This itinerary has two parts: the first explores central Matsumoto, and the second takes you to Asama Onsen, a nearby hot spring town with nice hot springs (one of them is completely tattoo friendly) and a couple of stylish cafés.

Everyone moves at their own pace—some like to soak in each location slowly, while others enjoy covering more ground in a day. If you realize you might not be able to finish your visit to the final city stop—the Matsumoto City Museum of Art—by around 3:00 p.m., don’t worry. Rather than rushing through the remaining spots, it’s perfectly fine to focus on central Matsumoto and head to Asama Onsen just for the hot spring experience. The onsen stays open into the evening, so you’ll still have time for a relaxing soak. Just make sure to check the return bus schedule—or have a taxi option in mind.

If you're visiting for only one day and prefer a slower pace, skipping the second part won’t take away from the experience—the onsen section is a smaller part of the day overall. And if you're staying overnight, it’s easy to split the day in two.

A quick note on the two onsen options: Asama Onsen has two public bathhouses—Hot Plaza Asama and Biwa no Yu—and they each have their own weekly closing days. Be sure to check in advance so you don’t arrive to find your preferred spot closed. Both are great, but if you don’t have tattoos and are up for a slightly more atmospheric soak, Biwa no Yu has a bit of an edge thanks to its location in the mountains. Hot Plaza Asama is the one to go for if you need a tattoo-friendly option.