TsukuBlog A Local Perspective on Life in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

Enjoy the Night View from the Top of Mt. Tsukuba, as rope-way (aerial lift line) and cable car (tram) services are extended up to 9 PM and 8 PM, respectively, through the end of the year (on weekends and holidays)

By Avi Landau

In Japan, the passing of summer can be recognized in a way which is expressed by saying SORA GA TAKAKU NATTA (空が高くなった)- which directly translated means: the sky has gotten high- something which nearly all Japanese will understand in the same way as someone saying: autumn has come.

This is because along with the drop in temperatures that comes with the changing of seasons, there is also a precipitous drop in HUMIDITY ( from somewhere around 80 percent down to about 20 percent. This decrease in STEAMINESS, combined with the dust clearing action of seasonal winds increases visibility drastically- it really does seem as if the sky has grown taller AND longer. So while in the summer,  there are many days in which Mt Tsukuba remains invisible even from a few kilometers away, in the autumn and winter, if there are no clouds, distant Mt Fuji can be seen regularly from Tsukuba ( especially at sunset), along with the mountains around Nikko to the north.

For those who do not care for the cold, these clear skies and the beautiful views they make possible offer a consolation ( however slight) for the coming of winter.

And in recognition of this seasonal phenmenon, the people who run the ropeway (aerial lift line) up to the Nyotai-San peak of Mt Tsukuba and the cable car (tram) which goes up to the Nantai-San peak  will be working overtime so you can enjoy the special views which the moutain affords.

In the case of the ropeway this special service is offered from October. On Saturdays, Sundays, and National Holidays in November, and then on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and National Holidays in December, the last car will return to the Tsutsuji ga Oka Parking area at 9 pm ( and arrive there 6 minutes later).

As for the cable car ( tram), which departs and/or arrives at a station just to the west of the Mt. Tsukuba Shrine, extended service will begin from November and the last trams coming down from Nantai-San will leave at 8Pm

Even during the daylight hours the views from Mt Tsukuba are special in this very mountainous country- because when you look to the face the south the Kanto Plain extends out as far as the eye can see- an unusual sight indeed in Japan!

You can also have fun tring to spot your place of residence ( if you live in Tsukuba), and other local landmarks. You can easilly ( on a clear day) see Lake Kasumigaura, Mt Fuji, the Great Buddha of Ushiku ( Ushiku Daibutsu), and probably the skyscrapers of Tokyo off in the distance.

It gets even more beautiful if you stay on for sunset ( which will be getting earlier and earlier until the winter solistice) and watch the lights come on.

In my hometown- New York City, one of the most exciting xperiences is going to the top of the Empire State Building and watching the city and surrounding area light up. It is dazzling and OVERWHELMING.

The night view fron atop Mt. Tsukuba is beautiful in a very different way- it is the LACK OF LIGHT! You will surely be surprised by how BLACK the landscape remains- with Tokyo glowing out in the distance.

The stars should be spectacular,as well.

On the ride back down the lights in the cable car will be left off making the descent a big adventure for any kids you might be taking along with you ( and they sure will be excited up on top, too!

If you dont have a car, they are buses from Tsukuba Center all the way to Tsutsuji ga Oka. with the last bus returning at 7:30  giving you plenty of time to savor the night view( on weekends and holidays).

The round trip cable car cost is 1,000 Yen for adults.

For more info (in Japanese) see: www.mt-tsukuba.com/

I have also written about getting good views of Mt Fuji from Tsukuba here:

http://blog.alientimes.org/2010/12/in-winter-its-usually-clear-skies-in-tsukuba-but-there-is-no-more-view-of-mt-fuji-from-the-top-of-the-mitsui-building/

and here is a song I wrote appropriately called CLEAR SKIES, recorded by the TenGooz:

http://www.jamendo.com/en/track/12858

A Little on The History of Mt. Tsukuba`s Cable Car and Ropeway

Mt Tsukuba has long been famous in Japan, mainly because of being mentioned relatively often in the classic collection of poetry, The Manyoshu ( compiled in the 8th century). The little mountain ( a mere 877 meters high) appears 25 times as opposed to majestic Mt Fuji`s 13 times! It had also long been a place of pilgrimage and religious training.

In the late Edo Period, there were several inns and related establishments in the town of Hojo ( where I live) catering to pilgrims to the mountain. Business was slow, however, and by the 1860`s many of these had closed down.

All this changed back in the 1918 with the entrepreneur Junosuke Takayanagi, the son a poor farmer in what is now Namegata City ( to the east of present day Tsukuba) who grew to be a successful businessman and writer of self help books in Tokyo. On a visit to Mt Ikoma in the Kansai area, Takayanagi-San was enchanted by the European cable car system that took tourists up the mountain. He thought that such a system would be perfect for Mt Tsukuba.

Filled with enthusiasm he rushed back to Mito, the capital of Ibaraki prefecture to get some backing for his plan. The governor was all for the idea and so were several ready investors.

The problem was convincing the local people and the priest of the Mt Tsukuba Shrine. For them the mountain was sacred and the introduction of a cable car sacreligious.

It took some time, but eventually, somehow, the locals were won over to the plan. A company to carry out the construction was formed in 1923.

The going, however, was NOT easy. Large trees had to be felled and lots of dynamite had to be used to blast through rock. There were many injuries to workers, and at some points construction was halted.

By 1925 work was finally completed. And along with the completion of the rail line from Tsuchiura to Hojo ( the Tsukuba Testudo) there was a huge increase in the number of visitors to the top of the mountain. These people would be shuttled from the train staion to the cable car station by bus and then later possibly taxi.

During the Second World War, the cable car service was halted ( the metal was probably melted down for the war effort), and did not resume until 1954.

The ropeway ( aerial lift way) was then built in 1965 , doubling your choice of relaxing ways to the mountains peaks.

Still if you`ve got the time, I would recommend walking AT LEAST one-way.

Enjoy your night views and dont forget to dress warmly!

 Print This Post