Tsukuba (つくば) is a city in Ibaraki, to the north of Tokyo, Japan.
Tsukuba is a modern town built around the University of Tsukuba — one of the most respected public universities in Japan and home to two Nobel Prize winners and a cyclotron. The city is also located at the foot of Mount Tsukuba which offers scenic views, hiking, and lifts. The surrounding area is mostly agricultural.
- Tsukuba Space Center, +81 29-868-2023. 10AM-5PM. JAXA research center with free exhibits and guided tours five times daily. Facility includes exhibits on rockets, satellites, and Japan's involvement with the International Space Station. Guided tours in Japanese three times a day, reservations needed. Free.
- The Science Museum of Map and Survey, 1 Kitasato, +81 29-864-1872. 9:30AM-4:30PM. Free.
- Science Square Tsukuba, Higashi 1-1-1, +81 29-862-6215. Tu-Su 9:30AM-5PM. Science Square Tsukuba is a museum that highlights some of the exciting research that is happening at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). You might think that a museum about research would be boring, but that is not the case for Science Square Tsukuba. At this museum, you can get a sense of what life will be like in the near future. It's almost like going to a science fiction museum, but in this case, it is science fact—or soon to be fact! The best part about this museum is that you are allowed to touch and interact with some of the displays. 90 minute tours starting at 10AM and 2PM.
- Tsukuba Expo Center. Features a model of the H2 rocket and a planetarium as well as robots and undersea vehicles. There is also the famous organ-playing robot with a TV-camera in his head that was presented during the Expo. ¥410, or ¥820 including the planetarium.
Tsukuba Space Center, +81 29-868-2023. 10AM-5PM. JAXA research center with free exhibits and guided tours five times daily. Facility includes exhibits on rockets, satellites, and Japan's involvement with the International Space Station. Guided tours in Japanese three times a day, reservations needed. Free.
The Science Museum of Map and Survey, 1 Kitasato, +81 29-864-1872. 9:30AM-4:30PM. Free.
Science Square Tsukuba, Higashi 1-1-1, +81 29-862-6215. Tu-Su 9:30AM-5PM. Science Square Tsukuba is a museum that highlights some of the exciting research that is happening at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). You might think that a museum about research would be boring, but that is not the case for Science Square Tsukuba. At this museum, you can get a sense of what life will be like in the near future. It's almost like going to a science fiction museum, but in this case, it is science fact—or soon to be fact! The best part about this museum is that you are allowed to touch and interact with some of the displays. 90 minute tours starting at 10AM and 2PM.
Tsukuba Expo Center. Features a model of the H2 rocket and a planetarium as well as robots and undersea vehicles. There is also the famous organ-playing robot with a TV-camera in his head that was presented during the Expo. ¥410, or ¥820 including the planetarium.
Tsukuba's main attraction for tourists is Mount Tsukuba, a double-peaked mountain with a lot of history. The Tsukuba-san Shuttle Bus drives from the Tsukuba Express Train Station to Tsukuba Shrine for ¥720 each way, and to its terminus Tsutsujigaoka, closer to the top, for about 1000 yen . The last bus back to the city is at 5PM.
- Mount Tsukuba Shrine. Notable for a huge bell and Nikko-style carvings, this shrine lies at the foot of the hiking path/cable car.
- Mount Tsukuba. There are several hiking paths up the mountain, the most direct of which will get you to the top in about an hour. However, the longest trail offers the most cultural sights, such as shrines and a large stone looking like Buddha. The huge trees and rocks make for a fantastic walk. The not-so-fit can take the cable car to the top. The terminus of the cable car features several restaurants, souvenir stores, and snack shops. The true summit of Nantai-san is a short additional hike. The twin summit of Nyotai-san boasts a dramatic granite formation, a small shrine, and the famous toad-shaped rock, Gama-ishi. Walking free, cable car ¥580 one way.
Mount Tsukuba Shrine. Notable for a huge bell and Nikko-style carvings, this shrine lies at the foot of the hiking path/cable car.
Mount Tsukuba. There are several hiking paths up the mountain, the most direct of which will get you to the top in about an hour. However, the longest trail offers the most cultural sights, such as shrines and a large stone looking like Buddha. The huge trees and rocks make for a fantastic walk. The not-so-fit can take the cable car to the top. The terminus of the cable car features several restaurants, souvenir stores, and snack shops. The true summit of Nantai-san is a short additional hike. The twin summit of Nyotai-san boasts a dramatic granite formation, a small shrine, and the famous toad-shaped rock, Gama-ishi. Walking free, cable car ¥580 one way.
Tsukuba's local specialty is Gama Oil (ガマの油), an ointment that has existed since the Edo period.
Tsukuba has several large shopping centers such as LALA GARDEN, Q't and SEIBU. Lots of families or couples go there every weekend.
- Iias. Shopping center one stop away (Kenkyuu Gakuen) on the Tsukuba Express line. It offers three floors of stores and restaurants, including a large movie theatre and a pet store.
- Right-On, Azuma 1-11. 10AM-9PM. Tsukuba is the flagship store of Right-On, a Japanese denim chain.
Iias. Shopping center one stop away (Kenkyuu Gakuen) on the Tsukuba Express line. It offers three floors of stores and restaurants, including a large movie theatre and a pet store.
Right-On, Azuma 1-11. 10AM-9PM. Tsukuba is the flagship store of Right-On, a Japanese denim chain.
- Ton-Q, 13-12 Higashiarai, +81 29-852-4509. 10AM-10PM daily. Great place to enjoy amazing tonkatsu (breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet). It is near the city center and the layout will remind you of a Denny's in the U.S.A. ¥1000-2000.
- West House, 2 Chome-14-12 Ninomiya. 10AM-11PM. While they also cook occidental food, their speciality is a 60 centimeters-high parfait (frozen dessert) for ¥3000, it is called "Bikkuri Thunder Mountain" and is supposed to be enough to feed 10 people. ¥1000.
- Menya AOI. Delicious miso ramen, in a thick soup. Large serving for the same price. ¥800.
- Tsukuba Sansuitei, 254 Onozaki, +81 29-855-8181. Traditional Japanese food. ¥3000.
- Heartland. 11:30AM-2PM, 6PM-9PM. Small Italian restaurant in a quiet street. It is the best option in walking distance from the Space Center. ¥2000.
- Sawadee, +81 29-856-1908. Authentic Thai food cooked by a Thai chef. ¥2000.
- El Torito. American-style Mexican food, a rare sighting in Japan.
Ton-Q, 13-12 Higashiarai, +81 29-852-4509. 10AM-10PM daily. Great place to enjoy amazing tonkatsu (breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet). It is near the city center and the layout will remind you of a Denny's in the U.S.A. ¥1000-2000.
West House, 2 Chome-14-12 Ninomiya. 10AM-11PM. While they also cook occidental food, their speciality is a 60 centimeters-high parfait (frozen dessert) for ¥3000, it is called "Bikkuri Thunder Mountain" and is supposed to be enough to feed 10 people. ¥1000.
Menya AOI. Delicious miso ramen, in a thick soup. Large serving for the same price. ¥800.
Tsukuba Sansuitei, 254 Onozaki, +81 29-855-8181. Traditional Japanese food. ¥3000.
Heartland. 11:30AM-2PM, 6PM-9PM. Small Italian restaurant in a quiet street. It is the best option in walking distance from the Space Center. ¥2000.
Sawadee, +81 29-856-1908. Authentic Thai food cooked by a Thai chef. ¥2000.
El Torito. American-style Mexican food, a rare sighting in Japan.
Many bars and izakaya (japanese-style pub) are located in Kuidaore district, which is near to a crossing of Kita-odori (北大通り) and Nishi-odori (西大通り).
- Bar Dali, Amakubo 3-15-1 (Across the street from 7-11 convenience store at the Amakubo 3-chome bus stop on the Tsukuba University route. Lively after 7PM.
Bar Dali, Amakubo 3-15-1 (Across the street from 7-11 convenience store at the Amakubo 3-chome bus stop on the Tsukuba University route. Lively after 7PM.