100% hands-on from start to finish, experience a uniquely authentic Japanese Cuisine for yourself! Matsumoto is famous for the quality of its Soba (buckwheat flour noodles) and its historic feudal castle! First take a tour of Matsumoto Castle designated a “National Treasure” of Japan due to its well-preserved original structure. Then sample this traditional Japanese dish and even have a go at preparing it yourself! The soba-making workshop is an opportunity to get more than just the literal bite of this tradition. Step into the shoes of an apprentice and learn from an experienced soba master! Discover all the basics and learn how to use authentic soba-making tools. The activity is divided into two stages and it’s completely hands-on from start to finish. The best part is you get to eat your own noodles at the end! This is an exciting and enriching experience you can share with family and friends, and an unforgettable way to discover a unique aspect of Japanese cuisine!
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Matsumoto Castle Tour & Soba Noodle Experience lasts about 3 hours.
Prices start at $92 per person for this Matsumoto experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Tour begins at Matsumoto Castle. Your guide will be waiting just outside the main gate of Matsumoto Castle (just in front of the ticket gate and entrance to the paid admission area.). Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 15 participants.
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 23 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Welcome Matsumoto.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Akiko was a wonderful tour guide . Very attentive to all groups in the tour and very helpful and informative.
Thank you so much for the review and feedback! We are pleased to hear that you found our guide informative. Thank you again for joining us!
This was a great experience, Our guide was very informative and we definitely found the benefit in using a guide as we learnt so much more about the castle over visits we have done by ourselves. The soba noodle making was fun and tasty. It was only the two of us in a group for the noodles and 3 during the castle tour so it felt like a private tour.
Thank you for joining us! We appreciate you choosing a guided tour, and we're glad it added context to your castle visit. Fresh soba does taste different when you make it yourself. Hope to welcome you again soon!
This was a great experience. The guide was very knowledgeable on history and grew up in the area. He also gave me recommendations on how to spend the remainder of my time in Matsumoto. It was really helpful in making sure I made the best of my time as a solo traveler. You have to take off your shoes to get into Matsumoto Castle. It can be very cold on your feet depending on the time of year. I would recommend bringing slippers if you have them.
Thank you for your review. We’re pleased to hear the tour provided helpful context and that the local guidance supported the rest of your time in Matsumoto. We also appreciate you sharing the practical tip about the castle visit for future travelers. We hope you enjoyed your stay in Matsumoto.
We had a lovely experience with this tour of Matsumoto castle. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the town and castle. The soba noodle making class was fun and the food after was delicious. Highly recommend.
Thank you for joining us! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed the castle tour and soba-making, and that the guide could give you the context that brings Matsumoto's history into focus. We'd love to welcome you back to Matsumoto.
A really good tour, well worth the money. It ended up being a private tour which was a bonus for us. Tom met us at the station and took us to the castle, stopping at interesting places on the way, then took us to the soba experience. As an ex-teacher he was very clear, kept us engaged and gave us informative explanations, sometimes backed by useful visual aids. The castle is amazing, so well preserved . The soba experience was interesting and it led to a simple but tasty lunch. Highly recommended the tour and Tom!
Thank you for your kind review! We're glad the tour worked out as a private experience for you, and that Tom made good use of the walk to the castle. Those stops along the way often add as much context as the destination itself. The soba making is something we value for its simplicity and connection to the region. Turning that into lunch gives the experience a satisfying completeness. Matsumoto Castle well preserved state and seeing it with someone who can explain how and why makes the preservation feel even more impressive. Thank you for exploring with us, and for the recommendation.
The tour of Matsumoto Castle was an amazing way to start my visit to this beautiful city. The guide was knowledgeable and made it a fun adventure. But the best part for me was the soba noodle making experience. I love cooking, food, and food culture so it was perfect for me. And the result was delicious!
Thank you for your kind review! We’re pleased to hear the tour was a great start to your time in Matsumoto. It’s always nice when the combination of history and hands-on culture connects so well. Thank you for joining us, we’re happy the soba turned out tasty too!
It‘s a very fun tour to combine history with a quick cooking class. The handmade soba are so tasty and a huge difference to the store bought ones. Can highly recommend it.
Thank you for your review! We are glad you enjoyed the mix of history and hands-on experience. Freshly made soba really does make a difference. We appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you again!
Our guide is very likable and a life-long resident, except for six years in Toyko to go to university. The tour of the castle was very interesting and educational, and the wine-making class was just plain fun. We then ate our noodles in the small restaurant below the room where we made them. All a fun, intimate experience.
Thank you for your review! We are so glad to hear you enjoyed the castle tour and had fun during the soba-making experience. It is always a pleasure to share a more local, hands-on side of Matsumoto, and we are happy it felt enjoyable from start to finish. We appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again someday!
The places were beautiful and the guide who welcomed us informed us about many topics, whether it was the tour or other places of interest not foreseen in the tour.
Merci beaucoup pour votre excellent commentaire ! Nous sommes ravis de voir que la visite et l’expérience ont répondu à vos attentes et sommes toujours heureux de partager un maximum d’informations sur notre ville historique. En espèrent que le reste de votre séjour au Japon fut tout autant satisfaisant !
Tim was excellent. The absolute best guide you can ask for. Tim is knowledgeable not only in the castle history but surrounding area as well. He speaks fluent English and Japanese so he is able to manage the small group size interactions with the locals easily. The castle itself is amazing as was the owner of the soba shop. 5/5 in both metic and freedom units, would do again in a heartbeat. Thank you again for everything Tim.
Thank you for the fantastic review! We are so glad to hear that Tim made your tour a memorable one, combining deep knowledge of the castle and the surrounding area with smooth communication and local connections. It is great to know you enjoyed both the historical insights and the soba experience. We truly appreciate your kind words and would be happy to welcome you back anytime!
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matsumoto Castle Tour & Soba Noodle Experience | 3 hours | 4.7 (23) | $92 | |
 Exclusive Wasabi Harvesting, Soba Lunch and Matsumoto Castle Tour | 6h 30min | — | $737 | View |
 Matsumoto Castle Tour & Samurai Experience | 3 hours | 4.9 (89) | $89 | View |
 1 Day Tour From Nagano to Matsumoto Castle and Narai-Juku | 10 hours | 5.0 (50) | $197 | View |
 Private Electric Bike Tour & Soba Lunch | 6 hours | 5.0 (17) | $161 | View |
 Handmade Soba Making & Fresh Wasabi Lunch | 1h 30min | 5.0 (10) | $89 | View |
 Matsumoto Everything Tour: Castle, Miso, Wasabi, Wine & Ukiyo-e | 6h 15min–8h 30min | 5.0 (6) | $173 | View |