Tsurugi is a town built around the Kinkengu Shrine, one of the four main shrines of Hakusan. The town is full of various things to see and do, with many traditional crafts and practices remaining. Cafes, restaurants, sake breweries and various shops line the streets. The local train station, Tsurugi Station, provides easy access from Kanazawa. Visitors can stroll around the town freely, or rent a bicycle from the Hakusan City Tourism League near the station.

During the Middle Ages the name of the town, Tsurugi, used to be written with characters which mean ‘sword’. However, due to the high number of fires during the Edo Period, the characters were changed to the current, which mean ‘coming cranes’ due to the auspicious nature of the birds, in hopes of bringing luck to the town. From then, a lodging station was built along the route into town, and a thriving sake and soy sauce brewing industry was developed utilizing the rich underground water source.

Tsurugi sake falls under the ‘Kaga Kikusake’ label. During the town’s peak it is said that there were 14 breweries, however now only two breweries remain which have preserved the traditional taste: Kikuhime Brewery, and Manzairaku Sake. Sake tasting is available throughout the year.