A Trip Where I Met Taro Maruyama: Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture

The other day, I went on a two-day, one-night trip to Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture.
I went on a sudden whim without much research, but it was a very rewarding and fun trip.
Everyone, do you know who Taro Maruyama is? I had absolutely no idea.

First, when I arrived in Matsumoto and started walking around, I was surprised to see that the city is crisscrossed with waterways. There are wells everywhere, with water gushing out. When I tried drinking it, it was delicious. The water is just so abundant.

There was a woman holding a child and showing them the waterway intently, so I approached her, and she kindly told me, "There are rainbow trout in there. There are many more around that corner, too."

When I looked it up online later, I found that the fact that there are rainbow trout is so famous that it was even featured on the show "Buratamori." But it felt more special to learn about it from a local I happened to meet like this.

Actually, I only decided to go to Matsumoto the day before, so I came without much research. I had intended to gather information on my smartphone while on the Limited Express "Azusa" from Shinjuku, but the scenery outside the window was so beautiful that I couldn't take my eyes off it, and I didn't have the time. The Southern Alps and the Yatsugatake Mountains. It brought back nostalgic memories of the mountains I climbed in my student days.

Based on the little information I found with a quick online search, I went to "Chikiriya Craft Shop," which is popular with everyone. I ended up wanting this and that. I bought some plates and other items.

They were also selling postcards at "Chikiriya," and besides works by people like Samiro Yunoki, there were postcards of "Taro Maruyama" lined up. Shamefully, I had no idea who this person named Taro Maruyama (1909-1985) was. Who is he? They're pushing him quite subtly, I thought, as I left the shop.

I stopped by a used bookstore afterward and found a book by Taro Maruyama called "Travel Bag." When I browsed through it, I found it very interesting, as it was about his travels all over the country to buy folk crafts. I enjoy looking for books published locally when I travel, so I naturally bought this one.

At night, after returning to my inn, I looked him up online and found that Taro Maruyama was like a leading figure in the folk craft movement in Matsumoto, and he's super famous in the world of folk crafts! Plus, he's the founder of "Chikiriya"! Ignorance is amazing, isn't it? Knowledge about Taro Maruyama was poured into my brain like water being poured into a desert. Just like the spring water gushing out of the wells.

And to my surprise, there is even a facility in the city called the "Matsumoto Folkcraft Museum" that was established by Taro Maruyama. Of course, I took the bus and went there the next day.

Ceramics, furniture, work tools, toys, and more collected from not only Japan but all over the world are on display. A feast for the eyes.

Even though a wide variety of things are displayed together, I also feel a beauty that runs through them in a unified way.

In addition to the postcards I passed over and didn't buy at "Chikiriya" yesterday, I also purchased materials such as a booklet from the Matsumoto Folkcraft Museum.

Everyone, if you go to Matsumoto, you absolutely must go to the Matsumoto Folkcraft Museum! I didn't even know it existed until the day before, but I can say that with certainty.

Of course, I also went to Matsumoto Castle.
I think many castles are built on top of mountains, but I thought it was rare for this one to be on flat land. The view of the Northern Alps is superb.

At Matsumoto Castle, there was a man in a samurai—or perhaps an ashigaru foot soldier?—costume, posing for photos with foreign tourists. I took a picture with him too. When I told him I was from Tokyo, he encouraged me to move to Matsumoto. He said he used to be a corporate transferee himself, but moved here with his wife after retiring. He spoke passionately about how wonderful the environment and life in Matsumoto are, and I thought, yes, it might actually be quite nice.

Near the castle, there is a bar where you can drink during the day, and I had some doburoku that they brew in-house. It was delicious. The staff member told me about the differences in flavor between the various types of doburoku and their future plans to increase production.

I got the impression that people in Matsumoto are generally open and talkative toward tourists. When you have a lively conversation with the locals, it really makes the trip so much more enjoyable, doesn't it?

I feel like I've only experienced a fraction of what makes Matsumoto great, so I would definitely love to visit again.

Matsumoto Folkcraft Museum ↓

Chikiriya Craft Shop ↓

Matsumoto Doburoku Brewery ↓