The city of Matsumoto boasts an assortment of interesting museums and other facilities maintained by the municipality, some with themes that are a bit unusual.

One that I visited is the Matsumoto Timepiece Museum, which is located between Matsumoto Station and Matsumoto Castle, and is just a short walk from either.

The donation of a private collection of timepieces to the city in 1974 proved to be one of the most popular collections on display at the Matsumoto City Museum. The collection continued to grow over time with the addition of more timepieces from other citizens, eventually leading to the opening of the separate Timepiece Museum in 2002.

The museum building also features one of the city's newest landmarks – the largest pendulum clock in Japan.

Inside are a variety of antique clocks and other timepieces from Japan as well as the West. Many are in working order.

In addition to timepieces, the museum also houses gramophones that play records and older wax cylinders.

There are even scheduled listening sessions where you can hear these for yourself.

Also near the castle is the Former Kaichi School, a facility completed in 1876 and used as a functional school until March 1963. Constructed by a master carpenter, the school is in an architectural style known as "Giyofu" – "pseudo-Western." This style is characterized by the use of Japanese construction techniques to achieve an outward resemblance to Western-style architecture.

The school's entrance, decorated with carved-relief panels depicting clouds and dragons, is a beautiful example of this style.

Once inside, you take off your shoes and change into slippers, just as successions of elementary and junior-high students and teachers did for the 90 years the school was in operation.

Throughout you can glimpse more examples of Giyofu architecture, including the ornate doors, ceiling lamps, staircase, and windows.

It's east to understand why the school building has been designated an Important Cultural Property by the national government.

This is how the present-day Kaichi School appears.

Within walking distance to the south of the Former Kaichi School is the Matsumoto City Art Museum, whose permanent collection comprises many works by world-renowned artists Yayoi Kusama, who is perhaps the city's most well-known resident.

The courtyard and façade feature two large works by Kusama that display the striking polka dots for which she is famed.

This piece featuring giant tulips is titled The Visionary Flowers, and was made in 2002.

The work on the front of the museum dates from 2016, and is named To the Future, from Matsumoto.

Inside are more of Kusama's pieces on permanent and rotating display, as well as more collections containing works by other local, national, and global artists.

Central Matsumoto is where the main train station and famous castle are located, along with many of the city's museums, shops, and other popular destinations are located. This area is fairly compact and flat, and fun to explore on foot. As you make your way through the town, you might notice colorful manhole covers, each painted differently, that depict temari – handballs made of brightly colored yarn that are Matsumoto's most well-known folk craft.

Aside from walking, taxicabs and other modes of transportation are also of course available. One such mode is in the form of free bicycles provided by the city. These are located at rail stations, museums, and other popular tourist destinations.

Another is the city's "Town Sneaker" bus system, which makes regular runs that connect Matsumoto Station with popular sightseeing sites.

If you're lucky, you might even catch sight of a Town Sneaker bus festooned with Yayoi Kusama's polka dots!