Tsu

Tsu (津) is the capital of Mie prefecture, Japan, and home to about 290,000 people.

Tsu is often claimed to be the world's shortest pronounceable city name . The vowel is similar to the one in the English word 'too', but is shorter, has less lip rounding, and is typically voiceless; it is perceptible, but sounds 'whispered'. Also, as English speakers may find the [t] hard to hear, the name sounds rather like 'Sue'. Pronouncing the [t], however, is essential in conveying the meaning.

In Japanese, the city name is usually written either using the character 津, or with つ, a 'hiragana' symbol which indicates the syllable [tsɯ]. Tsu is the only Japanese city name which consists of a single kana, making it the shortest name for a place of any size in Japan.

The tourist offices for both Tsu City and Mie Prefecture are in the UST Tsu building next to Tsu Station (the tall tower block) on the ground and second floors, respectively. The Tsu City tourist office has a variety of maps, ideas of things to do and information on restaurants in the area.

• MieMu, 3060 Isshinden-Kouzubeta, +81 59-228-2283. The MieMu was opened in 2014 as the new Mie Prefectural Museum. It contains 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 information about local flora and fauna. ¥510.
• 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 and there is a statue of him in the center of the ruins. Although the second castle was torn down, the moat and some walls remain and one of the turrets has been reconstructed. Free.
• Tsu Kannon.
• Sekisui Museum. Tu-Su 10:00-17:00. ¥500.
• Yuki Shrine. The shrine is one of the most famous places to enjoy plum blossoms in late February-mid-March.
• Mie Prefectural Art Museum. Tu-Su 09:30-17:00.
• Japon Louvre Sculpture Museum. 9:30-17:00. A museum featuring replicas of famous sculptures from the Louvre. ¥1500.
• Daikanon-ji. 9:30-17:00. It's 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.
• 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. This statue just outside the station commemorates Ueno's birthplace and the bond he shared with his loyal companion.

MieMu, 3060 Isshinden-Kouzubeta, +81 59-228-2283. The MieMu was opened in 2014 as the new Mie Prefectural Museum. It contains 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 information about local flora and fauna. ¥510.

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 and there is a statue of him in the center of the ruins. Although the second castle was torn down, the moat and some walls remain and one of the turrets has been reconstructed. Free.

Tsu Kannon.

Sekisui Museum. Tu-Su 10:00-17:00. ¥500.

Yuki Shrine. The shrine is one of the most famous places to enjoy plum blossoms in late February-mid-March.

Mie Prefectural Art Museum. Tu-Su 09:30-17:00.

Japon Louvre Sculpture Museum. 9:30-17:00. A museum featuring replicas of famous sculptures from the Louvre. ¥1500.

Daikanon-ji. 9:30-17:00. It's 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.

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. This statue just outside the station commemorates Ueno's birthplace and the bond he shared with his loyal companion.

• Yuno-sho. Part of Sakakibara Onsen (榊原温泉), which Kiyosaku Nada considered to be one of the nation's top 3 onsen, Yunosho is a place where day visitors can come to enjoy the waters of Sakakibara Onsen. They have indoor springs as well as an outdoor rotemburo. ¥1000.

Yuno-sho. Part of Sakakibara Onsen (榊原温泉), which Kiyosaku Nada considered to be one of the nation's top 3 onsen, Yunosho is a place where day visitors can come to enjoy the waters of Sakakibara Onsen. They have indoor springs as well as an outdoor rotemburo. ¥1000.

Tsu is known for its excellent unagi (eel) restaurants. Tsu Gyoza are also unique to the city. In contrast to ordinary gyoza served in other cities, the Tsu Gyoza is much larger at 15 cm long. Fillings can include Matsusaka Beef or more exciting fillings, such as the Italian style and chocolate banana. Restaurants all over the city which serve Tsu Gyoza are listed on a special Tsu Gyoza map published by the city's tourist office.

• Itaro. A ramen restaurant that serves the city's famous Tsu Gyoza.
• Hashiya. A restaurant serving the city's famous unagi (eel).
• Tower-Z. A pizza restaurant with live music performances.

Itaro. A ramen restaurant that serves the city's famous Tsu Gyoza.

Hashiya. A restaurant serving the city's famous unagi (eel).

Tower-Z. A pizza restaurant with live music performances.

• Bar Rosso. This small bar is open from 20:00 and is run by two medical students from Mie University. The bar is more Western in style than other izakaya-style affairs in the area, with a counter and dimly lit by candles, but it is friendly and as such is popular not only with businessmen but with younger people and students. Drinks include a large list of cocktails, whiskeys, ume-shu, sake and more. The bar is also the venue for a community restaurant at lunchtime cooked by local amateur chefs on a rotating schedule. The menu is posted outside each day and as lunches are limited to the first twenty customers, more popular menus can be sold out quickly. Drinks ¥500 and up, lunch set ¥850.

Bar Rosso. This small bar is open from 20:00 and is run by two medical students from Mie University. The bar is more Western in style than other izakaya-style affairs in the area, with a counter and dimly lit by candles, but it is friendly and as such is popular not only with businessmen but with younger people and students. Drinks include a large list of cocktails, whiskeys, ume-shu, sake and more. The bar is also the venue for a community restaurant at lunchtime cooked by local amateur chefs on a rotating schedule. The menu is posted outside each day and as lunches are limited to the first twenty customers, more popular menus can be sold out quickly. Drinks ¥500 and up, lunch set ¥850.

With Tsu as a base, you can easily access most of Mie Prefecture.

• Ise
• Iga
• Matsusaka
• Nabari
• Kameyama
• Suzuka
• Yokkaichi
• Uda
• Nagoya