Townapedia
Babacho, Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture 997-0035, Japan - panoramio (2)
Babacho, Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture 997-0035, Japan - panoramio (2) · kiwa dokokano, CC BY-SA 3.0
Taihō-kan (Tsuruoka)
Taihō-kan (Tsuruoka) · 掬茶, CC BY-SA 4.0
Yamagata prefectural Tsuruoka Technical High School
Yamagata prefectural Tsuruoka Technical High School · 掬茶, CC BY-SA 4.0
Tsuruoka Town Campus 202404b
Tsuruoka Town Campus 202404b · 掬茶, CC BY-SA 4.0
Babacho, Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture 997-0035, Japan - panoramio (6)
Babacho, Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture 997-0035, Japan - panoramio (6) · kiwa dokokano, CC BY-SA 3.0
Babacho, Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture 997-0035, Japan - panoramio (3)
Babacho, Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture 997-0035, Japan - panoramio (3) · kiwa dokokano, CC BY-SA 3.0

Tsuruoka, Japan

鶴岡市

Tsuruoka is a town of 125,389 people in Yamagata, Japan, founded in April 1, 1889.

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Population125,389 GeoNames
Local name鶴岡市
RegionYamagata
Elevation13 m 43 ft
FoundedApril 1, 1889
Time zoneAsia/Tokyo
Land area1,311.5 km²
Nearest airportShonai Airport (SYO) 11 km

Why visit Tsuruoka

Townapedia lists 45 museums and landmarks, 59 parks and trails, 228 places to eat, 10 places to stay and 6 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Kamo Aquarium, Tsuruoka National College of Technology, Shogin TACT Tsuruoka and Chido Museum.

About Tsuruoka

Tsuruoka (鶴岡市, Tsuruoka-shi) is a city in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 January 2020, the city had an estimated population of 125,389 in 49,024 households, and a population density of 95.74 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 1,311.53 square kilometres (506.38 square miles). Tsuruoka is the biggest city in Tōhoku region in terms of land area.

From the Wikipedia article Tsuruoka (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Travel tips from other travellers: Tsuruoka on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Things to do6

Kamo Aquarium

Zoo and aquarium · 9.5 km

Zoo in Yamagata, Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Tsuruoka National College of Technology

School · 2.5 km

Japanese college

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

鶴岡市民劇場

Cinema and theater

37, 鶴岡市

Open in Google Maps

こもれびの滝

Waterfall · 0.8 km

Open in Google Maps

史跡旧致道館

Scenic view · 0.7 km

Open in Google Maps

Museums and landmarks45

Shogin TACT Tsuruoka

Museum · 0.6 km

61, 鶴岡市

Mo-Su 09:00-19:00

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia · +81 235 24 5188

大宝館

Museum · 0.7 km

馬場町4‐7, 鶴岡市

09:00-16:30

Open in Google Maps · +81 235 24 3266

Chidō Museum

Museum · 0.7 km

Open-air museum, Folk museum in Kachushin-machi Tsuruoka Yamagata Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Former Kazama Residence "Heishindō"

Monument and historic site · 1.0 km

09:30-16:00

Open in Google Maps · +81 235 22 0015

庄内藩校 致道館

Monument and historic site · 0.7 km

45, 鶴岡市

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia · +81 235 23 4672

鶴岡市立藤沢周平記念館

Museum · 0.7 km

6, 鶴岡市

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia · +81 235 29 1880

アマゾン資料館

Museum · 0.6 km

11, 鶴岡市

Open in Google Maps · +81 235 22 7969

本丸 渡櫓跡

Monument and historic site · 0.7 km

Open in Google Maps

鶴岡護國神社

Monument and historic site · 0.7 km

Open in Google Maps

「雪の降る町を」 モニュメント

Monument and historic site · 0.8 km

Open in Google Maps

33 more on the map.

Parks, trails and playgrounds59

Tsuruoka Dream Stadium

Sports field and stadium · 0.9 km

1, 鶴岡市

08:30-21:30

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia · +81 235 25 8133

Komagihara Park

Park · 1.0 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Komakihara Athletics Stadium

Sports field and stadium · 1.1 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Tsuruoka Park

Park · 0.8 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

おんがわら公園

Park · 1.5 km

27, 鶴岡市

Open in Google Maps

城南町公園

Park · 1.6 km

13, 鶴岡市

Open in Google Maps

日吉町公園

Park · 1.8 km

38, 鶴岡市

Open in Google Maps

杉の子公園

Park · 1.7 km

5, 鶴岡市

Open in Google Maps

鶴岡市中央児童遊園

Park · 1.4 km

1, 鶴岡市

Open in Google Maps

Butai Park

Park · 1.1 km

Open in Google Maps

Choja-machi West Park

Park · 1.0 km

Open in Google Maps

Fujiwara Park

Park · 1.5 km

Open in Google Maps

47 more on the map.

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Restaurants and cafes228

Chiba Sushi

Restaurant · Sushi · 1.6 km

47, 鶴岡市

Mo-Su 11:30-14:00, 16:30-21:30

Open in Google Maps · +81 235 23 5637

Komeda Coffee Shop

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.1 km

37, 鶴岡市

Sa-Su 07:00 - 23:00

Open in Google Maps · +81 235 26 0678

Kurumaya Ramen

Restaurant · Noodle · 0.8 km

29, 鶴岡市

11:00-02:00

Open in Google Maps · +81 235 24 9646

Sanno Yume Shokudo

Restaurant · Japanese · 1.6 km

14, 鶴岡市

Mo-Su 11:00-15:00, 17:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +81 235 33 8447

Stand Cuisine Minaguchi

Restaurant · Japanese · 1.5 km

10, 鶴岡市

Mo-Su 11:00-14:00, 17:00-22:00; Su[2,3] off; Mo[1,-1,5] off

Open in Google Maps · +81 235 23 3791

Starbucks

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.7 km

30, 鶴岡市

Mo-Su 07:00-23:00

Open in Google Maps · +81 235 29 9755

Suzushiro

Restaurant · Japanese · 1.5 km

1, 鶴岡市

Mo-Su 11:30-23:00; We off

Open in Google Maps · +81 235 25 0857

Bardet

Bar and pub · 0.8 km

16, 鶴岡市

Su-Tu 11:30-14:00,17:00-24:00; We off; Th-Sa 11:30-14:00,17:00-24:00

Open in Google Maps · +81 235 64 8487

Boulangerie DAIGO

Bakery · 1.6 km

14, 鶴岡市

Mo-Tu 09:00-17:00; Fr-Su 09:00-17:00

Open in Google Maps · +81 235 26 0800

Gusto

Restaurant · Western, Japanese · 1.8 km

07:00-27:00

Open in Google Maps · +81 235 28 2544

HOUSE Kiyokawaya

Cafe · 0.8 km

13, 鶴岡市

Mo-Su 10:00-20:00

Open in Google Maps · +81 235 64 1182

Kujiraya

Bar and pub · 0.8 km

16, 鶴岡市

Su-Th 17:30-02:00, Fr-Sa 17:30-03:00

Open in Google Maps · +81 235 64 1937

216 more on the map.

History

The area of present-day Tsuruoka was part of ancient Dewa Province. In the Edo period, it served as the capital of the Shōnai Domain. It was a minor port for the kitamaebune coastal trade.

After the start of the Meiji period, the area organized as Tsuruoka Town under Nishitagawa District, Yamagata Prefecture in 1878. It was elevated to city status on October 1, 1924, becoming Japan's 100th city. In 1955, the city expanded by annexing the town of Kamo and nine neighboring villages. The town of Oyama was annexed by Tsuruoka in 1963.

On October 1, 2005, the towns of Fujishima, Haguro and Kushibiki, and the village of Asahi (all from Higashitagawa District), and the town of Atsumi (from Nishitagawa District) were merged into Tsuruoka.

From the History section of Tsuruoka on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay10

Churches and places of worship65

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Shopping52

Gas and EV charging13

Schools, colleges and libraries17

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Healthcare80

Map of Tsuruoka

250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Shonai Airport (SYO) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 11 km away.

  • Sukekawa 5 km northeast, about 5 min by car
  • Shonai 16 km northeast, about 16 min by car
  • Sakata 22 km north, about 22 min by car
  • Furukuchi 28 km east, about 28 min by car
  • Yuza 34 km north, about 34 min by car
  • Sado 36 km east, about 36 min by car
  • Shimizu 35 km east, about 35 min by car
  • Mizusawa 40 km southeast, about 40 min by car
  • Shinjō 42 km east, about 42 min by car
  • Kuriyazawa 42 km northeast, about 42 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 4, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.