Location: Tsuruoka
Top Things to do in Tsuruoka
Countries
10 Things to Do in Tsuruoka That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Tsuruoka, Japan including Hagurosan Five-Story Pagoda, Mt. Haguro, Kamo Aquarium, Yudonosan Shrine, Ideha Shrine, Tsuruoka Roman Catholic Church, Chidokan, Midagahara Wetlands, Tsuruoka Park, Yunohama Beach.
Restaurants in Tsuruoka
1. Hagurosan Five-Story Pagoda
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 113 reviews
Reviewed By Andrew1234 - Aomori, Japan
Goju-to pagoda is a fabulous, worthwhile sight! Access is via a well-maintained pathway that winds through a forest of mature sugi (cedar trees). Frog sounds and a gushing waterfall add to the sylvan atmosphere. The handsome five-level pagoda is perfectly sited in the forest. It’s my favorite pagoda of the many I have seen across Japan. I highly recommend Goju-to for its authentic, spiritual mood and setting.
2. Mt. Haguro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 234 reviews
Reviewed By Ettelbruck - Vantaa, Finland
Rainy morning was probably not the best moment to visit here. Dark photos and not that great inner peace due wet clothing. But still, I can sense the greatness of this area. So beautiful - and remember, active and working holy place. So check out where to got and where to shoot photos.
Easy to get there also by car - though by walk it would be probably more interesting and spiritual.
By the parking area some good shopping facilities and we also saw some ceremony - which we unfortunately did not understand. Part of that was six ladies playing taiko-drums and after the ceremony leader even asked my wife to test those drums! Very nice bonus!
3. Kamo Aquarium
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 332 reviews
Reviewed By socalguy93063 - Simi Valley, California
Another spotlessly clean aquarium in Japan! This aquarium specializes in jellyfish, and as you can see from the pictures, there are a couple of enormous tanks of them, bigger than I have ever seen. Bizarrely, the music played over the loudspeakers throughout the aquarium is a music box version of well-known songs, both pop songs and lullabies.
There is also a small outdoor Amphitheatre that has a sea lion show, with a couple of appearances of other marine mammals. This took place despite the cold wind and rain, and the majority of the audience didn't even have anything thicker than a sweater or sweatshirt on! It is a cute show, worth stopping for.
The aquarium has a nice little restaurant when you first walk in that I would have eaten at had I been hungry. You can eat or drink with a killer view of the ocean. You choose your food and pay for it at a machine at the entrance of the restaurant, and then a lady gives you a pager and a ticket with a number. We warmed up with a nice cup of coffee and then toured the aquarium.
I would highly recommend this aquarium if you are in the area.
4. Yudonosan Shrine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 89 reviews
Reviewed By girl_tokyo - toky
Having been to Gassan, Chokkai san and Yudonosan, Yodono san was unquestionably my least preferred. If you are goig for nature it is not especially impressive. It is very much a shrine (as part of Dewa sanzan that is to be expected) but it felt to me a money making venture rather than a holy place of nature. Many Japanese would no doubt feel differently. Hiking from Gassan to Yudono-san would be quite a different experience to my experience of Yudono. Logisitcally I wasn't able to do this kind of hiking, but I expect it would be quite beautiful.
There were many signs up saying no photos.
Better for anthropology rather than nature.
5. Ideha Shrine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 55 reviews
Reviewed By Fernando A - Lisbon, Portugal
We arrived with snow falling heavily. when it stopped the beauty of the landscape really conets you to nature
6. Tsuruoka Roman Catholic Church
Overall Ratings
4 based on 45 reviews
Reviewed By Stephan1954 - The Hague, The Netherlands
One sees a lot of church like structures in Japan, but usually those are wedding venues. This is a real church housed in a simple wooden structure and without the elaborate painted windows or ceilings. The Madonna and child are black which is unusual.
7. Chidokan
Overall Ratings
4 based on 42 reviews
Reviewed By stellastarstruck - Tsuruoka, Japan
The Chidokan is a free museum on the grounds of the old samurai school. It is quite interesting and they have a free pamphlet at the gate in English. They also ask that you sign their visitor book. Some parts of the buildings are quite interesting, others not so much if you can't read Japanese. However, the price is right and there are some interesting artifacts to look at.
8. Midagahara Wetlands
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By SungKY - Singapore, Singapore
We went to Midagahara in June and stayed 1 Night in Midagahara Hotel.So we really got to see the beauty of the snow capped wetlands in the evening and morning. The board walk there allowed us to take in the full beauty.Highly recommended to stay overnight here.
9. Tsuruoka Park
Overall Ratings
4 based on 62 reviews
Reviewed By stellastarstruck - Tsuruoka, Japan
The best time to visit Tsuruoka Park in my opinion is during the Cherry Blossom season. The park takes on a new spirit and the beauty of the old trees, the moat and the old buildings is really special.
The rest of the year, there are still some nice walks through the park, some lights around the holidays and a free museum, plus a couple of other places to look at. Keep an ear open for the musical sculpture that plays a song written by a local composer. It's my favourite thing to visit in the park.
