Territory capital · Japan
Tsu津
Give Tsu one night as a Mie base, or skip it: the castle ruins, Kannon and eel are a half day, and Ise and Matsusaka are the real draws.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- JPY
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Golden Week
- Airport
- NGO
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
- Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
- Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
Tsu is the capital of Mie prefecture and one of Japan's shortest place names, about 290,000 people on Ise Bay. It sits on the Kintetsu Nagoya line between Yokkaichi and Ise, so it works as a quiet, cheaper bed for the Ise and Matsusaka sights rather than as a destination in itself. Sights are spread out and the station area is the only practical base.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Tsu, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.Japan-wide
- SIM or eSIMData-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.Japan-wide
- Tap waterSafe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.Japan-wide
- TippingRestaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.Japan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 100 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Japan-wide
- SafetyTsu is a low-crime provincial capital; the real risks are summer heat, spread-out sights and buses signed only in Japanese.
- RestroomsFree, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet.Japan-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance · 050-3816-2787 (≈ US$19) Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMuseums close on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday); many family restaurants close one weekday, often Tuesday or Wednesday…Japan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportNGO Chubu Centrair (Tsu Airport Line ferry to Tsu port, 40–50 min, then a bus to Tsu station).
- Getting aroundTsu is split north–south by Route 23.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5)
- Street or quick mealRamen or noodle soup¥800–1,300 (≈ US$6–9)
- Beerdraught in a bar / can at a konbini¥500–750 (≈ US$4–6)¥250–350 (≈ US$2–3)
- Metro or bus rideCity bus ride¥200–400 (≈ US$2–3)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (MieMu, Sekisui, Louvre sculpture museum)¥500–1,500 (≈ US$4–11)
- Budget bedHostel or budget bed, a night, per person¥3,000 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥12,000 (≈ US$85)
- High-end bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥25,000 (≈ US$170)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥7,000 (≈ US$50) · Mid ¥12,000 (≈ US$85) · High ¥22,000 (≈ US$150)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- NGO Chubu Centrair (Tsu Airport Line ferry to Tsu port, 40–50 min, then a bus to Tsu station)
Weather and climate
Tsu: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
9°C48°F
1°C34°F
5 rd
Feb
10°C50°F
1°C34°F
6 rd
Mar
14°C57°F
4°C39°F
9 rd
Apr
20°C68°F
9°C48°F
9 rd
May
24°C75°F
14°C57°F
10 rd
Jun
27°C81°F
18°C64°F
12 rd
Jul
31°C88°F
23°C73°F
12 rd
Aug
32°C90°F
24°C75°F
9 rd
Sep
28°C82°F
20°C68°F
11 rd
Oct
23°C73°F
14°C57°F
8 rd
Nov
17°C63°F
8°C46°F
6 rd
Dec
12°C54°F
3°C37°F
5 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Tsu is split north–south by Route 23. Kintetsu and JR both stop at Tsu station; Edobashi and Tsu-Shinmachi are Kintetsu only and cost the same from Nagoya. City buses leave from outside the station, but stops are signed in Japanese only and you board at one stop and alight at another. Pay the exact fare in the box by the driver on exit; a machine changes ¥1,000 notes. Taxis queue at the station.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1 h
Kintetsu from Tsu to Ise-shi, then bus to the shrines
The main reason to base in Mie; go early, outer shrine first.
Matsusaka
goDoor to door: About 40 min
JR or Kintetsu south, about 20–30 min
Castle, old merchant streets and beef; a half day.
Yokkaichi
cautionDoor to door: About 40 min
Kintetsu north toward Nagoya, about 25 min
Mostly a transport and shopping stop; the petrochemical night view is the one draw.
Kuwana
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Kintetsu or JR north toward Nagoya, about 40 min
Kyuka-mura and clams; pairs well with a Nagoya arrival.
Iga
cautionDoor to door: 1.5–2 h
JR to Iga-Ueno, change at Kameyama
Ninja museum and castle; check connections, the change is slow.
Door to door: About 1 h 15 min
Kintetsu limited express, about 1 h
Limited express costs extra and stops at Tsu.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Tsu Station area
Business hotels, the UST Tsu tower, city and prefecture tourist offices, buses and both rail lines. The only base that works without a car.
Edobashi
One stop north on Kintetsu, by Mie University; quieter, fewer beds.
Tsu-Shinmachi
One stop south on Kintetsu; same fare from Nagoya, a few local restaurants.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥7,000–11,000 (≈ US$50–75) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥11,000–17,000 (≈ US$75–120) excl. bed
- High
- ¥17,000 (≈ US$120)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Business-hotel double room1 × 1 night × ¥12,000 | ¥12,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ¥12,000 | ¥24,000 |
| Kintetsu Nagoya → Tsu, basic ticket, one way2 × ¥980 | ¥1,960 |
| Tsu Airport Line ferry, one way2 × ¥3,000 | ¥6,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ¥2,500 | ¥5,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ¥4,900 |
| Trip total≈ ¥26,930 per person per day, bed included | ¥53,860≈ US$400 |
2026 estimate in yen; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | ¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Ramen or noodle soup | ¥800–1,300 (≈ US$6–9) |
| Unagi (eel) set mealPrice varies by size and grade; check the board. | ¥2,500–5,000 (≈ US$17–35) |
| Tsu Gyoza (one large dumpling) | ¥300–600 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can at a konbini | ¥500–750 (≈ US$4–6) / ¥250–350 (≈ US$2–3) |
| City bus ride | ¥200–400 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Museum entry (MieMu, Sekisui, Louvre sculpture museum) | ¥500–1,500 (≈ US$4–11) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Bus stops are signposted in Japanese only; ask at the tourist office by the station for your route.
- Sights are spread out: the Louvre sculpture museum and Daikanon-ji are well outside the centre, near Sakakibara Onsen.
- Summer is hot and humid; plan indoor stops at midday.
- Small eel and gyoza places may be cash only: carry yen.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English)
- 050-3816-2787
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Tsu津
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ここまでお願いしますTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
Embassy
No embassies in Tsu; most are in Tokyo, with consulates-general in Osaka and Nagoya.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Kintetsu Nagoya → Tsu: about ¥980 (≈ US$7) basic, about 1 h
- Tsu Airport Line ferry, Tsu → Centrair: about ¥3,000 (≈ US$25), 40–50 min
- Bus from Tsu port to Tsu station: about ¥200 (≈ US$2)
- Taxi across the centre: ¥1,200–2,000 (≈ US$9–14)
Say or show
- すみません — Excuse me / Sorry (sumimasen)
- ありがとうございます — Thank you (arigatō gozaimasu)
- これをください — This one, please (kore o kudasai)
- いくらですか？ — How much is it? (ikura desu ka)
- カードで払えますか？ — Can I pay by card? (kādo de haraemasu ka)
- トイレはどこですか？ — Where is the toilet? (toire wa doko desu ka)
Tipping is not expected in Japan and can be refused.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Tsu. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Golden Week · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for NGO: ferry and bus times field-checked, late-arrival taxi fallback.
- Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: Tsu station and UST Tsu, the castle and Kannon, the museum quarter.
- Place pages with verified hours and cutoffs (MieMu, Sekisui Museum, Mie Prefectural Art Museum, Tsu Castle, Tsu Kannon).
- Eat pages for unagi and Tsu Gyoza with last orders and cash-only flags.