Mount Tsukuba is one of the Kanto region's most recognizable peaks for its twin summits, and unlike many mountains of similar height it's accessible by cable car and ropeway, which makes it approachable for visitors who don't want a serious hike. Tsukubasan Jinja sits at the base and is the starting point whether you go up on foot or by cable car, and the payoff at the top is a wide view over the flat Kanto plain, which makes the mountain look taller than its actual elevation suggests.
| Distance | 45 km from Mito |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 70 min from Mito (JR + bus) |
| Getting there | JR Joban Line to Tsuchiura Station, then Kanto Tetsudo bus to Tsukubasan Jinja (45 min total, ~1,500 JPY); or TX from Akihabara (Tokyo) to Tsukuba then local bus |
| Address | Tsukubasan Jinja, 1 Tsukuba, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-4352 |
How to get there
- JR + bus from Mito (~70 min)
- Tsukuba Express from Tokyo Akihabara (45 min, 1,210 JPY) + local bus
Location
Tsukubasan Jinja, 1 Tsukuba, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-4352
36.2262, 140.1004 View on map
Highlights
- Tsukubasan Jinja - the shrine at the mountain's base, the traditional starting point for the ascent
- Nantai-san (Male Peak) - reached by the cable car and short walk, with the more open of the two summit viewpoints
- Nyotai-san (Female Peak) - reached separately by the ropeway from the opposite side of the mountain
- Gama-ishi (Toad Rock) - a distinctive rock formation along the summit trail between the two peaks
- Benkei Nanamodori - a narrow rocky passage on the hiking trail named for the warrior-monk Benkei