Orienting Yourself in Tsu
Tsu is a city in Mie Prefecture, and for a visitor the single most useful fact is that it is split from north to south by Route 23, a highway that runs down the west coast of Ise Bay from Nagoya. Because of this, it is fairly easy to orientate yourself relative to the road. Tsu railway station sits just off Route 23 towards the centre of town, and Edobashi station is also just off the highway.
Arriving by Train
Tsu is on the Kintetsu Nagoya Line, which runs between Yokkaichi and Ise and starts at Nagoya. The main station, Tsu (津駅), serves both Kintetsu and JR trains, so it is the natural arrival point for most visitors.
There are two other Kintetsu stations in the city that matter to travellers. In the north is the smaller Kintetsu Edobashi Station (江戸橋駅), where most students get off for the university. In the south is Kintetsu Tsu-Shinmachi Station (津新町駅). Travellers can alight at any of the three stations for the same fare. There are also other JR local line stations around the city.
On fares and tickets: a basic ticket between Nagoya and Tsu is inexpensive on the Kintetsu line. Note that "limited express" trains cost extra and only stop at Tsu, so if you want the flexibility of the other stations, stick to ordinary services.
Tsu is also on a direct line to Osaka. If you are coming from Kyoto, take the Kintetsu line and change at Yamato-Yagi. The alternative route using the Shinkansen to Nagoya is almost as long but twice the price, so the Kintetsu option is the practical choice.
Getting Around by Bus
Buses run from outside Tsu station all over the city, and they are the main way to reach parts of town away from the railway. A few practical points make them much easier to use:
- Routes are written in Romanised Japanese on the front of the bus, so you can check the destination before boarding.
- Stops are signposted only in Japanese, so it helps to know the name of your stop in Japanese or to ask at your accommodation.
- At Tsu Station, passengers alight at one stop and board at another. The stop opposite the local police station and the branch of McDonald's by Tsu Station serves several buses heading along Route 23 in the direction of Mie University (三重大学 Mie Daigaku) and the University Hospital (大学病院 Daigaku Byouin).
Paying is straightforward once you know the system. Board a bus via the centre door and take a ticket. Look up its number on the board at the front of the bus to find the fare you should pay. On exit, deposit the exact money in the box next to the driver. You can change thousand-yen notes in a little machine, so carrying a thousand-yen note is useful if you do not have coins.
Taxis
Taxis are available in the city, and they also queue at the airport ferry port, which makes them a convenient fallback if you arrive by boat and the bus does not suit your timing.
Walking
The layout of Tsu works in a walker's favour: because Route 23 runs straight down the city from north to south, you can use it as a spine to keep your bearings. Tsu railway station is just off Route 23 towards the centre of town, and Edobashi station is likewise just off the highway, so the central area around the station is manageable on foot. For destinations further out, such as the university and hospital area, the bus is the better option.
Getting In from the Airport
Chubu Airport is connected to Tsu by a ferry service. The crossing takes about 40 minutes. From the port there is a direct bus to Tsu station, costing ¥200, and taxis also queue at the port.
The Tsu Airport Line ferries connect directly from the city to Chubu Centrair International Airport. The one-way crossing takes roughly 40 to 50 minutes and costs ¥3000. This ferry-plus-bus combination is the practical route between the airport and the city, with the bus leg being by far the cheaper part of the journey.