A Summer Retreat and Spiritual Power Spot: Mt. Tsukuba and the Tanabata Decorations at the Summit
Mount Tsukuba has long been praised as “Fuji in the west, Tsukuba in the east,” and is also known as the “Purple Peak” for the way its slopes change color with the sun’s position.
With two summits—Mt. Nantai to the west and Mt. Nyotai to the east—it has flourished as a sacred mountain for centuries. Izanagi-no-Mikoto is enshrined at the summit of Mt. Nantai, and Izanami-no-Mikoto at the summit of Mt. Nyotai; they are said to bless harmonious marriages and good matches. During the “Mount Tsukuba Summit Tanabata Decorations” event, around ten bamboo displays are set up at Miyukigahara, a broad plateau between Mt. Nantai and Mt. Nyotai, on a cool summit about 800 meters above sea level.
A legend says that at night Izanagi-no-Mikoto and Izanami-no-Mikoto descend from their respective peaks to reaffirm their love—perhaps forming one origin of this Tanabata festival tradition.
Wish strips (tanzaku) are available in the plaza, so you can write your wish and hang it on the bamboo.
[Mount Tsukuba Summit Tanabata Decorations] July 4–7, 2026.
[Tsukubasan Shrine] A highly popular spiritual spot known for blessings such as good matches, marital harmony, and family safety.
Dedicated to the divine couple Izanagi-no-Mikoto and Izanami-no-Mikoto, it welcomes many visitors throughout the year. After praying at its impressive worship hall on the mountainside, you can easily continue by taking either the adjacent cable car or ropeway—making it simple even for those who prefer an easier climb—to enjoy breathtaking summit views and visit the main sanctuary.
[Mount Tsukuba Cable Car (Mt. Nantai side)] About a 10-minute walk from Hotel to Miyawaki Station
[Route] Miyawaki Station (near Tsukubasan Shrine) to Mount Tsukuba Summit Station (Miyukigahara)
[Travel time] Approx. 8 minutes
This is Japan’s third-oldest cable car line. It powers up steep gradients with an elevation gain of about 305 meters, passing through tunnels and natural forest.
[Mount Tsukuba Ropeway (Mt. Nyotai side)] About a 10-minute drive from Hotel to Tsutsujigaoka Station
[Route] Tsutsujigaoka Station to Nyotaisan Station
[Travel time] Approx. 6 minutes
The gondolas hang suspended from cables, offering a floating “walk in the sky.” Below lies a sweeping panorama of the Kanto Plain; on clear days you can see central Tokyo’s skyline, Tokyo Skytree, and even Mount Fuji in the distance.






























![[Mt. Tsukuba Summit Tanabata Decorations] July 4–July 7](https://www.img-ikyu.com/contents/common/image/acc1/00003511/5/org/14182426.jpg?auto=compress,format&lossless=0)

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