Mount Tsukuba Overview
Rising from the flat expanse of the Kanto Plain in central Ibaraki Prefecture, Mount Tsukuba is one of Japan’s most beloved and storied mountains. Known as “Shiho” (Purple Peak) for the purple hue its slopes take on in the morning and evening light, the mountain is instantly recognizable for its distinctive twin peaks — Nantaisan (871 m), the male peak, and Nyotaisan (877 m), the female peak. The old Japanese saying “Fuji of the west, Tsukuba of the east” speaks to its iconic stature in the eastern part of the country.
The mountain’s history runs deep. According to shrine records, Mount Tsukuba has been an object of worship for around 3,000 years. The two peaks enshrine the deities Izanagi and Izanami — the divine couple said in Japanese mythology to have created the Japanese archipelago — making the mountain a revered power spot associated with love, marriage and family. Tsukubasan Shrine, located on the mountain’s southern face at around 270 meters elevation, serves as the gateway to the peaks and the starting point for most hiking trails. In keeping with feng shui principles, the mountain was positioned northeast of old Edo Castle, a direction considered spiritually significant, and was long protected by the Edo shogunate.
Despite sitting well below the 1,500-meter threshold typically required for inclusion in Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains, Mount Tsukuba earned a spot on the list as an exceptional case, recognized for its distinctive silhouette, sacred history and cultural significance. The mountain is also home to over 1,000 species of flora and fauna.
Best Times To Visit Mount Tsukuba
Mount Tsukuba rewards a visit in any season. Spring brings cherry blossoms and azaleas, and from mid-February to mid-March, around 1,000 plum trees at the Tsukuba Plum Grove near the shrine burst into white and red bloom. Summer offers lush green hiking trails, while autumn turns the mountain’s slopes to brilliant reds and oranges. In winter, clear days yield the most spectacular summit views — on a good day, visitors can see the Tokyo skyline, Lake Kasumigaura and even Mount Fuji from the top. From October to March, a nighttime ropeway called Stardust Cruising operates, offering a ride to the summit as day turns to dusk.