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Tsu, Mie

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Tsu is the capital city of Mie Prefecture in Japan.

Tsu City Hall Main Building
Tsu City Hall Main Building

It sits in the east-central part of the Kii Peninsula. To the east, the city meets the waters of Ise Bay on the Pacific Ocean.

A Nagisamachi harbor is seen Mie, JAPAN
A Nagisamachi harbor is seen Mie, JAPAN

To the west, the city borders Nara Prefecture. Tsu is the largest city in Mie Prefecture by total area.

Tsu Castle air
Tsu Castle air

Even though Yokkaichi has more people, Tsu is the most important administrative center. It holds many national government offices and many educational facilities. This makes it the heart of the prefecture's management and learning.

The geography of Tsu is varied and spans a wide region. The city's borders stretch across the width of Mie Prefecture. Some parts of the city fall within the Murō-Akame-Aoyama Quasi-National Park.

Tsu Castle air
Tsu Castle air

The city is surrounded by several other municipalities. To the north are the cities of Kameyama and Suzuka. To the south lies the city of Matsusaka. To the west, the city borders Iga, Nabari, and two villages in Nara called Mitsue and Soni. This location places Tsu in a central spot within the region.

Tsu experiences a humid subtropical climate, known as Köppen Cfa.

Down Town of Tsu City
Down Town of Tsu City

This means the city has warm summers and cool winters. Snowfall is usually light or does not happen at all. The average temperature for the whole year is 15.6 °C. August is typically the hottest month, with an average temperature of 26.7 °C. January is the coolest, averaging about 5.0 °C. Rainfall is quite heavy throughout the year, totaling 1931 mm on average. Precipitation is heaviest between May and September, with September being the wettest month.

The history of Tsu shows how it has changed over many centuries. It began as a port town during the Nara and Heian periods. However, a tsunami caused by the Meiō Nankaidō earthquake in 1498 destroyed the port.

Tsu Castle air
Tsu Castle air

Later, the Tōdō clan rebuilt the area as a castle town and a post station. This happened during the Edo period under the Tokugawa shogunate. Travelers often stopped in Tsu on their way to the Ise Grand Shrine. In 1871, following the Meiji Restoration, Tsu became the capital of Mie Prefecture. The city grew significantly by annexing many surrounding villages between 1909 and 1973.

Down Town of Tsu City
Down Town of Tsu City

During World War II, Allied air raids in July 1945 destroyed most of the city and killed 1,239 people.

Today, Tsu is a major center for people and business. The city has an estimated population of 274,879 people living in 127,273 households.

Tsu Station Kintetsu and UST-TSU
Tsu Station Kintetsu and UST-TSU

The population density is 390 persons per square kilometer. Tsu is the second largest city in the prefecture by population. It is also home to many important companies. For example, Hyakugo Bank and the cable television operator ZTV are headquartered here.

HYAKUGO BANK
HYAKUGO BANK

The city also serves as a major hub for higher education. It hosts Mie University, which is the only national university in the prefecture. Other schools include Mie Prefectural College of Nursing and Takada Junior College.

Transportation in Tsu is very well-connected to other parts of Japan.

Tsu Station Kintetsu and UST-TSU
Tsu Station Kintetsu and UST-TSU

The city features several important railway lines. These include the JR Tōkai Kisei Main Line and the Meishō Line.

KintetsuLogo
KintetsuLogo

The Kintetsu Railway also operates the Nagoya and Osaka lines through the area. For those traveling by car, the Ise Expressway is a major route.

Hisai Interchange
Hisai Interchange

The city also maintains the Port of Tsu-Matsusaka for maritime needs.

A Nagisamachi harbor is seen Mie, JAPAN
A Nagisamachi harbor is seen Mie, JAPAN

This variety of transport helps the city function as a busy regional center.

There are many cultural and recreational things to see in Tsu. The city is famous for the Tōjin Odori festival. This event commemorates the arrival of the Joseon Tongsinsa delegation from Korea.

Tsu Castle air
Tsu Castle air

Visitors can also explore the ruins of Tsu Castle, which are now a downtown city park. Local Shinto culture is represented by the Kitabatake and Yūki shrines. Sports are also popular, with local interest in baseball and volleyball. The city's mix of history, government, and modern industry makes it a unique part of Mie Prefecture.

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🖼️ Images & Media (11)
File:Tsu City Hall Main Building.jpg
Tsu City Hall Main Building.jpg
File:Down Town of Tsu City.jpg
Down Town of Tsu City.jpg
File:Mie prefectural road No.19 start.jpg
Mie prefectural road No.19 start.jpg
File:Tsu Castle air.jpg
Tsu Castle air.jpg
File:HYAKUGO_BANK.jpg
HYAKUGO_BANK.jpg
File:Tsu Station Kintetsu and UST-TSU.jpg
Tsu Station Kintetsu and UST-TSU.jpg
File:Hisai Interchange.JPG
Hisai Interchange.JPG
File:A Nagisamachi harbor is seen Mie, JAPAN.jpg
A Nagisamachi harbor is seen Mie, JAPAN.jpg
File:JR logo (central).svg
JR logo (central).svg
File:KintetsuLogo.svg
KintetsuLogo.svg
File:JP Expressway E23.svg
JP Expressway E23.svg
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