Step out of Tsu Station's east exit and the UST Tsu tower block rises directly ahead, with the city's tourist offices on its ground and second floors. That is where you pick up maps and restaurant suggestions before deciding how to spend your time in this Mie Prefecture city.
Tsu suits travellers who prefer working shrines, local museums and a castle ruin they can walk through at their own pace over heavily packaged sightseeing. The stops below cluster around the station and the Sakakibara Onsen area, so you can string several together in a single day.
1. Tsu Castle
The original castle was built by Oda Nobunaga's son, Nobukane, and was completely destroyed in battle. The current layout comes from Todo Takatora, whose statue stands in the centre of the ruins. The second castle was torn down, but the moat and some walls remain, and one of the turrets has been reconstructed.
Entry is free, which makes it an easy stop to fold into a walk through the city centre. Combine it with Tsu Kannon, which is nearby.
2. Tsu Kannon
A temple in the city that pairs naturally with the castle ruins. Visit the two together on foot rather than treating them as separate outings.
3. MieMu
Opened in 2014 as the new Mie Prefectural Museum, MieMu holds exhibits of objects uncovered within the prefecture and historic objects from the area, with information about how Mie has changed over the years as well as local flora and fauna. It is at 3060 Isshinden-Kouzubeta, reachable at +81 59-228-2283.
Admission is ¥510. Allow enough time for the exhibits rather than dropping in for a few minutes.
4. Yuki Shrine
This shrine is one of the most famous places to enjoy plum blossoms in late February to mid-March. Time your visit to that window if blossoms are what you are after.
5. Mie Prefectural Art Museum
The art museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 09:30 to 17:00. Check the day of your visit against those hours before setting out.
6. Sekisui Museum
The Sekisui Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 17:00, with admission of ¥500. Its hours differ slightly from the art museum's, so plan the two as separate slots rather than back to back.
7. Yuno-sho
Part of Sakakibara Onsen, which Kiyosaku Nada considered to be one of the nation's top three onsen, Yuno-sho is where day visitors can come to enjoy the waters of Sakakibara Onsen. It has indoor springs as well as an outdoor rotemburo.
Admission is ¥1000. It makes a good end to a day of walking, and the Sakakibara Onsen area is also where you will find the next two stops.
8. Japon Louvre Sculpture Museum
This museum features replicas of famous sculptures from the Louvre. It sits just outside SakakibaraOnsenguchi Station and is open 9:30 to 17:00, with admission of ¥1500.
Pair it with Daikanon-ji, which is a short walk past it.
9. Daikanon-ji
The temple is named after its large statue of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. Located just past the Louvre Museum, it feels like one of the museum's outdoor sculptures.
Open 9:30 to 17:00. Visit it directly after the sculpture museum while you are already in the area.
10. Dr. Hidesaburō Ueno and Hachikō Statue
Hisai was the birthplace of Hidesaburō Ueno, a professor at Tokyo University later known for his loyal dog Hachiko. After Ueno died suddenly while teaching, for almost ten years Hachiko continued to walk to the train station every afternoon and wait for the professor to come home from work.
The statue stands outside Hisai Station's east exit, in Midori no Kaze Park, and commemorates Ueno's birthplace and the bond he shared with his companion. It is an easy stop if your route passes through Hisai Station.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the tourist offices in the UST Tsu building next to Tsu Station for maps and ideas, then walk to Tsu Castle and Tsu Kannon. Both are central and free to enter, so you can cover them without watching the clock.
Afternoon: Move on to MieMu for the prefectural exhibits, then choose one of the museums depending on the day: Mie Prefectural Art Museum or Sekisui Museum, both of which open Tuesday to Sunday. If you are travelling in late February to mid-March, swap one of them for Yuki Shrine and its plum blossoms.
Evening: Head to Sakakibara Onsen and finish at Yuno-sho, where day visitors can use the indoor springs and the outdoor rotemburo. If you have time before your soak, the Japon Louvre Sculpture Museum and Daikanon-ji are both in the same area and open until 17:00.
Where can I get maps and local information in Tsu?
The tourist offices for both Tsu City and Mie Prefecture are in the UST Tsu building next to Tsu Station, on the ground and second floors respectively. The Tsu City tourist office has maps, ideas of things to do and information on restaurants in the area.
When is the best time to see plum blossoms at Yuki Shrine?
Late February to mid-March. The shrine is one of the most famous places to enjoy plum blossoms during that period.
Can I visit Sakakibara Onsen without staying overnight?
Yes. Yuno-sho is a place where day visitors can come to enjoy the waters of Sakakibara Onsen, with indoor springs and an outdoor rotemburo.
Which sights are close to each other?
Tsu Castle and Tsu Kannon are central and pair well together. In the Sakakibara Onsen area, the Japon Louvre Sculpture Museum sits just outside SakakibaraOnsenguchi Station, and Daikanon-ji is just past the museum. The Dr. Hidesaburō Ueno and Hachikō Statue is outside Hisai Station's east exit.
Pick your dates around the plum blossom window or a free afternoon, and start mapping these stops into a route from Tsu Station.