One of Japan’s Hundred Famous Mountains, long known as ‘The Fuji of the West, the Tsukuba of the East’
Mount Tsukuba is a 877-meter high mountain located at the northern tip of Tsukuba City in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. Among Japan’s Hundred Famous Mountains, it stands out for its relatively low elevation, making it easily accessible even from the heart of Tokyo. This accessibility has earned it a reputation as a mountain suitable for children to climb. Moreover, with the convenience of both a ropeway and a cable car, even small children who are not yet able to hike can enjoy the experience of ascending the mountain and soaking in the atmosphere of mountain climbing.
When Ascending by Cable Car
From Miyanohara Station, adjacent to Mount Tsukuba Shrine, to the Mount Tsukuba Summit Station, a cable car operates, spanning a total length of 1,634 meters with a journey time of approximately 8 minutes. It runs every hour at 00, 20, and 40 minutes past the hour, with intervals of 20 minutes.
The basic fares are as follows:
Adults (junior high school age and above): One way 590 yen, Round trip 1,070 yen
Children (6 years old to elementary school age): One way 300 yen, Round trip 540 yen
Mount Tsukuba Shrine is located at the cable car’s departure and arrival points, and the Mount Tsukuba Summit Station, its terminus, is situated at Goraikougen. With observation decks, restaurants, and souvenir shops at the summit, the cable car is highly recommended for sightseeing.
When Ascending by Ropeway
The ropeway connects Tsutsuji-ga-oka Station and Nantai-san Station, spanning a total length of 1,296 meters with a journey time of approximately 6 minutes. It is a large ropeway capable of carrying 71 passengers per cabin, operating every hour at 00, 20, and 40 minutes past the hour, with intervals of 20 minutes.
The basic fares are as follows:
Adults (junior high school age and above): One way 750 yen, Round trip 1,300 yen
Children (6 years old to elementary school age): One way 380 yen, Round trip 650 yen
Tsutsuji-ga-oka Station, the departure and arrival point of the ropeway, allows direct access from a large parking lot to the ropeway without any stairs. At the summit station of Nantai-san, there are only about 40 steps to the observation deck, making it convenient for those traveling with strollers. Furthermore, the ropeway offers panoramic views of the Kanto Plain, making it a recommended choice for those who want to enjoy the scenery.
Directions
If you’re traveling by train, you can take the Tsukuba Express from Akihabara Station to Tsukuba Station. From there, you can catch a shuttle bus to either the entrance of Mount Tsukuba Shrine or Tsutsuji-ga-oka. The bus fares are 740 yen to the entrance of Mount Tsukuba Shrine and 900 yen to Tsutsuji-ga-oka.
Since the Tsukuba Express is not operated by JR, Japan Rail Pass, JR Tokyo Wide Pass, and JR East Pass are not valid for this route.
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