{"id":17698,"date":"2017-12-21T11:24:04","date_gmt":"2017-12-21T02:24:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/welcome.city.matsumoto.nagano.jp\/modules\/xpressme\/?p=17698"},"modified":"2017-12-21T11:24:04","modified_gmt":"2017-12-21T02:24:04","slug":"exciting-january-events-in-matsumoto-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/sightseeing\/exciting-january-events-in-matsumoto-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"Exciting January Events in Matsumoto (2018)"},"content":{"rendered":"

It might be cold in January, but Matsumoto has several events you don’t want to miss in the first month of the New Year!<\/p>\n

New Year’s Celebration at Matsumoto Castle<\/h2>\n
\"People
People awaiting the opening of the castle gates<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Celebrate the New Year opening at Matsumoto Castle! Taiko drumming accompanies the opening of the Kuromon Gate, and once inside, you can enjoy hot amazake (a non-alcoholic, sweet drink made with rice koji), the souvenir shop, traditional Japanese games like “hanetsuki” shuttlecock and spinning “koma” tops, traditional kites, Alpenhorn performances, and more! Also the first 1,000 people in the gate will receive a wooden sake cup inscribed with castle family emblems.<\/p>\n

Date:<\/strong> Wednesday, January 3 (holiday)
\nTime:<\/strong> 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
\nLocation:<\/strong> Matsumoto Castle’s Honmaru Garden, Kuromon Gate
\nAdmission:<\/strong>\u00a0Free<\/p>\n

Ameichi Candy Festival<\/h2>\n
\"Carrying
Carrying a mikoshi around the streets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A big, lively festival taking place in downtown Matsumoto where portable shrines called “mikoshi” are carried around the streets by the different neighborhood groups of Matsumoto. Enjoy the spectacles, food, stalls selling candy and “daruma” dolls.\u00a0See our\u00a0event page<\/a>\u00a0for more information.<\/p>\n

Date:<\/strong> Weekend of January 13 and 14
\nTime:<\/strong> 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
\nLocation:<\/strong> Outside in the streets of downtown Matsumoto<\/p>\n

Ice Sculpture Festival<\/h2>\n\"ice_sculptures\"\n

Watch artists work with the ice and see the work that goes into producing these intricately carved sculptures. There will also be food stalls open from mid-morning to mid-afternoon on Saturday and Sunday. For kids, don’t miss the big slide carved out of ice! See our event page<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n

Date:<\/strong> Friday, January 19 (evening) to Sunday, January 21
\nLocation:<\/strong> Matsumoto Castle’s Honmaru Garden and surrounding park
\nAdmission:<\/strong> Free<\/p>\n

Schedule (tentative):<\/strong>
\nJan 19 (Fri)<\/span>
\nCarving from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight
\nJan 20 (Sat)<\/span>
\nDisplay from 12 midnight (0:00) to 2 p.m. on January 21
\nCarving from 5:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. of the following day
\nJan 21 (Sun)
\n<\/span>Display from 5:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Firefighter training demo for Cultural Property Fire Safety Day<\/h2>\n

Watch firefighters practices their skills and techniques (including training on huge fire truck ladders!) at Matsumoto Castle. See more info on the Matsumoto Castle website here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Date:<\/strong> Friday, January 26
\nTime:<\/strong> 9:00 to 9:55 a.m. (subject to change)
\nLocation:<\/strong> Matsumoto Castle – Castle tower and Honmaru Garden
\nAdmission:<\/strong> \u00a5610 for adults, \u00a5300 for children (includes entrance into the castle)<\/p>\n