Private day trip · Day trip from Tokyo
From Tokyo: Matsushiro Tunnel Customizable Tour
Walk inside the wartime Matsushiro Underground Imperial Headquarters tunnel, then the Sanada castle town and Zenkoji Temple in Nagano.
Private · your group only◆11 hours◆Up to 6 guests◆Pickup included
Road-day snapshot
This is your private tour, so the route is flexible: tell us if you want to skip a stop, stay longer somewhere or add a place nearby.
The experience
A private journey, thoughtfully paced
Matsushiro, now part of Nagano city, was the castle town of the Sanada family for about 250 years. It is also the site of a very different piece of history. In the last year of World War II, a huge tunnel network was dug into the hills here as a planned shelter for the Imperial Headquarters and government. Many workers, including people brought from Korea, did this hard labor. The war ended before it was used.
We pick you up at your hotel in central Tokyo and drive north-west, about 3 hours. Our first stop is the Matsushiro Underground Imperial Headquarters at Mount Zozan. A part of the tunnel is open to visitors. You walk about 500 m inside with a helmet. Your guide explains the history in a calm and respectful way. Entry is free.
Next we walk through the Sanada castle town. We visit the Matsushiro Castle ruins, with stone walls and a rebuilt gate, and the Sanada Treasure Museum, which shows armor and documents of the Sanada lords. Entry is included. We also pass the old samurai houses and the clan school.
In the afternoon we drive to Zenkoji, one of the most important temples in Japan, and walk up its long approach street lined with shops. You have time for the main hall.
We drive back to your hotel in Tokyo in the evening. The tour is about 11 hours in total.
This is a private tour. Only your group. One group per van, for 1 to 6 people.
If the tunnel is closed on your date, you can take a full refund of your booking, guaranteed.
Choose with confidence
Is this the right journey for your group?
Excellent fit if
- Walk inside the wartime Matsushiro underground tunnel
- Learn about the tunnel and its workers with calm, respectful context
- See armor and documents at the Sanada Treasure Museum
- Explore the stone walls and gate of Matsushiro Castle ruins
- Walk the long temple approach and visit Zenkoji's main hall
Said plainly
The tunnel is open during set daytime hours and can close for safety checks. The Sanada Treasure Museum usually closes on Tuesdays. We run this tour on open days If the Matsushiro Underground Imperial Headquarters is closed or cancelled on your date, you can take a full refund of your booking, guaranteed. If you prefer, we can instead spend more time in the Sanada samurai houses and the old clan school of Matsushiro The tunnel is cool and damp all year. Bring a light jacket. The floor is uneven. Helmets are provided at the entrance This is a place of difficult history. Please visit quietly
Your day
Suggested itinerary
Times are approximate. Your driver-guide adjusts the order for traffic, weather, opening hours and the best light.
Walk inside the wartime Matsushiro underground tunnel
Learn about the tunnel and its workers with calm, respectful context
See armor and documents at the Sanada Treasure Museum
Explore the stone walls and gate of Matsushiro Castle ruins
Walk the long temple approach and visit Zenkoji's main hall
What is covered
What you see is what you pay
Ours — included
- Private van and English-speaking driver-guide (also Hindi/Urdu)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Tokyo
- All parking, fuel and road tolls
- Sanada Treasure Museum entry
- Matsushiro Underground Imperial Headquarters (free entry)
Yours — paid on the day
- Meals and drinks unless listed as included
- Gratuities, which are never expected in Japan
- Optional Zenkoji inner sanctuary ticket
- Optional souvenir purchases
Good to know
Before you book
Languages
English, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi
Pickup
Pickup and drop-off at your Tokyo hotel or accommodation (23 wards).
Group and vehicle
Private for up to 6 guests. Enter adults, children, infants and child seats separately at booking.
Dietary and mobility needs
Halal, vegetarian, allergy, walking or other practical requests go in your booking notes and are planned before the day.
Questions
Frequently asked
Can we change the route on the day?
Yes. It is a private tour in our own van, so your driver-guide can skip, extend or add stops where time allows.
Is the price per person?
No. The price is for your whole private group of up to 6 people, including the van, fuel, tolls, parking and your driver-guide.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for an automatic full refund to the original payment method. Within 24 hours, contact us directly so we can help. If a typhoon or official weather warning stops the trip, we offer a new date or a full refund. For a GetYourGuide booking, the terms shown on that booking apply.
Somewhere else in mind?
Any destination in Japan
If this route is not exactly what you need, tell us the destination, dates and group. We confirm the plan and the exact price before any payment is taken.
Plan a custom journeyYour private Japan day
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From¥94,000
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