The Collections of Matsumoto Castle 松本城の収蔵品

Maps of the Castle and Its Surroundings

Several maps of Matsumoto Castle and the surrounding town survive from the Edo period (1603–1867), particularly from 1642 to 1725, when the castle was governed by the Mizuno family.

「享保13年秋改　松本城下絵図」 Kyōhō jūsan-nen aki aratame Matsumoto jōkamachi ezu Map of the Castle Town (1728)

「信州松本城之図」（起し絵付） Shinshū Matsumoto-jō no zu Map of the Main and Second Baileys with “Pop-Up” (Okoshie) Buildings (c. 1668–1713)

「信濃国松本藩領大絵図」 Shinano no kuni Matsumoto hanryō dai-ezu Map of Matsumoto Domain (c. 1713–1725)

「後藤新門画　紙本墨画　松本城旧景図」 Gotō Shinmon-ga shihon bokuga Matsumoto-jō kyū kei-zu Illustrations of Matsumoto Castle by Gotō Shinmon (c. 1897)

「維新前松本藩士族屋敷割図」（松本市立博物館所蔵） Ishin-mae Matsumoto han shizoku yashiki-wari zu Map of Samurai Residences around the Mid-Eighteenth Century (1911, Matsumoto City Museum)

Treasures of the Toda Family

The Toda family controlled Matsumoto Castle longer than any other family, and they only relinquished their position following the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Many of the Toda family’s prized treasures are displayed at the Matsumoto City Museum.

『諸士出身記』並びに「出身書」「出身帳」 Shoshi shusshin-ki narabi ni shusshin-sho, shusshin-chō Records of the Lineages and Achievements of Samurai Retainers of the Toda Family

德川吉宗朱印状 Tokugawa Yoshimune shuinjō Letter from Tokugawa Yoshimune Granting Land to Toda Mitsuchika (Lord of Matsumoto Castle from 1726–1732)

戸田家伝世の甲冑 Toda-ke densei no kacchū Set of Armor Belonging to Toda Yasunaga (Lord of Matsumoto Castle from 1617–1632)

葵紋付筒 Aoimon-tsuki-zutsu Case Containing Protective Charm for Children and Bearing the Aoi Crest of the Tokugawa Shogunate

松竹梅桐紋蒔絵乗物 Shō-chiku-bai-mon makie norimono Lacquered Palanquin Decorated with Gold Leaf Floral Patterns

御実印 戸田光行 Gojitsu’in Toda Mitsuyuki Official Seal of Toda Mitsuyuki (Lord of Matsumoto Castle from 1786–1800)

Matsumoto Castle Firearm Museum

A large collection of 141 firearms and related accessories was donated by Akahane Michishige and his wife, Kayoko, a local duo of firearm enthusiasts. A portion of the collection is displayed on the second floor of the Great Keep.

Small-Caliber Matchlock Musket (18 mm or smaller)

Medium-Caliber Matchlock Musket (18–25 mm)

Large-Caliber Matchlock Musket (26 mm and larger)

Matchlock Musket (Cavalry Carbine)

Long-Barreled Marksman’s Matchlock Musket

Pistol (Percussion Cap Mechanism)

Firearm Incorporated into Knife (Aikuchi) (Percussion Cap Mechanism)

Firearm Incorporated into Short Sword (Wakizashi) (Percussion Cap Mechanism)

Firearm Incorporated into Police Baton (Jitte) (Muzzle-Loading Mechanism)

Dutch Naval Cannon (Muzzle-Loading Mechanism)

Colt Navy Revolver (Percussion Cap Mechanism)

Flask for Priming Powder

Flask for Gunpowder

Ammunition Box

Historical Documents from Matsumoto Domain

The Matsumoto City Archive stores over 17,000 historical documents, including a large collection of records that belonged to samurai or local headmen in Matsumoto. These documents can be viewed for research purposes by written application to the archive.

Kondō Family Documents

Terashima Family Documents

Hokari Family Documents

Yoshida Family Documents

Shiojiri Horiuchi Family Documents

Aida Horiuchi Family Documents

Akutagawa Family Documents

Higuchi Family Documents

Kamijō Family Documents

Suzuki Family Documents

Ōiwa Family Documents

Materials Related to Matsumoto Castle in Modern Times

Matsumoto Castle underwent significant renovations twice: once from 1903 to 1913 and again from 1950 to 1955. The following collection of photographs and illustrations provides a glimpse of the work and shows the appearance of the castle at the beginning of the Meiji era (1868–1912).

Matsumoto Castle as Agricultural Test Site (c. 1868–1912)

Remains of the Taikomon Gate (c. 1897)

Renovations to the Castle (c. 1903–1913)

Matsumoto Courthouse, Former Site of the Ninomaru Goten (c. 1868–1912)

Portrait of Ichikawa Ryōzō (1871)

Chikuma Prefectural Public Exhibitions at Matsumoto Castle (Colored Woodblock Print Postcard, 1873)

Matsumoto Castle before Renovations (1950)

Matsumoto Castle before Renovations (Great Keep, Interior)

Groundbreaking Ceremony (June 8, 1950)

Matsumoto Castle during Renovations (Great Keep, North Side, Fourth and Fifth Floors)

Scaffolding around Matsumoto Castle (c. 1950–1955)

Ridge-Raising Ceremony (October 3, 1953)

Matsumoto Castle during Renovations, Viewed from near Matsumoto City Museum (March 31, 1954)

Procession Re-enshrining Nijūroku-Yashin in Matsumoto Castle (October 4, 1955)

Completion Ceremony (October 1, 1955)

Blueprints from Renovations in the 1950s

The following images are blueprints of Matsumoto Castle that were created during repair work in the 1950s. For ease of viewing, the originals have been converted to black and white.

Images with “survey” in the title were prepared prior to repairs, while those with “complete” in the title show the final state of the castle. “Plan” drawings show the buildings viewed from above, “elevation” drawings show the buildings viewed from the side, and “section” drawings show vertical cross sections of the buildings.

Great Keep, Foundation: Plan (Complete)

Great Keep, First Floor: Plan (Complete)

Great Keep, Second Floor; Northwest Tower, Third Floor; Southeast Wing, Second Floor: Plan (Complete)

Great Keep, Third Floor; Northwest Tower, Fourth Floor: Plan (Complete)

Great Keep, Fourth Floor: Plan (Complete)

Great Keep, Fifth Floor: Plan (Complete)

Great Keep, Sixth Floor: Plan (Complete)

Great Keep, All Floors, Interior Dimensions: Plan (Complete)

Matsumoto Castle, East Face: Elevation (Complete)

Matsumoto Castle, West Face: Elevation (Complete)

Matsumoto Castle, South Face: Elevation (Complete)

Matsumoto Castle, North Face: Elevation (Complete)

Great Keep: East–West Cross Section (Complete)

Great Keep: South–North Cross Section (Complete)

Matsumoto Castle, Main and Second Bailey; Layout Plan

Northwest Tower, First Floor; Roofed Passage, Ground Floor: Plan (Complete)

Northwest Tower: East–West Cross Section (Complete)

Northwest Tower, South Face: Elevation (Complete) / Roofed Passage: East–West Cross Section (Complete)

Northwest Tower; Roofed Passage: South–North Cross Section (Complete)

Northwest Tower; Roofed Passage: East–West Cross Section (Complete)

Southeast Wing, Foundation; Moon-Viewing Tower, Ground Floor: Plan (Complete)

Southeast Wing, First Floor; Moon-Viewing Tower, First Floor: Plan (Complete)

Southeast Wing; Moon-Viewing Tower: Sections, Various (Complete)

Southeast Wing: South–North Cross Section (Complete)

Southeast Wing, East Face: Elevation (Complete) / Moon-Viewing Tower: South–North Cross Section (Complete)

Southeast Wing; Moon-Viewing Tower: East–West Cross Section (Complete)

Matsumoto Castle, East Face: Elevation (Survey)

Matsumoto Castle, West Face: Elevation (Survey)

Matsumoto Castle, South Face: Elevation (Survey)

Matsumoto Castle, North Face: Elevation (Survey)