A hangar and flight deck are carried for a single helicopter, which was initially the Mitsubishi HSS-2, a license-built Sikorsky Sea King, later replaced by Mitsubishi H-60s (licensed Sikorsky S-70s), with the Canadian Beartrap haul-down system fitted to ease operations of large helicopters.

[1][2] The initial anti-aircraft armament consisted of a Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile launcher aft, with an OTO Melara 76 mm gun forward.

[1] Matsuyuki was laid down on 20 January 1987 and launched on 4 June 1988 by Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Maizuru.

8279) (Captain Masahiko Miyanaga 3) touched the main rotor to the side wall of the left vault of Matsuyuki and crashed.

[3] From 15 January to 2 March 2016, she participated in the International Fleet Review Ceremony sponsored by the Indian Navy and the Japan-US-Australia Joint Overseas Cruise Training.