Tsukubasan Shrine

Tsukubasan Shrine is located on Mt. Tsukuba, one of Japan’s 100 famous mountains. The worship hall is around the mountain’s mid-slope, but from there to the summit—about 370 ares in total—counts as the shrine’s precincts. The sacred objects of worship are Mt. Tsukuba itself: Mt. Nantai (the male deity) and Mt. Nyotai (the female deity). The shrine is said to have over 3,000 years of history, with the mountain revered since people first settled in the region; about 2,000 years ago, the shrine was formally established, and it has attracted worshippers ever since. Each year on April 1 and November 1, the grand festival “”Ozagawari-sai”” is held, and only on those days can visitors cross the prefecture-designated cultural property “”Goshinbashi”” (sacred bridge). The shrine also offers charms such as the “”Tsukubane Mamori”” modeled after a shuttlecock, as well as “”Nantai Mamori”” and “”Nyotai Mamori,”” which make nice souvenirs. Access is about 40 minutes by Tsukuba Mountain Shuttle Bus from Tsukuba Express “”Tsukuba Station.”