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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Tsuruga
Spend a half‑day in Tsuruga as a Shinkansen stop; see Kehi Shrine and the pine beach, then continue onward.
Tsuruga is a small port city on the Sea of Japan, the southern terminus of the Hokuriku Shinkansen and a gateway for ferries. Its main sights – Kehi Shrine, the pine‑grove beach and Leiji Matsumoto statues – are clustered near the station, making a half‑day visit feasible.
- Country
- Japan
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heat, humidity)
- 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–¥8,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥8,000–¥12,000 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 |
|---|---|
| Sushi bowl (sea‑of‑Japan fish) | ¥800–¥1,200 |
| Coffee at a café | ¥300–¥500 |
| Bus ride within city | ¥200–¥300 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KMQ · Komatsu Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Shinkansen Tokyo → Tsuruga (reserved)
- about ¥12,000–¥15,000, 3 h 8 min
- Local bus Tsuruga station → Kehi no Matsubara
- ≈¥200–¥300
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
Walk or use local bus from Tsuruga Station to most attractions; the pine beach and shrine are within easy reach, but check routes for exact distances.
See and do
Known for
- Kehi Shrine
- Leiji Matsumoto bronze statues
- Kehi no Matsubara pine beach
- Tsuruga Tunnel Hot Springs
- Sea‑of‑Japan seafood
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Obama | JR Hokuriku Line, about 30 min (check) | ≈45 min (check) |
| Sabae | JR Hokuriku Line, about 20 min (check) | ≈35 min (check) |
| Fukui | JR Hokuriku Line, about 45 min (check) | ≈1 h (check) |
Sleep
- Tsuruga Station area
- Convenient for train arrivals; a few business hotels within 5 min walk.
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 |
| Where is the bathroom? | トイレはどこですか？toire 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 vary; check the Shin‑Nihonkai Ferry timetable before planning a sea trip.
- Limited English signage beyond the station; carry a translation app.
Tsuruga is a low‑risk city; standard precautions apply, especially on beaches in summer.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tsuruga yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Kehi Shrine
- Leiji Matsumoto bronze statues
- Kehi no Matsubara pine beach
- Tsuruga Tunnel Hot Springs
- Sea‑of‑Japan seafood
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Tsuruga city official website: www.city.tsuruga.lg.jp/
- Wikivoyage: Tsuruga, revision 4880465 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4880465
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tsuruga). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.