The City Hall Observation Deck is open on weekdays from 8:30 AM to 5:15 PM. You can take the elevator or stairs up to the fifth floor, and then walk up the stairs in front of the elevator to the observation deck.
If the weather is nice, you can overlook Matsumoto Castle with the majestic Northern Japanese Alps in the background. During City Hall’s opening hours, the observation deck serves as a relaxation spot for Matsumoto citizens.
From here, two things become apparent that are not visible from the ground. The first is the miracle that the tenshu still stands. Looking towards the west where the castle is, it becomes clear that Matsumoto experienced many fires. Although the castle town prospered, it also faced several big fires that burned down over a thousand homes at a time. Matsumoto Castle itself saw its Honmaru Palace burnt down in the mid-Edo period, and its Ninomaru Palace burnt down in the early Meiji period.
From the observation deck, you can see the remains of the palaces. Imagine the luxurious appearance of the two palaces standing side by side. Both were located very close to the tenshu. Despite being in such proximity to big fires, the tenshu remained unharmed. Perhaps it was due to favorable wind directions, or maybe people made desperate efforts to protect only the tenshu. The reason is unknown, but it seems there is something special about it.
The second point is the inevitability of Matsumoto Castle’s location. Now, look at the view from the windows on the east side, opposite the castle. The flatlands spread out radially from the mountains, forming a typical alluvial fan. Look to the north next, and you’ll see another alluvial fan. This means Matsumoto Castle was built where two alluvial fans intersect. This provided abundant water, allowing for the construction of the many moats.
Furthermore, no matter which direction you look—east, west, north, or south—you see mountains. It becomes evident that Matsumoto Castle was built here because mountains were natural fortresses.