Mt. Tsukuba
Map
Mt. Tsukuba is an 877 m mountain in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, made up of twin peaks: Mt. Nantai (871 m) and Mt. Nyotai (877 m). Known as 'Fuji in the west, Tsukuba in the east,' it has long been revered as a sacred mountain representing the Kanto region. It is a historic mountain praised in the Manyoshu, and the entire mountain is regarded as the sacred precinct of Tsukubasan Shrine.
Sacred Site Info
- Type
- Sacred mountain
- Legend
- The Hitachi no Kuni Fudoki is said to record that when a deity asked for lodging on the night of the Niiname-sai harvest festival, the deity of Mt. Tsukuba willingly offered it, and so the mountain became a sacred peak where many people gather. The twin peaks of Mt. Nantai and Mt. Nyotai are said to enshrine deities of yin and yang.
- Element
- Mountain, rock
History & Origins
Mt. Tsukuba has been a site of utagaki since ancient times, a custom in which men and women gathered on the mountain in the agricultural off-season and exchanged songs, recorded in the Manyoshu and the Hitachi no Kuni Fudoki. Tsukubasan Shrine enshrines Izanagi no Mikoto on Mt. Nantai and Izanami no Mikoto on Mt. Nyotai, and has long been worshipped as a deity of good matches and relationships.
Highlights
From the summits of both Mt. Nantai and Mt. Nyotai, spectacular views open out over the Kanto Plain. The Mt. Tsukuba Plum Grove (about 1,000 trees) is a spring attraction, and a cable car and ropeway make it easy to reach near the summit. The group of odd-shaped rocks near the summit of Mt. Nyotai is also worth seeing.
Visitor Guide
From Tsukuba Station on the Tsukuba Express, a Kanto Railway shuttle bus reaches the Tsukubasan Shrine entrance in about 40 to 50 minutes. There are seven hiking courses, and the Miyukigahara Course (about 90 minutes) is recommended for beginners.
Best Season
The plum festival in spring (February to March) and the autumn foliage in November are especially popular. On clear winter days the air is crisp and the view from the summit reaches farthest.
Blessings
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