Matsudo

Understand

Tourist information site The local tourist association has a bilingual guide site.

Getting there

Matsudo is located on the JR Joban Line. It is linked to Ueno station in Tokyo by rapid trains running at frequent intervals of 10 min or less. The ride from Ueno takes as little as 20 min (on some midday services, 15 min at a cost of ¥290. Matsudo also serves as the terminating point on the Shin-Keisei Line, which runs to Tsudanuma (45 min, ¥250). If going to Matsudo from Narita airport, take a Narita Sky Access train and change at Shin-Kamagaya for the Shin-Keisei Line (65 min, ¥1,070). Limousine bus service runs from Narita airport to Matsudo, but it takes longer (2 hr 15 min) and costs more (¥1,900). From Haneda airport, there are several ways you can reach Matsudo by train. One example is to take the Tokyo monorail to Hamamatsucho, then take the JR Yamanote Line to Ueno or Nippori, where you can pick up the Joban Line train to Matsudo (approx. 75 min, ¥850).

Getting around

Matsudo is a pretty small town and most places can be reached by foot. There aren't a lot of buses that stop in Matsudo, but there are many taxis. Both buses and taxis can be found outside of Matsudo Station.

See

1 Hondoji Temple (本土寺), 63, Hiraga (from Kitakogane Station on the JR Joban Line, walk about 10 minutes), ☏ +81 47-341-0405. 08:00-16:30. Approximately 10,000 Japanese hydrangeas and 5,000 Japanese iris called 'Ajisai' and 'Shoubu' are in this temple. In June, a lot of people visit it and enjoy watching them. In autumn, the leaves turn red like fire. Red leaves are called 'Momiji' in Japan. A tour called the 'Ajisai tour' and 'Momiji tour' is available. It is open on New Year's Eve and you can ring a bell. It is called "Joya no Kane" In Joya no kane, people pray for happiness and health. ¥500 for adults, free for children. (updated Dec 2021) 2 Tozenji Temple, 359, Kogane (near Kitakogane Station on the Joban Line; it takes about 10 min to walk from the station), ☏ +81 47-3451517, [email protected]. In the spring season there are a lot of cherry blossoms in the temple, the most beautiful cherry blossom is thought to be the 'Shidarezakura'. During the spring Japanese people go to see cherry blossoms and hold a party under the trees. free.

Do

Kento Festival (献灯まつり) (along the Sakagawa River). A votive lantern (kento) festival. This traditional festival has been held on Aug. 9 and 10, continuing the tradition of "Toumorokoshi Ichi" (maize market), since Edo period.

Buy

Matsudo is known for its yoichizuke, pickled small eggplants with soy sauce and malt.

Peanut Sable Honpo Tomii (ピーナッツサブレ―本舗とみい), ☏ +81 47 385-1031. Some locations in the city and around.

Sleep

Budget J&F House DK Matsudo. The biggest guesthouse in Japan and has over 160 rooms. The room you get is very small and the toilets are shared by the whole floor. 4 floors, but no one lives on the bottom one. You have to stay there for at least 1 week, it being a guesthouse, not a hotel. Reservations required. ¥56,500 per month. (updated Feb 2016)

Go next

Kashiwa Nagareyama Kamagaya Ichikawa Shiroi Misato Yoshikawa Koshigaya Tokyo