Starting from my base near Shin-Koiwa Station, I took the train to Akihabara, then transferred to the Tsukuba Express for Tsukuba Station in Ibaraki prefecture. Just outside exit A4 is bus stop #1, the stop for Mt. Tsukuba. I arrived just in time to catch the next bus, and since it was a Thursday, the crowds were light. The ride takes about 40 minutes, so I was thankful to get a seat.
The ride seems a bit long at first, but after just a few minutes, Mt. Tsukuba revealed itself under wonderfully clear skies. It had been a rainy day in Tokyo the day before, so seeing such beautiful weather made me feel even more excited for the adventure ahead!
Most visitors begin their hike at the side of Tsukubasan Shrine, one of Japan’s oldest and most important shrines, a worthy destination on its own - even for those who don't practice Shinto. The shrine complex is peaceful and surrounded by nature.
As it was already late in the day, I decided to take the shorter trail starting from Tsujigaoka, the last stop. There's a restaurant, restroom and souvenir stores so I went for a quick break before heading to the trailhead near a giant frog, a landmark that's very hard to miss!
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| View at the start of my hike up Mt. Tsukuba from Tsujigaoka parking lot |
I took trail #4 which leads straight to Nyotai peak, skipping the cable station at Miyukigahara. It was a steep start but within 10 minutes, I was immediately rewarded with a scenic view of surrounding mountains - I was almost tempted me to end my hike there!
I'd read how beautiful the trail was, so I kept going. Mt. Tsukuba is home to towering beech trees and striking rock formations, I knew there was more to see. Though hiking solo, I wasn't alone. Plenty of solo hikers and small groups were out, even on a weekday. Still, only a few of us were doing the route in reverse.
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| one of the many interesting rock formations in Mt. Tsukuba |
From stone stairs, the trail transitioned to natural ground - my kind of trail. Soon, I was deeper in the forest. Every now and then, bright colors popped up in front of me, with wild flowers blooming from everywhere - in between rocks, along the trail and even on the trees!
After 1.5 hours, I reached Nyotai peak. At 877 meters, it's the highest point of Mt. Tsukuba, just a few meters higher than its twin peak, Nantai-san peak (871 meters). Past a small summit shrine, I was greeted by sweeping views of mountains and valleys.
The view point itself is a large boulder that can comfortably fit around 5 people, so after checking out the view, I gave way to other hikers and continued to Nantai-san. (Travel Note : Those who want to reduce the hike can take the ropeway from Tsujigaoka to Nyotai station. From there, the summit is about 70 meters away on a steep path so it's still a bit of a workout!)
Soon, I arrived at Miyukigahara, a huge scenic spot with a café, picnic area, souvenir shops, and restaurants (This is also where the cable car station is) From here, it's a 30 minute hike to the twin peaks. The trail maybe short but not exactly an easy walk. The route is steep and a little slippery. If you're facing the Mt. Tsukuba marker, the female peak (Nyotai-san) is to the right, while the male peak (Nantai-san) is on the right.
I continued hiking towards Nyotai-san. Thankfully, the trail was easy with just a few short uphills, and I reached the summit within 30 minutes. Unlike Nantai-san, this peak has a
proper view deck with signboards that point out the landmarks you can see from the top.
After visiting Nyotai peak, I couldn't resist grabbing a cup of coffee from the cafe at Miyukigahara to enjoy with my packed lunch. After I took a sip, I realized what a great decision it was! The brew is strong, exactly the way I want it.
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| packed lunch - salmon onigiri, macaron and matcha mochi with oat millk cappucino from the cafe in Mt. Tsukuba |
Going down, I took the cable car so I can check out Tsukuba shrine. The area is peaceful and made an excellent stop after a hike. Since it was late in the afternoon, there weren't much visitors left.
By 4:30 PM, I was back at the stop to take the bus back to Tsukuba station. I ended my day with dinner and crane games in Akihabara before returning to Shin-Koiwa.
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