Matsumoto Shrine venerates the Toda family, the lords of Matsumoto Castle, with the precincts filled with a serene atmosphere. In the Showa period, the shrine also began to enshrine Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine, previously located within Matsumoto Castle. Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine originally worshipped the lord of Fukashi Castle, the predecessor of Matsumoto Castle.
One of the deities enshrined here is Princess Matsu. Princess Matsu was a wife of Yasunaga Toda, a lord of Matsumoto Castle, and an adopted sister of Ieyasu Tokugawa. The marriage illustrates the close ties between the Toda and Tokugawa families. The Toda family was the first feudal clan granted permission to use the Tokugawa's hollyhock crest. As a result, you can see it at Matsumoto Shrine.
*This guide was created based on documents and interviews and includes some interpretation done by us at ON THE TRIP. Theories differ between experts, so try to find out what really happened on your travels!