Cherry Blossom Photo Tours could be focused exclusively on Matsumoto Castle and the castle grounds. The castle was completed in the 16th century. For nearly 300 years after its completion, and before its complete renovation during the Meiji Era, the castle was ruled by 23 lords of Matsumoto.
As you tour the grounds, you will understand why Matsumoto Castle carries the nickname ‘Karasujo’ or ‘Crow Castle’ as many of the exterior walls are painted a deep ebon, and from many perspectives on the castle grounds, it appear as if the towers are wings, spread wide to encompass all the samurai lord’s domain. Moreover, Matsumoto Castle is so distinctive that in 1952, the keep (Inui-ko-tenshu), the roofed passage (Watari-yagura), the southern wing (Tatsumi-tsuke-yagura) and the moon viewing room (Tsukimi-yagura) were designated as Japanese natural treasures.
Aside from the historical significance, during spring and peak cherry blossom hanami, or sakura viewing time, Matsumoto Castle’s reflection into the surrounding moat with the glittering cherry blossoms with just a tinge of pink make for spectacular photos. It seems as if the sakura trees were pruned and shaped to provide a natural frame for the castle during the spring time, and your Japan Dreamscapes (JDS) Photography Workshop Leader will help you get to the exactly the right location to make the most of your time spent the historical castle and the ephemeral blossoms.
Your JDS Photo Workshop Guide recommends that you keep your camera consistently poised to take amazing photos, especially around the outer castle grounds where hundreds of some yoshino variety cherry blossoms sprinkle their petals into the moat below and make for photographs the capture the essence of Japan during the spring.
As part of the experience, your JDS Japan Photo Workshop leader will be able to inform you about the great figures who played a key role in the castle’s history from Ieyasu Tokugawa to Hideyoshi Toyotomi, so as you fill your camera or phone’s memory card to commemorate your visit, your JDS guide will enrich your understanding about the significance of the castle and its preservation since its completion. Matsumoto Castle is also one of the three famous castles of Japan, so seize tick it off your list of must-see famous locations in Japan.
With the perfect balance of cherry blossom viewing and a majestic Japanese samurai castle, and a JDS photo workshop guide to make sure you enjoy the castle from every angle and get spectacular photos, it’s time to sign up to make sure you don’t miss it!