Matsudo

Matsudo (松戸市 Matsudo-shi) is located east of Tokyo, in the northwestern part of Chiba prefecture. It has about 400,000 inhabitants.

Get in

Matsudo is located on the JR Joban Line. It is linked to Ueno station in Tokyo by rapid trains running at frequent intervals of 10 min or less. The ride from Ueno takes as little as 20 min (on some midday services, 15 min at a cost of ¥290.

Matsudo also serves as the terminating point on the Shin-Keisei Line, which runs to Tsudanuma (45 min, ¥250). If going to Matsudo from Narita airport, take a Narita Sky Access train and change at Shin-Kamagaya for the Shin-Keisei Line (65 min, ¥1,070). Limousine bus service runs from Narita airport to Matsudo, but it takes longer (2.25 hr) and costs more (¥1,900).

From Haneda airport, there are several ways you can reach Matsudo by train. One example is to take the Tokyo monorail to Hamamatsucho, then take the JR Yamanote Line to Ueno or Nippori, where you can pick up the Joban Line train to Matsudo (Approx. 75 min, ¥850).

Get around

Matsudo is a pretty small town and most places can be reached by foot. There aren't a lot of buses that stop in Matsudo, but there are many taxis. Both buses and taxis can be found outside of Matsudo Station.

See

Hondoji Temple in summer

• 🌍 Hondoji Temple, 63, Hiraga (From Kitakogane Station on the JR Joban Line, walk about 10 minutes.), ☎ [phone]. 8AM-4:30PM. Approximately 10,000 Japanese hydrangeas and 5,000 Japanese iris called 'Ajisai' and 'Shoubu are in this temple. In June, a lot of people visit it and enjoy watching them. In autumn, the leaves turn red like fire. Red leaves are called 'Momiji' in Japan. A tour called the 'Ajisai tour' and 'Momiji tour' is available. It is open on New Year's Eve and you can ring a bell. It is called "Joya no Kane" In Joya no kane, people pray for happiness and health. ¥500 for adults, free fore children. 
• 🌍 Tozenji Temple, 359, Kogane (Near Kitakogane Station on the Joban Line. It takes about 10 min to walk from the station.), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. In the spring season there are a lot of cherry blossoms in the temple, the most beautiful cherry blossom is thought to be the 'Shidarezakura'. During the spring Japanese people go to see cherry blossoms and hold a party under the trees. free. 

Do

• Matsudo Juku (Along the Sakagawa River.). A votive lantern festival. This traditional festival has been held on Aug. 9 and 10, continuing the tradition of "Toumorokoshi Ichi", since Edo period. 

Buy

Matsudo is known for its yoichiduke, a dish made from small eggplants, soy sauce, and malt.

• Peanut sable, ☎ [phone]. There are two locations: one in Tokui, Tokiwadaira, and another in the Isetan Department Store. 
• Nasu no Yoichiduke. A famous souvenir shop. (updated Feb 2016)

Eat

• Good Smile Cafe, K Building 1F, 14-13 Matsudo (Walk from the west gate of Matsudo Station until you reach Nagareyama Highway and turn right. About 5th building on the left.), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. M-Th 11AM-8:30PM, Fr-Su 11AM-9PM, lunch 11:30AM-2:30PM. A manga cafe that also serves lunch. The main attraction is the shelves of anime and manga figurines and nendoroids made by the Good Smile Company. Photography in the store is OK. Lunch sets ¥900. 

Drink

Sleep

Budget

• J&F House DK Matsudo. The biggest guesthouse in Japan and has over 160 rooms. The room you get is very small and the toilets are shared by the whole floor. 4 floors, but no one lives on the bottom one. You have to stay there for at least 1 week, it being a guesthouse, not a hotel. Reservations required. ¥56,500 per month. (updated Feb 2016)

Go next

Routes through Matsudo

Mito ← Tsuchiura ← Kashiwa ←	N  S	→ Kitasenjyu → Ueno
Toride ← Kashiwa ←	N  S	→ Kitasenjyu → into → Nezu → Nijyubashimae
Minami Urawa ← Shin Misato ←	W  E	→ Higashi Matsudo → Nishi Funabashi
END ←	W  E	→ Kamagaya → Tsudanuma → into → Chiba
Oshiage ← into ← Keisei Takasago ←	W  E	→ Inzai-Makinohara→ into → Narita Airport