Matsumoto Special 1: Matsumoto Folk Craft Museum The city of Matsumoto in Nagano prefecture has a long tradition of craftsmanship, which lives on today in the form of a nationally famous craft fair. Before we visit the fair, we stop by a museum that was opened by a Matsumoto craft shop owner who was inspired by the Japanese Folk craft movement. A man by the name of Taro Maruyama, who ran a crafts store in Matsumoto city opened the folk craft museum about 50 years ago using his own funds. The museum collection includes around 6800 pieces of furniture, pottery, dyed cloth, glass and other objects. At any given time, 800 of them are on display depending on the season and events. Matsumoto Special 2: Renovation in a Castle Town We take a walk around the streets of Matsumoto to see how old buildings have been preserved, renovated and given new life. Adorned with distinct white patterns, the traditional look and feel of the buildings in this castle town is a great draw for both Japanese and foreign tourists alike. Among the shops that line the streets in Matsumoto city are crafts stores, antique stores, art galleries, and clothing boutiques. Many of them are in old buildings with traditional shingled roofs and walls made of clay and white plaster. Thanks to the restoration and preservation of these buildings the area retains some of its old castle town atmosphere. This is one of the reasons it attracts many tourists and local residents. On Site: Matsumoto Craft Fair 2012 We head to the Matsumoto Craft Fair, which is held every year in May. During that month, enthusiasts from around Japan flock to the city as museums and galleries in Matsumoto join forces to hold various craft-related events. Schedule: May 25-26 Location: Agata-no-Mori Park in Matsumoto This year is the 28th edition of the craft fair. It is held on what used to be the grounds of an old-education-system high school. Now, as you can see, it's a park filled with plants an