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Matsumoto
松本市

Location
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu
Prefecture	Nagano Prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area	919.35km² km²
Population (as of July 1, 2006)
Total	227,579
Location	36°04′08″N, 137°58′35″E
Symbols
Tree	Japanese Red Pine
Flower	Japanese azalea
Matsumoto City Hall
Mayor	Akira Sugenoya
Address	〒390-8620 Marunouchi 3-7, Matsumoto-shi
Phone number	0263-34-3000
Official website: Matsumoto City

Coordinates: 36°04′08″N, 137°58′35″E

Matsumoto (松本市) is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Matsumoto is designated as a Special City.

Contents 1 Outline 2 Geography 2.1 Surrounding Municipalities 2.2 The data of the old city of Matsumoto 3 History 3.1 Edo Period 3.2 Meiji Era 3.3 Taisho Era 3.4 Showa Era 3.5 Heisei Era 3.6 Timeline 3.6.1 Edo Period 3.6.2 Meiji Era 3.6.3 Taisho Era 3.6.4 Showa Era 3.6.5 Heisei Era 4 Sister Cities 4.1 Within Japan 4.2 Overseas 5 Tourist Attractions 6 Complete list of the municipal timeline per former towns and villages 6.1 Former city of Matsumoto 7 External links

The new city of Matsumoto is the city comprising the mergers of the old city of Matsumoto and four villages. (Matsumoto officially absorbed those villages without creating the new municipal organization)

Matsumoto is surrounded by mountains and is acclaimed for its beautiful views. Access to hiking and climbing in the mountains is readily available by local bus transportation. Matsumoto has several historic features, such as Matsumoto Castle (松本城 -jō, a traditional Japanese castle), Kaichi school (Kaichi gakkō) and Temari (traditional Japanese handball).

Matsumoto is attractive to travellers not only because of the traditional culture but also its calm climate and its products. Matsumoto soba is famous and many are delighted by its delicate taste. Just north of Matsumoto is the world's largest wasabi farm. Wasabi can only be grown in extremely clean water and there is much local pride. In addition, Saitou Kinen Orchestra (Saitou commemorative orchestra) performs every year from summer to autumn and many famous musicians such as Seiji Ozawa come to play musical instruments. It is very popular and difficult to get tickets and many people wait in the line beginning two days before tickets go on sale.

Matsumoto, like many areas of Japan is home to abundant onsen (温泉 or hot springs).

The newly merged city of Matsumoto is surrounded by 14 municipalities.

• Shiojiri
• Azumino
• Yamagata
• Asahi
• Omachi
• Chikuho
• Ueda
• Nagawa
• Aoki
• Shimosuwa
• Hata
• Takayama
• Kiso Village
• Kiso Town

Old city of Matsumoto (旧・松本市)
Merger date	April 1, 2005
Reason	Merger by absorption
Following municipalities were involved	Matsumoto (old city), Azusagawa、Azumi、 Nagawa、Shiga→Matsumoto (new city)
Recent City	Matsumoto (new city)
Data as of the merger
Total Area	265.87km²
Total population	208,513 (As of March 1, 2005)
Surrounding municipalities	Chiisagata District: Maruko, Takeshi, Wada, Nagano, Suwa District: Shimosuwa, Okaya, Higashichikuma District: Shiojiri, Asahi, Yamagata, Hata, Shiga, Nagano, Minamiazumi District: Azusagawa, Toyoshina
Tree
Flower

Since the post merger Matsumoto's (the new city of Matsumoto) area is too big because the city now includes the mountainous areas, the data of the former city (the old city of Matsumoto) is listed on the right.

However, "The city of Matsumoto" is primarily centralized on the old city of Matsumoto because most of the dramas and plays are centralized on Kaichi Gakko (Kaichi School) and Matsumoto Castle.

Since the new city of Matsumoto has absorbed the village of Azumi, The tour guides are calling the area "Matsumoto-Kamikochi Area" instead of "The city of Matsumoto."

The Old Matsumoto City Hall is currently used as the New Matsumoto City Hall. However, the old city of Matsumoto was located within Higashichikuma District, and the district's name came from the former Chikuma Prefecture.

• May 1, 1907-The town of Matsumoto gained city status alone.

• February 1, 1925-The city absorbed the village of Matsumoto from Higashichikuma District.

• April 1, 1943-The city absorbed the Kanda area in the village of Nakayama from Higashichikuma District.
• April 1, 1954-The city absorbed the villages of Nakayama, Shimadachi, and Shimauchi (all from Higashichikuma District).
• August 1, 1954-The city absorbed the villages of Wada, Koorishin, Kamibayashi, Sasaga, Yoshikawa, Saiwai, Okada, Iriyamabe, Satoyamabe, and Imai (all from Higashichikuma District).
• April 1, 1960-The city acquired the Kitauchida ward-excluding Ketsunoyuchibako area from village of Kataoka in Higashichikuma District from the city of Shiojiri.
• April 1, 1961-The city acquired the Ketsunoyubachiko area-Kitauchida ward in the village of Kataoka in Higashichikuma District from the city of Shiojiri.
• May 1, 1974-The city absorbed the village of Hongo from Higashichikuma District.
• April 1, 1982-The city acquired parts of Araiba area (Kukohigashi) from the city of Shiojiri.

• Between the days of June 27 and June 28, 1994-The Matsumoto Incident occurred.
• November 1, 2000-Matsumoto became a Special City.
• January 2002-Matsumoto City Hall gained ISO 14001 rights.
• April 1, 2005-The city merged with the villages of Azumi, Nagawa, Azusagawa from Minamiazumi District, and the village of Shiga from Higashichikuma District to form the new city of Matsumoto. (Matsumoto officially absorbed all four villages without creating the new municipal organization)

• Fujisawa (Kanagawa Prefecture)
  • Signed on July 29, 1961
• Himeji (Hyogo Prefecture)
  • Signed on November 17, 1966
• Takayama, Gifu (Gifu Prefecture)
  • Signed on November 1, 1971

• Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Signed in 1958

• Kathmandu, Nepal

Signed on November 17, 1989

• Langfang (Hebei province, China) 河北省廊坊市

Signed on March 21, 1995 as a friendship city

• Grindelwald, Canton of Bern, Switzerland

Signed with the village of Azumi on April 20, 1972 (Assumed the sister city honors on April 1, 2005 after the village of Azumi was merged into the city of Matsumoto.)

• Matsumoto Castle

Matsumoto Castle was built more than 400 years ago. It is also called Crow Castle (Karasu Jō) because of its black appearance. The castle is open to tourists and displays many ancient weapons from and inspired by Europe including muskets and rifles.

• Kaichi School

Kaichi School is the first junior high school in Japan. The beautiful appearance of Kaichi School is much acclaimed.

• May 1, 1907-The town of Matsumoto gained city status alone.
• February 1, 1925-The city absorbed the village of Matsumoto from Higashichikuma District.
• April 1, 1943-The city absorbed the Kanda area in the village of Nakayama from Higashichikuma District.
• April 1, 1954-The city absorbed the villages of Nakayama, Shimadachi, and Shimauchi (all from Higashichikuma District).
• August 1, 1954-The city absorbed the villages of Wada, Koorishin, Kamibayashi, Sasaga, Yoshikawa, Saiwai, Okada, Iriyamabe, Satoyamabe, and Imai (all from Higashichikuma District).
• April 1, 1960-The city acquired the Kitauchida ward-excluding Ketsunoyuchibako area from village of Kataoka in Higashichikuma District from the city of Shiojiri.
• April 1, 1961-The city acquired the Ketsunoyubachiko area-Kitauchida ward in the village of Kataoka in Higashichikuma District from the city of Shiojiri.
• May 1, 1974-The city absorbed the village of Hongo from Higashichikuma District.
• April 1, 1982-The city acquired parts of Araiba area (Kukohigashi) from the city of Shiojiri.
• April 1, 2005-The city absorbed the villages of Azumi, Nagawa, Azusagawa from Minamiazumi District, and the village of Shiga from Higashichikuma District.

• Matsumoto official website in Japanese
• Matsumoto official website in English
• Wikitravel: Matsumoto

Nagano Prefecture
Cities
Azumino | Chikuma | Chino | Iida | Iiyama | Ina | Komagane | Komoro | Matsumoto | Nagano | Nakano | Okaya | Omachi | Saku | Shiojiri | Suwa | Suzaka | Tomi | Ueda
Districts
Chiisagata | Hanishina | Higashichikuma | Kamiina | Kamiminochi | Kamitakai | Kiso | Kitaazumi | Kitasaku | Minamisaku | Shimoina | Shimominochi | Shimotakai | Suwa
See also: Towns and villages by district edit