Tsu is a city in Mie Prefecture, and for a visitor it functions above all as a transport hub: the railway station anchors the centre, and the surrounding streets hold the practical infrastructure you need for a stay — places to sleep, eat and set out from.
For booking purposes, the useful way to think about Tsu is in terms of its station area. The sources describe accommodation clustered around JR Tsu train station, with the station itself sitting beneath the city's tallest building. This guide covers the areas worth considering as a base, what each suits, and how the options differ by budget.
Best areas to stay in Tsu
1. Around JR Tsu train station
This is the practical heart of a visit to Tsu. The sources describe various business hotels around the JR Tsu train station, making it the natural base for a short stay. It suits first-time visitors and anyone arriving or leaving by rail, since the station and its bus stops are on the doorstep.
Within this area you find two broad kinds of place to stay: budget-oriented business hotels and slightly more expensive hotels with better views and facilities. One practical point from the sources is that the station area puts you directly above the city and prefectural tourist offices, which is useful for orientation on arrival.
2. The UST Tsu building, at the station
The tallest building in Tsu, UST Tsu, sits practically on top of Tsu Station, and the sources describe accommodation within it. This suits visitors who want to be as close to the station as possible and who value views: on a clear day you can see for miles, including across the bay to Aichi Prefecture and along the Mie coastline towards Yokkaichi and Ise.
Expect comfortable rooms and a breakfast buffet served on the first floor. The same building houses the city and prefectural tourist offices, and the breakfast room also serves an all-you-can-eat buffet at lunchtimes and afternoon tea from 15:00. This is the more expensive end of the station-area choice, and it is next to both the station and the bus stops.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: Business hotels around JR Tsu train station, including options offering short pre-set stay periods at lower rates.
- Mid-range: Other business hotels in the same station area, priced above the cheapest short-stay deals but still convenient to the station.
- Splurge: The more expensive hotels in the station area, such as those in the UST Tsu building, where you pay more for height, views, comfortable rooms and a breakfast buffet.
Best area for a first visit
Stay around JR Tsu train station. It is where the accommodation is concentrated, it puts you next to the station and bus stops, and it places the city and prefectural tourist offices within the same complex. For a first visit, that combination of transport, orientation and choice of places to sleep is hard to beat.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the hotels in Tsu located?
The sources describe various business hotels around the JR Tsu train station, with at least one hotel located practically on top of the station in the UST Tsu building.
What can I expect from a budget stay in Tsu?
Budget-oriented business hotels around the station offer short pre-set stay periods at reduced rates, which can suit travellers watching their spending.
Is it worth paying more for a hotel in Tsu?
The more expensive hotels near the station offer advantages such as comfortable rooms, a breakfast buffet and, in the case of the UST Tsu building, views that on a clear day stretch across the bay to Aichi Prefecture and along the Mie coastline.
What is near the station-area hotels?
The station itself, bus stops, and the city and prefectural tourist offices, which are located in the same building as one of the hotels.
Compare live prices for the areas above with the booking tools on this page.