Matsumoto Castle’s National Treasure Turret Projection Mapping

Extended by Popular Demand: Dynamic and Fantastical Projection Mapping on Matsumoto Castle’s Turret and Stone Walls

Free to view and no prior application required, enjoy the winter spectacle of Matsumoto Castle’s turret lit up by projection mapping for the first time in its history. The event has drawn over 100,000 visitors, leading to an extension of its run. From February 16th (Friday) to February 18th (Sunday), all projection mapping from phases one to three will be showcased simultaneously.

Produced in collaboration with Ichihata Co., Ltd., Epson Sales Japan Corporation, and Seiko Epson Corporation, the “National Treasure Matsumoto Castle Turret Projection Mapping 2023-2024” has been extended due to its popularity and will continue until February 18, 2024, at Matsumoto Castle Park (Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture), organized by the “Matsumoto Castle Town Festa Organizing Committee.”

Featuring the oldest of the five national treasure turrets, the dynamic and fantastical projection mapping on Matsumoto Castle’s turret and stone walls brings to life the digital animation of screen paintings depicting the castle’s lord, Ishikawa Kazumasa, who built the magnificent turret, as well as digital art themed around snow crystals, ice, and a profusion of flowers blooming beautifully in the Northern Alps.

<Phase One> December 16th (Saturday) to January 7th, 2024, <Phase Two> January 8th (Monday) to January 26th (Friday), <Phase Three> January 27th (Saturday) to February 14th (Wednesday), each featuring different thematic projection mapping performances. From February 16th (Friday) to February 18th (Sunday), enjoy all the projection mapping stages from phase one to three.

Don’t miss this unprecedented projection mapping event at Matsumoto Castle, a treat for the eyes and a journey through history, now extended for all to enjoy.

National Treasure Matsumoto Castle Turret Projection Mapping 2023-2024 Overview

Part of the “Light and Ice Castle Town Festival Matsumoto City Illumination 2023-2024” event series

Dates and Times

• Extended period: February 16, 2024 (Friday) to February 18, 2024 (Sunday)

• Approximately 9-minute long content will be projected continuously with about 3-minute intermissions.
• The projection will be paused on February 15, 2024 (Thursday) for content changeover.
• Projections will take place even in rainy weather, but may be temporarily suspended or canceled in case of severe weather conditions.

Venue

• Matsumoto Castle Park (4-1 Marunouchi, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture)

Access

• Train: About a 20-minute walk from JR Matsumoto Station
• Bus: From JR Matsumoto Station, take the Utsukushigahara Onsen Line, Asama Line, Okada Line, or Alps Park Line to “Matsumoto Castle / City Hall” stop
• Car: About a 20-minute drive from the Matsumoto IC on the Nagano Expressway
• *Please use the Matsumoto City Matsumoto Castle Otemon Parking Lot (multi-story) (7:30 AM to 10:30 PM, 150 yen per 30 minutes for standard vehicles, about an 8-minute walk to Matsumoto Castle).

Content

Featuring the oldest of the five national treasure turrets, the dynamic and fantastical projection mapping on Matsumoto Castle’s turret and stone walls brings to life digital animations of screen paintings depicting the castle’s lord, Ishikawa Kazumasa, who built the magnificent turret, as well as digital art themed around snow crystals, ice, and a profusion of flowers blooming beautifully in the Northern Alps.

Admission

• Free to view, no prior application required

Guidelines for Visitors

• When taking photos or videos, please refrain from using flash, flying drones, or occupying the front row with a tripod for extended periods during busy times. Additionally, continuous shooting noise may disturb others, so we ask you to avoid continuous shooting or use the silent shooting feature during crowded moments. Due to the fast-paced nature of the projection mapping, video recording with smartphones is recommended.
• Regardless of the viewing location, the height of cameras on tripods should not exceed the height of the photographer’s head (excluding official recording staff). Please refrain from using ladders or any equipment that does not touch the ground for shooting.
• As viewing areas are limited, we ask for your cooperation in sharing the space courteously.
• Please be aware that you may be included in photographs or video recordings by our staff or media coverage.
• The wearing of masks is left to individual discretion.
• Guests experiencing fever, cough, or sore throat are kindly asked to refrain from attending.
• On January 27th (Saturday), due to the “National Treasure Matsumoto Castle Ice Sculpture Festival 2024,” the projection mapping at the Kuro-mon (Black Gate) will be paused. The projection mapping on the Turret will be available as usual.

Organizers, Production, and Sponsors

• Organizer: Matsumoto Castle Town Festa Organizing Committee
• Produced by: Epson Sales Japan Corporation, Ichihata Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
• Sponsors: Astep Shinshu Co., Ltd., Elan Co., Ltd., Sekisui House Shinetsu Co., Ltd., Matsumoto Credit Union, Matsumoto Docon Co., Ltd., Chubu Electric Power Grid Co., Inc., Mt. Norikura Snow Resort, Nakajimaya Sake Rice Co., Ltd., Sunrin Co., Ltd., Inet Co., Ltd., NTP Toyota Shinshu Co., Ltd., Sports Plaza Hortoku Co., Ltd., The Eighty-Two Bank, Ltd., Nagano Bank, Ltd., Ohara Construction Co., Ltd., TV Shinshu Co., Ltd., Shin-etsu Broadcasting Co., Ltd.

About Ichihata Inc.

Ichihata Inc. is a digital creative company based in Nagoya and Tokyo. Leveraging cutting-edge digital technology, local cultural and tourism resources, and traditional Japanese culture, Ichihata Inc. specializes in creating experiences that evoke emotion and excitement through projection mapping, immersive museums, digital installations, 3DCG animations, and digital content in VR/AR/Metaverse realms. The company strives to enrich hearts and forge a future beyond imagination by facilitating shared moments of awe and exhilaration.

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