Healthy Penguin Cafe

Top choice in Matsumoto


This cute little cafe on a tiny side street off atmospheric old Nawate-dõri gets rave reviews for plates such as smashed avo toast (¥700) and cinnamon French toast (¥750). Desserts, plus organic coffees, teas, wine and craft beer round out an inspiring menu. A top spot for vegetarians and vegans. Look for the signboard out on Nawate-dōri.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Matsumoto attractions

1. Nawate-dōri

0.12 MILES

Nawate-dōri, a few blocks south from the castle, is a popular street for a stroll. Vendors along this riverside walk sell antiques, souvenirs, and…

2. Matsumoto Timepiece Museum

0.2 MILES

Home to Japan's largest pendulum clock (on the building's exterior) and over 300 other timepieces, including fascinating medieval Japanese creations, this…

3. Matsumoto-jō

0.32 MILES

Must-see Matsumoto-jō is Japan's oldest wooden castle and one of four castles designated National Treasures – the others are Hikone, Himeji and Inuyama…

4. Matsumoto City Museum of Art

0.33 MILES

This sleek museum has a good collection of the work of Japanese artists, many of whom hail from Matsumoto or whose art depicts scenes of the surrounding…

5. Kaichi School Museum

0.59 MILES

A few blocks north of the castle, the former Kaichi School is both an Important Cultural Property and the oldest elementary school in Japan, founded in…

6. Japan Ukiyo-e Museum

2.09 MILES

Housing more than 100,000 woodblock prints, paintings, screens and old books, this renowned museum exhibits but a fraction of its collection. The museum…

7. Matsumoto Open-Air Architectural Museum

2.14 MILES

Adjacent to the better-known Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, amid fields and rice paddies beneath the gaze of the Alps, stand these five examples of striking late…

8. Dai-ō Wasabi-Nōjo

7.98 MILES

Fancy some wasabi wine or ice cream? This farm, a 15-minute bike ride from JR Hotaka Station, is a must for wasabi-lovers. An English map guides you among…