If you go to Matsumoro from Tokyo (not Shinjuku), sometimes Hokuriku Shinkansen and Limited Express Shinano combination is faster than Azusa / Super Azusa. Get on Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano and you can transfer to Limited Express Wide View Shinano at Nagano station. You have to transfer but it is faster. Especially if you leave from Tokyo, you may have to take local train to Shinjuku. You will spend 13 minutes and you have to spend some more minutes for transfer at Shinjuku. Compare both travel time when you make a plan. But don’t take this way to get Kami-Suwa or other places on the way to Matsumoto. In this case, Azusa / Super Azusa is faster.