Getting ashore
Ships dock at Mariyama Minami Wharf, about 4 km from downtown, and shuttles are provided from the wharf to the centre. The fare, timetable and journey time are not known, and the shuttle details may have changed since 2024, so confirm the transfer in the daily programme. Whether the wharf has a building for guests to wait in is also not known. The port has a container terminal, a bulk cargo terminal and a coal-fired power plant, and its port code is JPTRG. The calendar lists ms Westerdam on 5 October 2026 from 08:00 to 17:00, and Diamond Princess on 14 October 2026 from 08:00 to 18:00. Both dates have passed, and no later ship entries are shown, so check the calendar for upcoming calls.
For walkers and architecture fans
Kehi Shrine has a torii gate counted among Japan’s top three, and the haiku poet Matsuo Basho visited in 1689. The Matsumoto statues are about twenty bronze figures of characters from Leiji Matsumoto’s anime and manga. They are spread through the downtown area, were erected in 1999, and stand 1.2 to 1.5 m tall. Tsuruga also has ancient temples and historic sites, though their fees are not known, so check locally. Kehi Shrine and the Matsumoto statues are both in the downtown area.
For nature and outdoor fans
Kehi no Matsubara is a pine grove with a white sand beach along Tsuruga Bay, and it is popular with swimmers in summer. Tsuruga Tunnel Hot Springs was found while a railway tunnel was being dug. Its indoor and outdoor baths sit on a hill with views over the town and bay, at 41 Yoshiko, Mukaide. A Fukutetsu bus runs there from Tsuruga Station. Admission and bathing hours are not known. The city lies on Tsuruga Bay, on the Sea of Japan coast, and is the Japan Sea coastal city closest to the Pacific Ocean.
For eaters and drinkers
Tsuruga is a major fishing port on the Sea of Japan, so seafood is the thing to try here. Fresh seafood is sold at local markets and served in sushi shops and restaurants. The local specialities are Tsuruga blowfish and, in winter, Echizen crab. Prices and opening hours for food outlets are not known, so check on the day. The fish markets and sushi shops are the best place to plan a meal around, and they are worth a visit on any day you are in town.
Getting around and money
Shuttles from the wharf are the transport to plan around, since the wharf is 4 km from the centre and the walk is long for most guests. The Tsuruga Guide website, run by the local tourism association, is multilingual and gives current information. Taxi details are not known, so confirm transport before the call. JR Tsuruga Station has an information centre open daily from 08:00 to 19:00. The Hokuriku Shinkansen ends at Tsuruga, and Tokyo is about 3 hours 8 minutes away on the fastest trains. Limited Express Thunderbird trains take about one hour to Kyoto and 1 hour 20 minutes to Osaka. The Shin-Nihonkai Ferry sails daily to Tomakomai in Hokkaido, a crossing of about 20 hours, and one weekly sailing stops at Niigata and Akita. Its office is at Mariyama 95-4, in the same district as the cruise wharf. Confirm ferry and train timetables before booking. The currency is the yen. Card acceptance, ATMs and mobile coverage are not known, so carry enough yen in notes and coins for bus fares and small purchases.
Accessibility & mobility
The sources do not describe accessibility at the wharf, the shuttles or the Tunnel Onsen. Guests who need step-free transport should ask the cruise line about the shuttle before the day, and check facilities at the onsen directly.