Tsukubasan

Mt. Tsukuba consists of two peaks of nearly the same height: Mt. Nantai (871 m) and Mt. Nyotai (877 m). On the mountainside is Tsukubasan Shrine, which enshrines Tsukuba-o-no-kami (Izanagi) and Tsukuba-me-no-kami (Izanami) and is widely worshipped for blessings related to matchmaking and marital harmony. Because the area was protected as sacred land for a long time, more than 1,000 kinds of plants grow here, including rare species such as Hoshizaki-yukinoshita (selected as the flower of Tsukuba City), making the natural environment especially rich. Mt. Tsukuba is included among Japan’s 100 famous mountains, but because it is relatively low in elevation it is approachable for casual hiking. A cable car can be used toward the Nantai side and a ropeway toward the Nyotai side, which also makes it accessible for beginners. Near the stations are restaurants where you can try local dishes such as Tsukuba chicken oyakodon and Tsukuba udon. Access is about 40 minutes on the direct “”Tsukuba Mountain Shuttle Bus”” from Tsukuba Express “”Tsukuba Station.”