Matsumoto Castle and Beer

September 23

On Wednesday, we set off early and drove to Matsumoto after breakfast. There, we first dropped off our belongings at the hotel and returned the rental car in perfect condition.

After that, we strolled through the city of about 240,000 residents. We began by walking through a small alley lined with various shops selling trinkets and antiques, followed by a large shopping center where you could find virtually anything else.

What I found particularly impressive: In a huge grocery store, you could scan and pay for your items yourself, and then eat them directly in the store at designated tables – with no physical separation between the shopping area and the dining area.

A system that would likely not work for even a single day in Germany.

Afterward, we walked to Matsumoto Castle. I read on a sign that free guided tours were offered there. Upon inquiring, an extremely friendly Japanese man volunteered to give us a complete hour-long tour of the castle. He explained everything about the castle and patiently answered all my questions.

When we asked if we could at least pay him something for this, he vehemently declined. He was a member of a volunteer organization that offers these tours and did it purely for fun and to practice his English.

After bidding farewell to our guide, we entered the castle to explore it from the inside. There was a museum, among other things, where we could admire firearms from the 16th to 18th centuries.

It was also amusing that you were not allowed to enter the castle with shoes. At the entrance, everyone received a bag to carry their shoes around during the tour. Luckily, the castle was well-ventilated due to the lack of windows!

After our castle visit, something wonderful happened – and I believe that the talisman for good luck while traveling that we had bought in Tokyo worked its magic once again.

As we exited the castle, we stumbled upon a Japanese craft beer festival. You could buy a glass and some tokens to try many different beers from small breweries throughout the area.

There was also plenty for Isi, who declared herself a beer hater. There were dozens of small stalls with snacks where we sampled a variety of delicious foods.

Most of the beers were really good, although some flavors with coffee or ginger were more for enthusiasts.

All in all, it was a truly perfect end to the day!