Dating from 1594, Matsumoto Castle claims the title of the oldest castle in Japan.  While the title of oldest castle is debatable, Matsumoto Castle is a well-preserved historic gem. The castle sits in a valley surrounded by the mountains of Nagano prefecture.  In addition to the name Matsumoto-jou, the castle is also called karasu-jou, or Crow Castle.  The black laquer curved roof of the castle resembles a crow…