s Permit before you leave your home country.

– [Driving in Japan](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2022.html)
– [Renting a Car in Japan](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2024.html)

Day 1: Matsumoto
We drove along the expressway from Western Tokyo to Matsumoto Friday afternoon after we got off of work. You will pay tolls to use the expressways but it’s an easy drive and there are nice [rest areas in Japan](https://matcha-jp.com/en/2054) that are fun places to stop for a bite to eat on the way.

The Visit Matsumoto website has a really nice breakdown of the areas of the region (including Norikura in the Japanese Alps) and we used it extensively to plan our trip.

– [Visit Matsumoto: Areas](https://visitmatsumoto.com/en/area/)

Our first stop was our hotel to checkin and drop our bags. Since it was already evening, most sites were already closed but we just went for a walk towards Matsumoto Castle to stretch our legs a bit. While the castle itself was closed, we walked all around the park outside and got some amazing photos of it lit up at night. After, we stopped off at a convenience store to get bentos for dinner and headed back to our hotel as were were tired from our long day of work and drive. We were also staying at a Dormy Inn that had a hot spring and free evening noodles so wanted to enjoy that.

– [Dormy Inn Matsumoto](https://goo.gl/maps/aG3L7MuBdXuyoYxh7)
– [Matsumoto Castle](https://goo.gl/maps/TFaswW7CWwCQsWp66)

Day 2: Matsumoto and Drive to Norikura
Saturday morning we checked out of the hotel and drove to the Nawate Dori area where we found a [paid parking lot](https://www.realestate-tokyo.com/living-in-tokyo/driving/parking-in-japan/) to park our car.

We walked to the Storyhouse Cafe for breakfast but if you can come for dinner on a weekend night when they have live music. We then explored Nawate Dori (frog street) and then walked down to Nakamochi Street.

– [Visit Matsumoto: Downtown Area](https://visitmatsumoto.com/en/area/city/)
– [Storyhouse Cafe](https://goo.gl/maps/2TSEjgPeyV6PwQMz9)
– [Nawate-Dori (Frog Street)](https://goo.gl/maps/KcUj3qvLG1tmQkEi8)
– [Nakamachi Dori](https://goo.gl/maps/s2CbUSb32ecC1M89A)

For lunch we drove to the Daio Wasabi Farm which was a lot more fun than we expected. We tried wasabi ice cream and had really good soba with fresh wasabi at the restaurant overlooking the wasabi fields. It was interesting to see how the wasabi is grown in fields irrigated by fresh, clear mountain streams and you can buy all sorts of wasabi flavored treats.

– [About Daio Wasabi Farm](https://japancheapo.com/travel/daio-wasabi-farm-everything-ever-wanted-know-wasabi/)

After lunch we drove up to Guesthouse Raicho in Norikura/Japanese Alps area.

– [Visit Matsumoto: Japanese Alps Area](https://visitmatsumoto.com/en/area/alps/)

Since Norikura is a small mountain village without many restaurants and since our guesthouse didn’t serve dinner, it would be best to stop at a grocery store or convenience store in Matsumoto and stock up on bentos, snacks, drinks, and items to make for breakfast if your guesthouse has a kitchen you can use like ours did.

Google Maps works great to get to Guesthouse Raicho and all sites in Norikura. Just be sure to watch the highway signs coming up the mountain and follow directions for Norikura. Sometimes google maps got a bit slower than we were driving. Do not drive up to Norikura at night. The highway and tunnels are very narrow and curvy and it would be difficult driving at night. Drive up in the daylight and remember it gets darker earlier in the mountains. We timed it to arrive about 4:00 PM which was perfect. After getting up to Norikura you will turn off the main highway and then look for sign 21 and take that road up to Guesthouse Raicho. If you took the bus just get off at the Norikura Kougen Tourist Center bus stop and walk up to the guesthouse or call/email in advance to ask them to pick you up.

[Lodging at Guesthouse Raicho](https://goo.gl/maps/iUBWt6FbzEUjjjjc6): We stayed at Guesthouse Raicho for 2 nights and loved exploring all the nearby waterfalls and hikes! Their rooms are Japanese style (sleep on futons) with shared shower room/bathroom but there are a couple family rooms with an in room shower. No restaurant on site but there are a few in walking distance that they can make a reservation at for you (limited hours so eat dinner by 6:30 or you may be out of luck). There is a shared kitchen at the guesthouse to cook meals on your own. They were great at Covid distancing with online checkin (upload passport photos), reservation board to use the kitchen during peak hours, and the three onsen are all private/reserved right now. The outdoor onsen is always private, by reservation only. The water here is sulphuric which gives it the milky white color (and strong smell). It leaves your skin very soft though. If the sky is clear at night you should have an awesome view of the stars from here too.

You can rent mountain bikes at the Guesthouse and the staff (Mao and Shuntaro/Sean) will give you lots of it helpful advice of what to see/do. 10 minute walk to the Norikura Tourist Info Center and bus terminal where you can ask for an English map of the area.

For dinner we ate at [Primavera](https://goo.gl/maps/nNjRHWEMuDAJBFLT7) and then relaxed in the onsens at Guesthouse Raicho.

Day 3: Waterfall Hikes in Norikura
There are tons of waterfalls, hikes, and mountain cycling in the summer in Norikura.

– [JapanGuide: Norikura](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6041.html)
– [Waterfalls of Norikura Highlands](https://visitmatsumoto.com/en/outdoor/waterfalls-of-norikura-highlands/)
– [Alpico: Norikura Tourism](https://www.alpico.co.jp/en/guide/norikura/)
– [Norikura Skyline and Hikes](https://www.alpico.co.jp/en/guide/norikura/)
– [Norikura Cycling](https://ghraicho.com/en/top/2017/06/28/mt-norikura-cycling-and-hill-climb/)

We love waterfalls so we started our day with an early morning hike from our guesthouse to the nearby [Zengorono Falls.](https://goo.gl/maps/KLTyXrVtNfzPf3B56) From there we stopped in at the [Tourist Info Center](https://goo.gl/maps/BrXmVHV6t33w6RoR6) and had coffee and toast for breakfast at the [Gift Norikura Gelato and Cafe.](https://goo.gl/maps/NqfpxhfADSwF8tvR6) We then walked around the free [Norikura Nature Center.](https://goo.gl/maps/FF1XWLG7UURw4r9J6)

We then drove up the mountain to the [parking area for the Sanbondaki Waterfalls.](https://goo.gl/maps/f8pXZaQvVAcLCNXV7) This is as far up the mountain that you can drive your own car. Parking is free and there is a restaurant and restrooms you can use in the Sanbondaki Rest Area. The trailhead for [Sanbondaki Waterfalls Hike](https://visitmatsumoto.com/en/nature/norikuras-sanbondaki-falls-hike/) is to the right of the building. It took us an easy 30 minutes along a well maintained trail that was beautiful in and of itself. The waterfalls are truly impressive and some of the best we’ve seen in Japan to date.

Next up we drove to the [parking area near Bandokoro Otaki Falls.](https://goo.gl/maps/ttHfUWfmzvGy8FYo9) To get down to the viewing platform there are a lot stairs so be prepared a workout on the way back up.

We headed back to Guesthouse Raicho to shower and relax in the onsen before heading to dinner at [Cafe Maple.](https://goo.gl/maps/JCGJT8Ep5jLkSKzTA) The local fried chicken and ginger pork were really good. Staff at the guesthouse made the reservation for us.

Day 4: Drive Back to Western Tokyo
Our final morning we slept in a before driving back home. If we’d had more time before we needed to be home or had stayed in Norikura a third night we would have also visited nearby Kamikochi but plan to come back in fall.

– [Kamikochi Official Site](https://www.kamikochi.org)
– [JapanGuide: Kamikochi](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6040.html)
– [Alpico: Complete Guide to Visiting Kamikochi](https://www.alpico.co.jp/en/travelog/post/a-guide-to-visiting-kamikochi/)

It was a great long weekend in Norikura and really nice to get away from heat and humidity of Tokyo.