Get away from TOKYO with this DAY TRIP to Nagano and Matsumoto in under 24h

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Have I convinced you to do this double day trip?

[@Beyondkoester]

Of course!! nice trip.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

@@Beyondkoester glad I convinced you!

[@AlejandroRodriguez-ch6nq]

Yup originally was just going to the castle and now I’m going to the temple too. Thanks for the heads up

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Just make sure you give your self plenty of time and leave early, this one only works if you head off early! @@AlejandroRodriguez-ch6nq

[@sisterblissuk9253]

I love me a nice temple..Zenko is amazing...Thank you for sharing your trip! You are giving me ideas! Keep it coming

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

More to come! Totally worth the trip! Matsumoto too!!

[@jessesnyder5105]

The red bridge with the black castle is stunning

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

absolutely! its worth the visit any time of the year! stunning place

[@JapaneseJourney]

Best guest ever man!

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Haha yep!

[@DaSk8taNeo]

Awesome video, since i am planning a lot of day trips out of Tokyo and wanted to go to Nagano! :) Thumbs up for the editing and choice of music!!

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Awesome! I hope this guide really makes it easy for people to visit these awesome locations!

[@OnlyOneNights]

Another amazing video, my friend. You're really leveling up your b-roll. It looks awesome. Very cinematic!

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Thanks a ton! Learning loads and trying to implement what i know! .. the a roll is a DJI pocket btw but it seems to be ok!

[@FollowTheSunAustralia]

Great video Ninja 🐒 nice castle 🤩👏

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Thank you 🤗 that is my second favourite castle actually!

[@ryansupersticioso]

New subscriber from Philippines here! I have been to Tokyo several times but I havent been to Nagano and Matsumoto! Will definitely go there when I come back to tokyo this November!

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Thanks for subbing! and yes they are both interesting and refreshing locations to visit! cant wait to hear all about your adventure

[@tomsmith889]

Throughly enjoyed this video, may have to add this trip to my 2024 itinerary.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

if you plan your time well you can even include the snow monkeys in Nagano (I was too busy filming so couldnt make it this time) its worth the trip!

[@FungusUSMC]

My aunt and uncle are from Matsumoto, and that town is one of my favorite small towns in Japan. When I was stationed in Japan, I was lucky to be able to spend a lot of time with my family there, there really is a lot to do there if people want to get away from the big cities. Lots of restaurants, nightlife, breweries, and even a historical Edo-era shopping street. Agatanomori park is also a great park to just relax in. I really recommend going back during cherry blossom season, the walk along the river and the castle are a sight to see. On the stream with NomadicGaijin last month we talked about Iwakuni Castle, I think your viewers would love to see that area and the Kintai bridge. Its also a quick ride to Itsukushima (the famous torii on the water) and Hiroshima too. I know you have a packed schedule coming in up Japan, but if you ever get a chance to go out to Yamaguchi/Hiroshima prefectures, let me know and I can give you a few recommendations out there!

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Thanks for the insight, I’ve actually been to kintai bridge and certainly want to visit again in the future. I hope to experience Matsumoto in cherry blossom season one day too!

[@佐藤功明-k1b]

Welcome to Matsumoto!! 素敵な動画をありがとうございます。 多くの外国人の皆さんに多様な日本文化を楽しんで頂きたいです。 お待ちしていま～す！！

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Thanks for the comment !! I love showing Japan :) 🇯🇵

[@denniswhite1399]

Love Matsumoto castle took rickshaw ride it was in summer it was so hot poor guy was worn out after taking us kind to drop us at train station after beautiful castle ride.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Matsumoto castle is one of my favourites and I love that little area

[@denniswhite1399]

Nagano is beautiful went to temples last visit and main street its beautiful I went after seeing monkeys waited for them to get in water but they didnt waited about 2 hours.Nice walk from station to temples

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Did they eventually get in the water?’ You are more patient than me!

[@denniswhite1399]

@@NinjaMonkeyguy No sadly waited for nothing spoke to some photographers said to go early in the morning I was there around 10 even though Feb he said they like it when its colder in the morning .I will try again .

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

@@denniswhite1399 good luck!

[@froglady4360]

I love this content! I might need to visit during winter next time. The snow falling looks amazing ❄️

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

The snow falling made out he whole Nagano experience so magical! As someone who lives in the med where it doesn’t snow I was really excited too!

[@munichachu1]

I usually LIKE your video 1st, before I start watching. Great video and camera quality. Which camera/lens did you use for this video?

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

A combination of the DJI pocket and the Sony a7s3 with Tamron 28-75

[@ductritran8637]

Next trip I will visit Nagano , somehow I keep missed Nagano after many visiting trip to japan .

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Please do! The temple there is spectacular

[@garyjohnson2351]

Love the Video, do I do Osaka or Nagano?

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Both! Haha they are very different cities with different vibes and things to do,

[@garyjohnson2351]

@Ninja Monkey Thank you, so glad you made it to Tokyo. When is your next live feed?

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

@@garyjohnson2351 I will be going live shortly in a few hours!

[@brettgoldspink6895]

There is what I call the Red Temple behind Zenkoji (it is a long walk from Zenkoji temple though) behind Uematsu suburb... Zenkoji Unjoden . It is beautiful in the spring with all of the cherry blossoms. Hardly anyone knows it is there. One time, I took a guest and the helpers on the desk there called a local volunteer to come and explain the story of the artifact being brought to Nagan. It is beautiful inside and has murals telling the story. Admittedly, the guide only spoke Japanese and I had to translate, but when I told my Japanese friends in Nagano of our experience, most said that they had never been inside! And... if you're really good at walking, there is a temple in the forest nearby that is almost made of copper (I can't remember exactly where, but it is a small, round mini temple with a shiny copper roof!) Then, there is Ominejo - the butterfly museum castle on top of the mountain behind both temples. If you're in Nagano for a while (or if you go up to Ominejo), you will see a fenced off road (as you turn right up to the castle) that is unused. If you know how.... there IS a way to access the road and it is a wonderful walk up or down. Wonderful bamboo forests and views across the valley beyond Nagano (looking away from Nagano city). Autumn or spring are the best seasons to do the climb - it was a tradition whenever I went (by myself or with others) to buy Meiji chocolate coated almonds and have coins to use the vending machines outside Ominejo for hot coffee (or iced!). You can take a taxi up there, but I prefer to take a morning or afternoon and walk (at least one way!). The walk up and down will take a whole morning. Then... go to the onsen behind the Kencho to soak afterwards. Nearby (well it was when I was there), is a place that makes their own udon and serves it in a big pot in the middle of the table (called 'nabe') or head to any of the places that serves Shinshu soba (Nagano is famous for). Always head to the top of department stores (as a general rule) for good value and reasonable quality hot food for hungry travellers - don't pay the over inflated prices for some foods offered on the main street!

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Fantastic tips here! Thanks for the hidden gems

[@jimross7648]

When I went Matsumoto Jo I had used Nagano as my local staging area. Stayed in an APA for a couple days. Me and a friend spent around six hours at the castle which houses an extensive firearms collection in the museum. They were many more reenactors on the castle grounds. Just as a side note Matsumoto has it's own Teppo Tai ( The Masumoto Gun Corp) which uses actual period weapons in their displays of Hojutsu during spring, summer, and fall. I didn't know about this until I found Matthew Okuhara's brilliant channel Gun Samurai. I need to go back during their shooting season and actually stay in Matsumoto. Although stayed Nagano didn't really see all that much taking day trips to other sites. At night we had found a Japanese BBQ restaurant and bar. The 2019 World Rugby Tournament was taking place in Japan and we watched Japan play and beat Ireland. As the only two Gajin in place we were initially treated with polite indifference, but since we cheered for Japan we soon were treated like we belonged. Now I've got to go back here too, and really see the city.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Whoa! Those displays sound epic! Now even I want to return!

[@dittohead7425]

Question. The last time I was in Japan and had the JR Rail pass, sometimes I would try and exit the station and insert my ticket and I would get the red "X" and the gate wouldn't open. Is that because it wasn't the JR turnstiles? It was strange I did eventually get out but then at another station I couldn't enter. When I eventually met my Kapanese friend and we went to the JR window and they read my ticket and it said that it showed I was still at the other station and hadn't exited. Should you always use the turnstile at the window side?

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

When it comes to tech issues sometimes there are problems, occasionally people use the wrong gate or even enter or exit with their IC card meaning that the journey has not ended. As long as it's JR you should be good if in the area of the pass you are using

[@dittohead7425]

@NinjaMonkeyguy at the time the suica was the tourist one because the other one wasn't available. I hope to get the 10 year one on my trip this October. I was wondering, I know they are marked IC but I never noticed, but on the turnstile itself does it indicate JR Pass somewhere or just go by reader board above the gate. I actually miss the "Old School" pass that you would show the folks in the windows. Like everywhere peoples jobs are being eliminated. I hear they no longer have the food/drink cart on the Shinkansen only in the green car. Too bad...😮‍💨

[@QuiltsAndBeyond]

When it starts snowing in nagano , if i want to do a day trip to nagano after the temple visit what can i see there

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

I would Visit Jigokudani Monkey Park. This park is home to the famous hot spring snow monkeys. For more ideas www.planmyjapan.com/things-to-do-nagano-city-japan/).

[@ochec]

Is it possible to do a day trip to Nagano (from Tokyo) to visit Matsumoto castle, Zenko Ji and the snow monkeys all in one day?

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Matsumoto castle and zenkoji are possible but snow monkeys might be a bit of a push in my opinion .. I’d suggest spending a night to make things easier if this is your plan

[@towada1066]

hmmm,... Nokogiri-yama in Chiba Prefecture ... it's extremely beautiful and historical (but the red hawks here are extremely dangerous). During early Meiji Era people destroyed so many statues here and you can still see the damage but the large Buddha survived.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

thanks for the info

[@towada1066]

@@NinjaMonkeyguy it's nice ... not many foreign tourists at all ... and the hiking is really healthy ...