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My Time in Matsumoto (Guest's Blog)

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251

2010/8/29

shinto shrines in the Matsumoto area?

Andie

I am considering Matsumoto as a destination to move to, and am very interested in Shinto beliefs and shrines. and have come up with very little info on any in the area of Matsumoto.
can anyone point me toward information about this?

thanks a lot :D

Note of webmaster: Greetings.

There is nowhere in Japan without Shinto shrines and Matsumoto has plenty, some with a very significant and long history. Also Matsumoto is a great place to live in Japan....especially if you like the great outdoors as opposed to jammed up Cities.

We actually meant to add an information section on this site about Temples and shrines.
But we have only one posted. I will try to get around to posting some more info and pictures I have....one quiet day.
http://welcome.city.matsumoto.nagano.jp/contents03+index.id+20.htm

One shrine of national significance and very long history near Matsumoto (40-50 Km away) is the Suwa Taisha (Grand Shrine; think like Cathedral is to a Church) which is a group of shrines with around 10,000 sub shrines.
It has a very long history and hosts Onbashira a Shinto festival of national importance. You may have seen it on TV on a program about "crazy Japanese". It is every 6th year and they ride large logs down hills at one point of it. It often costs people involved their life with a number (4 at least) of deaths this Year amongst the various events around the region to do with Onbashira. You will certainly find it on the web.

I too am interested in Shinto religion and its origins. Something that may be also of interest to you is that both Shinto priests and Jewish Rabbi's and an Israeli government organization are studying the origins of Shinto which is full of interesting elements pointing to many of its origins being far from Japan and brought here when the Yamato people the ancient Japanese arrived. At Suwa they rehearse annually ancient Jewish events as they have since before history was recorded.
Their Shrines Symbol is used as the Governments official Crest.

The vast majority of shrines in Japan are unattended except during festivals and ceremonies, where as many Buddhist Temples have a resident priest. But the major shrines have priests (Kannushi).

One of the major ones in Matsumoto has priests there all the time and an office etc.

That is one place where people go for various ceremonies or even to (as I witnessed it) get their new cars blessed.

What were you hoping to do? Did you want to study Shinto in depth?
Meet priests etc...? And do you speak Japanese? (It could help alot if you really seek a True understanding of things Japaness.... I am still of no use on in deeper issues after 6-7 Years here).
I take it you are interested mainly in Shinto as opposed to Buddhism?
Otherwise I would suggest Zenkoji; a Very important temple in Japan's Buddhist tradition that claims to house original images from Korea brought over when Buddhism was first brought into Japan later in Japan's full History.

Shinto being the original Japanese religion dating back to ancient times is a mix of the old Ainu (Japan's original inhabitants) religious ideas and those brought at the arrival of the main race of the Japanese 5 centuries BC. Where as Buddhism was imported and promoted by the those ruling around 700 AD from China. There was an attempt to stamp it out during the Meiji era so as to re institute Japanese ; - Shinto.

There is an interesting 3 day seminar on the Origins of Japanese religion in Nagano City this September that I will likely attend by a Professor of Japanese religion. I may be somewhat more educated after that. If you would like to chat directly let me know. I will contact you more directly.
But for the purposes of your inquiry, let me know what you would like to achieve and I could probably give you more specific details (contacts etc). especially if you speak Japanese.

I hope that helps....

Milton

PS I over looked some info provided by our Sites Web Master re this...

Here it is>
Two Links the First about a major historic Shrine in the Area at Hotaka.

http://www.azumino-e-tabi.net/en/contents03+index.id+37.htm
I don't know other English websites about shrines in the Matsumoto area.
In our Japanese site, there is a page "temples and shrines":
http://youkoso.city.matsumoto.nagano.jp/special1+index.id+7.htm

250

2010/8/18

Frustrated gym junkie

Ants

Great site mates,
I am moving to Matsumoto next month with the misses and have been trying to find places to work out. I'm not much into climbing mountains but like swimming and weight training. Could you tell me of any gyms etc and how much they cost?
Cheers

Note of webmaster: Hi there Ants. Welcome to Matsumoto!
Central Fitness Club, located within 5-minute walk from Matsumoto Station, has a pool and gyms equipped with various kinds of exercise machine. You should get a membership to use these facilities. There are several types of membership, so the fee depends on which course you choose.

Hot spring swimming pool and bath facility "Wellness Utsukushi" in front of
Shira ito no Yu in Utsukushigahara Hot Spring also has a small gym. (800 yen per visit up to 3 hours, 1000 yen over 3 hours)

Enjoy exercising!

- Kei

249

2010/8/18

Hours of Operation of Ticket Office at Matsumoto Bus Terminal

Janet

We are planning to catch the bus from Matsumoto to Kamikochi on October 2 and was wondering what the hours of operation are of the Ticket Office at the Matsumoto Bus Terminal where we could purchase our bus tickets. Also, what are the hours of the Espa Store? Thank you.

Note of webmaster: Hi, Janet
I think the Ticket Office operates anytime when the bus operates (maybe from a little before the first bus departing time). Espa seems to open 10：00(food 9:00)-21：00.
Have a nice trip
- Andy

248

2010/8/17

SOBA in Matsumoto (recommending to DL, too)

YAMA

SOBA in Matsumoto is very good, especially the one in NAGAWA. It's called 'TOJI SOBA'. The cold soba is served with a hot pot cooked (chiken and vegetables) at table. All you have to do is put soba noodle in hot pot and wait for a while, like 5 seconds. Then pull them back to small bowl, put some soup from the pot and eat! This is like a way of cook 'SHABU-SHABU'.
This 'TOJI SOBA' is also available in down town Matsumoto, but NAGAWA is the best place to go, I would say.

Note of webmaster: YAMA-san,
Thank you for the information.
I added a link to your posting on "Soba" in the Gourmet page.
- Andy

247

2010/8/12

Camping in town?

Thank you for a wonderful website-lots of insightful tips-your team has done a great job. I will be traveling through Matsumoto with my husband on Sunday August 15 and have discovered that there are no rooms in town available on any of the usual on-line booking tools (expedia,kayak,hotels.com,hostelling international). I noticed on your accommodation that you mentioned there are some potentially unofficial opportunities to camp in town. We are planning to go to Kamikochi and will fortunately have a tent with us. Any additional thoughts from what you have posted online about city camping?

Note of webmaster: Um... Sanjiro camp sites (Gyosho Chaos and Icoi-no-hiroba Square) on the foot of Utsukushigahara are only places you can go by bus.
I called Nunoya Ryokan (see Accommodation Directory - Downtown Ryokan) and the owner says there are vacant rooms on August 15. If you want to stay there, call or fax them directly.
Have a wonderful trip!
- Andy

246

2010/8/6

sushi in matsumoto?

wilbur

Is there a sushi bar/restaurant in Matsumoto? Is there a public swimming pool where I can take my wife and 1-year-old?
Thanks!

Note of webmaster: Hi, wilbur
There are more than ten sushi restaurants in Matsumoto and we picked up three in "Sushi" in the Gourmet Directory - Japanese.
There are also more than five public swimming pools and the most popular one is L'a La Matsumoto. But there is no public transportation to L'a La. There is a hot spring swimming pool and bath facility "Welness Utsukushi" in front of Shiraito no Yu in Utsukushigahara Hot Spring.
- Andy

245

2010/8/1

Best restaurants for Soba and Basashi? Also, Yamabe grapes

My fiance and I will be visiting Matsumoto in late December 2010. I love soba more than ramen, and am I glad Nagano is soba-land! Now, can you recommend any excellent soba restaurants in Matsumoto? I don't mind very expensive or very cheap, hole in the wall type of restaurants, as long as the soba is extremely delicious :)

Also, I definitely want to eat basashi ever since I saw an episode on Japan Hour on horse meat in Japan (I got very envious). Where is a good restaurant for basashi?

Also, can I go grape picking in late December in Matsumoto? Can you recommend me a grape picking farm?

Thank you so much!

Note of webmaster: Hello!
There are many good soba restaurants. Among those, I recommend Nomugi (野麦 near Nakamachi), Matsusita (松下 along Nakamachi), Genchi No Soba (near the City Art Museum), and Soba Club Sasaki (near the Castle).
You can eat basashi in New Miyoshi near the station and Mikawaya(三河屋) near the City Art Museum.
See our Gourmet Directory - Japanese page.
Unfortunately, grape harvest season is August-November, so you cannot go grape picking late December.
- Andy

244

2010/8/1

english speaking florists, and massage

Jayce

A friend is spending a month in Matsumoto, all of August. She has a birthday while there, and friends stateside want to order flowers, arrange gift massage, etc. The hotel where she is staying is virtually english-free, so not much help. Any local Matsumoto florists or masseurs/masseuses you can recommend who would be able to take an order in english via phone or email?

Note of webmaster: Hello Jayce,
We don't know any local florists who speaks English. Florists like http://www.o-hana.jp/english.html, http://www.japanfloristshop.com/, http://www.interflora.co.uk provide Internet service delivering to all over Japan.
As for massage, Mountain Clinic in Hotaka (near Matsumoto) might do. All staff speak English so call +81-263-83-7073. They might know or help flowers, too.
I hope your friend will get a nice surprise.
- Andy

243

2010/7/21

shops on nawate doori #2

mary..#241...2010/1/17

correction...the store i'm looking for is on the right side coming from the castle...i called a shop called tomi and talked to a lady who makes sagemon...she is going to make me one...however, her price seems high...if you are in the neighborhood and see a sagemon, will you price it for me?...and get me the phone # of the shop?...thanks, mary

Note of webmaster: Hi again.

You are on the ball there.

Sorry have not gotten down to Nawate Dori yet. Alot happening this week.

I will send you that e-mail and you can let me know what prices were acceptable etc.

Milton

242

2010/7/20

Activities for foreigners in Matsumoto

Emma

Hello,

I am a Matsumoto resident who would like to meet other foreigners in town. Are there particular places where people hang out, or some sort of Matsumoto "gaijin club"?

Additionally, can you tell me whether there are any free Japanese classes offered in the city?

Thank you!
- Emma

Note of webmaster: Hi There Emma.

I can help you with both things there.
There is not a Gaijin club so to speak but there are some groups you can probably link up with.

It would probably be best and easiest If I got you in touch with one of the Free Japanese lessons that are put on first. There I think you will be able to make a range of good contacts.

I'll contact you by e-mail directly to arrange things.

Talk soon

Milton

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