Tsugaru, Aomori Prefecture, Tōhoku Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Tsugaru (津輕市) is a city located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. The city's name is atypical for a Japanese place, in that it is written in hiragana rather than kanji.

Geography Tsugaru is located on the west coast of Tsugaru Peninsula, facing the Sea of Japan. The Iwaki River flows through the city. Parts of the city are within the borders of Tsugaru Quasi-National Park.

Neighbouring municipalities Aomori Prefecture • Hirosaki • Goshogawara • Ajigasawa • Tsuruta • Nakadomari.

History The area of Tsugaru was part of the holdings of the Tsugaru clan of Hirosaki Domain in the Edo period. After the Meiji restoration, the area was organised into Nishitsugaru District, Aomori. With the post-Meiji restoration establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, the area became part of Nishitsugaru District, Aomori on April 1, 1889. The village of Kizukuri was raised to town status on May 1, 1901. Kizuki expanded by merging with the neighboring villages of Koshimizu, Shibata, Kawayoke, Shussei, Tateoka and part of Narusawa on March 30, 1955.

The city of Tsugaru was established on February 11, 2005, from the merger of the town of Kizukuri, and the villages of Inagaki, Kashiwa, Morita and Shariki (all from Nishitsugaru District).

Government Tsugaru has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 20 members. Tsugaru contributes one member to the Aomori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aomori 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy The economy of Tsugaru is heavily dependent on agriculture and commercial fishing. The city serves as a minor regional commercial center. Agricultural produce includes rice, apples, melons, watermelons, and Brasenia.

Education Tsugaru has seven public elementary schools and five public junior high schools which is operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Aomori Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transport: Rail East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Gonō Line • Kizukuri - Nakata - Mutsu-Morita - Koshimizu

Transport: Road • Tsugaru Expressway • National Route 101

Local Attractions • Takayama Inari Shrine • Kamegaoka Stone Age Site, a National Historic Site • Tagoyano Shell Mound, a National Historic Site • Lake Jūsan.