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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Maizuru
舞鶴
Spend a half‑day in Maizuru to see the Brick Museum, Tanabe Castle and the waterfront; add a ferry trip if you have extra time.
Maizuru is a small port town in northern Kyoto Prefecture. Its main attractions – the World Brick Museum, Tanabe Castle and the naval memorials – are clustered near Higashi‑Maizuru Station, making a half‑day visit realistic. Ferries to Hokkaido depart daily for longer stays.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 舞鶴
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot, humid)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥5,000–7,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥7,000–10,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | ¥300–¥500 |
| Bento box | ¥500–¥900 |
| Loop bus ride | ¥150–¥300 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KIX · Kansai International Airport
- About 1 h 30 min by train to Maizuru
Typical fares
- Kyoto → Maizuru limited‑express
- ¥3,250–3,960, 96 min (check)
- Loop bus within Maizuru
- ¥150–¥300 depending on distance (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Loop bus between Nishi‑Maizuru and Higashi‑Maizuru runs 150–300 ¥; taxis start around 5,000 ¥ for a city tour.
See and do
Known for
- World Brick Museum
- Tanabe Castle
- Admiral Togo's Residence
- Repatriation Museum
- Maizuru Bay view
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Amanohashidate | JR limited express from Maizuru, about 1 h 15 min | ≈2 h total |
Sleep
- Maizuru Station area
- Convenient for train, bus loop and shopping at LaPort
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the train station? | 駅はどこですか？eki wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Ferry schedules to Hokkaido run daily but may change in winter – check ahead.
- Loop bus frequency drops after 20:00; plan return transport.
Maizuru is generally safe; watch for slippery sidewalks near the waterfront and keep an eye on ferry timetables.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Maizuru yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- World Brick Museum
- Tanabe Castle
- Admiral Togo's Residence
- Repatriation Museum
- Maizuru Bay view
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Maizuru city official site: www.city.maizuru.kyoto.jp/
- Wikivoyage: Maizuru, revision 5044776 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5044776
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/maizuru). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.