Tsuruoka, Yamagata

Infobox City Japan
Name= Tsuruoka
JapaneseName= 鶴岡市
Map

Region=Tōhoku
Prefecture=Yamagata
District=
Area_km2=1311.51
PopDate=May 2008
Population=139,148
Density_km2=106
Coords=
LatitudeDegrees= 38
LatitudeMinutes= 43
LatitudeSeconds=
LongtitudeDegrees= 139
LongtitudeMinutes= 49
LongtitudeSeconds=
Tree=Japanese Beech
Flower=Sakura
Bird=
Symbol
!border
SymbolDescription= Flag
Mayor= Yōichi Tomizuka
CityHallPostalCode=997-8601
CityHallAddress=9-25, Babachō, Tsuruoka-shi, Yamagata-ken
CityHallPhone= 0235-25-2111
CityHallLink= [http://www.city.tsuruoka.lg.jp/ Tsuruoka City]

nihongo|Tsuruoka|鶴岡市|-shi is a city located in the Shonai region of Yamagata, Japan.

Tsuruoka is the second largest city in Yamagata Prefecture after Yamagata City. After the neighboring towns of Atsumi, Asahi, Kushibiki and Haguro merged into Tsuruoka in October 2005, the city's total area came to 1,311.51 km².

The city is located on the coast of Yamagata Prefecture bordering the Sea of Japan and has some locally popular beaches such as Yunohama (湯の浜) and Sanze(三瀬).

History

The city was founded on October 1, 1924 becoming Japan's 100th city.

Economy

Demographics

Health

* Tsuruoka Shonai Hospital
* Tsuruoka Kyoritsu Hospital
* Yutagawa Onsen Rehabilitation Medical Center

Education

University
* Yamagata University, Faculty of Agriculture
* Keio University, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (Tsuruoka Town Campus)
* Tohoku University of Community Service and Science (Tsuruoka Campus)
* Tsuruoka National College of Technology

High School

Culture

Food

Tsuruoka is famous around Japan for 'dadacha-mame' which have been called 'the king of edamame'.

Transportation

Airports

* Shōnai Airport

Train stations

* JR East
**Uetsu Main Line: Nezugaseki - Koiwagawa - Atsumi Onsen - Iragawa - Kobato - Sanze - Uzen-Mizusawa - Uzen-Ōyama - Tsuruoka - Fujishima

Major roads

* Yamagata Expressway: Yudonosan, Shōnai Asahi, Tsuruoka interchanges
* Route 7, Route 112, Route 345

Bus

Tourism

* Experience Yamabushi Training at Ideha Culture Museum (いでは文化記念館, "Ideha Bunka Kinenkan")
* Mt. Haguro (羽黒山, "Haguro-san")
* Five-Story Pagoda (五重塔, "Gojuto")
* Zenpo Temple (善宝寺,"Zenpo Ji")
* Chido Museum (致道博物館,"Chido Hakubutsu-kan")
* Shonai Shrine (荘内神社,"Shonai Jinjya")
* Yutagawa Hot Spring (湯田川温泉,"Yutagawa Onsen")
* Yunohama Hot Spring (湯の浜温泉, "Yunohama Onsen")
* Dewa-no-Yuki Shuzo Museum (出羽ノ雪酒造資料館, "Dewa-no-Yuki Syuzo Shiryo-kan")
* Tsuruoka Art Forum
* Dewa Shonai Kokusai Mura International Forum and the impressive Amazon Folk Museum
* Experience Bungee jumping at Gassan Asahi Museum (now closed due to liability reasons) (月山あさひ博物村, "Gassan Asahi Hakubutsu Mura")
* Tsuruoka Kamo Aquarium
* Spall Swimming Pool

Events

* Saitansai (New Year Celemony) in Mt. Haguro Shrine - January 1
* Ogisai Kurokawa Noh (Noh Festival) in Kushibiki - February 1st to 2nd
* Oyama Sake Festival - Middle of February
* Mt. Yudono Ski Festival in Mt. Yudono - From middle to late February
* Tsuruoka Hinamatsuri in Shonai Temple and Chido Museum - March
* Tsuruoka Sakura Festival in Tsuruoka Park - From middle to late April
* Tulip Festival in Ikoi Village Shonai - From late April to Early May
* Amazon Kid Festival in Gassan Asahi Village - May 3rd to 5th
* Ceremony for Women and Children in Mt. Haguro Shrine - May 5th
* Kinensai (Prayer service for a good crop) in Mt. Haguro Shrine - May 8th
* International Nordic Walk in Yunohama - Middle of May
* Tenjin Festival (Monster Festival) - May 25th
* Oyama Dog Festival - June 5th
* Yutagawa Hot Spring Hotaru Matsuri (Firefly Festival) - June 15th to August 10th
* Flower Festival in Mt. Haguro - July 15th
* Gassan Shrine Festival in Mt. Gassan - July 15th
* International Bungee jumping in Gassan Asahi Village - Middle of July
* Edamame Shop Open in Shirayama - Late July to Late August
* Akagawa Fireworks Festival - Middle of August
* Oku no Hosomichi National Haiku Competition at Ideha Bunka Kinenkan - Middle of September
* Experience:Yamabushi Training at Ideha Bunka Kinenkan - Middle of September
* Miss Shonai Contest - Late October
* Shonai Hyakuman-goku Festival - Early November

Media

TV

* NHK Tsuruoka Broadcast Station

Newspaper

* Shonai Nippo

External links

* [http://www.city.tsuruoka.lg.jp/ Tsuruoka official website] in Japanese
* [http://www.shonai-nippo.co.jp/ Shonnai Nippo (Online Newspaper)] in Japanese
* [http://www.tr.yamagata-u.ac.jp/english/outline.html Yamagata University, Faculty of Agriculture]
* [http://www.iab.keio.ac.jp/ Keio University, Institute of Advanced Biosciences]
* [http://www.dewakoku.or.jp/home/ Dewa Shonai International Forum]
* [http://www.yamagatakanko.com/english/kokusai/trans.html Transportation]