Overlooking the waters of Tsuruga Bay, the port city of Tsuruga has long been an important trade hub on the Sea of Japan. It’s home to historic warehouses and one of Japan’s most famous torii gates, as well as statues honouring the renowned manga artist, Leiji Matsumoto.

Things to do

Delve into the history of Tsuruga at the Red Brick Warehouse, which features two turn-of-the-20th-century buildings at Tsuruga Port. Once used to store konbu (edible kelp), they now house a large-scale diorama depicting Tsuruga’s historic cityscape, together with restaurants serving local specialties.

Bubbling to the surface during the digging of the Hokuriku Tunnel, the Tsuruga Tunnel Hot Springs is a unique spot for a soak. Relax in one of the indoor or outdoor baths while taking in magnificent views of Tsuruga’s port and the coastal pine groves of Kehi-no-Matsubara.

Interested in anime and manga? Keep an eye out for the 20 bronze statues scattered around Tsuruga depicting characters created by Leiji Matsumoto. Taken from his popular works “Space Battleship Yamato” and “Galaxy Express 999”, each statue stands around 1.2 metres tall, with a plaque at the base explaining the character alongside Matsumoto’s signature.

Step through the immense torii gate of the Kehi-jingu Shrine, which is dedicated to the city’s namesake, Prince Tsunuga Arashito, and affectionately known as “Kei-san”. It’s believed to have been built in 702 AD and was visited by the famous 17th-century poet Matsuo Basho, who is commemorated with a statue and stone monument inscribed with his poetry.

Getting around

Tsuruga is around two hours by train from Osaka and four hours from Tokyo. Buses travel throughout the city.