Tsuruta is located at the base of Tsugaru Peninsula in Kitatsugaru District of Aomori Prefecture.

Tsuruta has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town legislature of 12 members.

In terms of national politics, the town is part of Aomori 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Schools participating in the program pick an area of focus and develop specialized curricula that expose young kids to the specialty at an early age.

To implement this program in elementary schools, Tsuruta employs CIRs, one from the JET Programme and one from Hood River, Oregon.

The Tsuruta-Hood River sister city relationship is among the most active in Japan, with groups of students and/or adults making a pilgrimage between the two towns several times a year.