Tsuruga, Coastal city in Fukui Prefecture, Japan
Tsuruga is a coastal city in Fukui Prefecture that stretches between mountains and the Sea of Japan along Wakasa Bay. The city connects residential areas with a harbor, shrines, and parks, while main streets lead toward the train station and the waterfront.
The city grew from an old district of Echizen Province and received official city status in 1937. The harbor opened to international trade in 1899 and became an important arrival point for travelers from overseas.
The name comes from an old word for cranes that once visited the bay, and the downtown streets display bronze figures from well-known animation series. Visitors can explore local shrines where residents pray for safe sea voyages and fishing harvests.
The Hokuriku Shinkansen high-speed line stops at the train station and connects the city to larger Japanese cities since March 2024. Visitors can walk from the station to the harbor or use local buses to reach shrines and museums.
The harbor museum displays documents about refugees who passed through this port to and from Japan in the 20th century. Some of the letters and passports on show come from people who fled Europe via Siberia.
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