BASE TRAVEL TSURUGA

Slow down. Go farther.

Most trips through Japan mean changing hotels every few days. Pack, check out, drag your bag to the station, check in again.

There's another way. Tsuruga sits between Kyoto, Kanazawa and the Sea of Japan, with direct trains in every direction. Keep one base. Go out and come back.

Kehi Jingu, the mountains behind the town, and the road in front of it

Where you can go

All direct from Tsuruga. Journey times and the last train back are on the day trips page.

TSURUGAyour baseFUKUIabout 20 minKANAZAWAunder 1 hrTOYAMAabout 80 minKYOTOabout 55 minOSAKAabout 85 minNAGOYAabout 1 hr 40 minTOKYOabout 3¼ hrs TSURUGAyour baseFUKUIabout 20 minKANAZAWAunder 1 hrTOYAMAabout 80 minKYOTOabout 55 minOSAKAabout 85 minNAGOYAabout 1 hr 40 minTOKYOabout 3¼ hrs

From the airport

Kansai (KIX)HARUKA to Kyoto, about 1½ hrs. Then Thunderbird to Tsuruga, 55 min. One change.
Haneda (HND)Monorail or Keikyu into Tokyo. From Tokyo Station, one train: Kagayaki, about 3¼ hrs.
Narita (NRT)N’EX to Tokyo Station, about 1 hr. From Tokyo Station, one train: Kagayaki, about 3¼ hrs.
Chubu (NGO)Meitetsu to Nagoya. Then Shirasagi to Tsuruga, about 1 hr 40 min. One change.
Komatsu (KMQ)Bus to Komatsu Station, about 12 min. Buses meet arriving flights. Then the Shinkansen to Tsuruga, about 45 min. One change.

A week from one room

One example. You don't have to follow it.

The approach to the shrine after dark
DAY 1

Arrive

Drop your bag.
Find somewhere to eat.
That's the whole day.

A street in Kyoto in the morning
DAY 2

Kyoto

Leave at 07:05, be there by 08:02. The last direct train back leaves at 21:21 — stay for dinner.

07:05 → 08:02  ·  back 21:21
The harbour at Tsuruga, with the mountains behind
DAY 3

Stay in Tsuruga

You don't have to go somewhere every day. Walk down to the harbour and sit for a while. The mountains are right behind the town, and the sea is on the other side.

A tea house street in Kanazawa
DAY 4

Kanazawa

Under an hour north. Walk the old tea house streets, then come back whenever you like.

under 1 hr  ·  back 22:34
The sign at Tokyo Station
DAY 5

Tokyo

Three hours ten minutes, one train, no change.

07:27 → 10:37

COME BACK TONIGHT

20:00 Tokyo

23:16 Tsuruga

OR STAY TWO NIGHTS

Take a small bag.

Your suitcase stays in Tsuruga.

Kehi Jingu on an ordinary afternoon
DAY 6 & 7

Up to you

Go back to a city you liked. Try one you skipped. Or spend the day in Tsuruga.

Tsuruga, lately.

Photos of life in Tsuruga, shared by the people who see it.

Food stalls on a festival day
Sake manjū at the counter
A beach house and a bicycle
A lit doorway after dark
The town and the mountains
Hanging decorations outside a wooden house
Base Travel TsurugaTsuruga itselfDay tripsRail passes

Train times verified September 2026.

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