Mt. Tsukuba from Tokyo: Ropeway, Twin Peaks and Getting There

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Researched guide · Checked on Nov 2, 2026

A mountain with two peaks that rises alone out of the flat Kanto Plain, so on a clear day the view runs all the way across the plain. Mt. Tsukuba, in Ibaraki, is one of the easiest mountains to reach from Tokyo: a fast train from Akihabara, a shuttle bus, then a ropeway up to the top, with trails lined with strangely shaped rocks.

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Two peaks and a view over the Kanto Plain

Mt. Tsukuba has two summits, Nantai-san (the male peak) and Nyotai-san (the female peak). The operator calls it an observation deck over the Kanto Plain. Its hiking trails pass a series of oddly shaped rocks and boulders, each with its own name and story, and the mountain has long been a place of worship.

Ropeway and cable car

Two lines take you up. The ropeway runs from Tsutsujigaoka Station to Nyotaisan Station. The cable car runs from Miyawaki Station, near Tsukubasan Shrine, toward the Nantai-san side.

Line	Status	Adult one way	Adult return	Child one way
Ropeway (Tsutsujigaoka – Nyotaisan)	Running	¥930	¥1,860	¥400
Cable car (Miyawaki – summit)	Running	¥930	¥1,860	¥470

• The cable car was suspended for safety checks from September 25, 2026, and is running again (checked November 2, 2026). Check the official site before you go.
• The operator plans to introduce new cable car carriages in February 2027.
• A combined ticket for one ride each on the cable car and ropeway costs ¥1,860 for adults (¥870 for children).
• Preschool children ride free (up to two per adult). Pets ride in a carrier for ¥300 one way; carriers can be borrowed free.

Getting there from Tokyo

• Take the Tsukuba Express from Akihabara to Tsukuba Station, the last stop. Rapid trains take about 45 minutes.
• At Tsukuba Center bus terminal (exits A3 or A4), go to bus stop 1 for the direct Mt. Tsukuba shuttle bus (Tsukuba-san Shuttle), bound for Tsukubasan-jinja-iriguchi and Tsutsujigaoka. Get off at Tsukubasan-jinja-iriguchi for the cable car, or at Tsutsujigaoka for the ropeway.
• The Mt. Tsukuba Kippu combines the Tsukuba Express, the Kanto Railway buses and the cable car and ropeway in one discount ticket. It is sold at Tsukuba Express stations from Akihabara to Kenkyu-gakuen.
• Driving: set your navigation to “Tsukuba-san Keisei Hotel” for the ropeway. The ropeway car park costs ¥700 per visit. Some navigation systems send cars from the north along a very narrow road (Route 42), so take care. See our driving in Japan guide.

Note: the whole mountain shares a single address (1 Tsukuba, Tsukuba City), so search for the station or hotel rather than the address.

Choosing a mountain? See five easy hikes side by side in easy hikes near Tokyo.

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