Hiking the Sacred Twin Peaks of Mount Tsukuba | 筑波山の双峰を歩く
Turn on CC for subtitle in other languages. Hello everyone, welcome back to another video. Today, I’m heading out to hike Mount Tsukuba in Ibaraki. It’s about two and a half hours away
from central Tokyo by train. You can take the Tsukuba Express line all the way to Tsukuba Station. From there, you’ll transfer to a bus. It goes directly to the Tsukuba-Jinja-Iriguchi stop,
right at the foot of the mountain. From there, it’s about a 10-minute walk
to the start of most trails. The trailhead begins near Tsukuba Shrine,
a sacred site at the mountain’s foot. Tsukuba Shrine has been a center of mountain worship for over a thousand years. It enshrines the deities of Mount Tsukuba’s twin peaks, representing male and female spirits. This balance of energies symbolizes
harmony in nature and life. Pilgrims have long come here to pray
for health, love, and safe passage. Mount Tsukuba itself is steeped in mythology
and seen as the home of divine spirits. According to legend, the gods Izanagi and Izanami
descended here to shape the land of Japan. Knowing that story adds a bit more meaning to my hike. I made my way to the start of the hiking trails. There are several routes you can take to reach the summit. The Miyukigahara Trail is one of the main options.
It’s listed as a 90-minute hike. There’s also the Shirakumobashi Trail,
a slightly more rugged route. And the Otatsuishi Trail, which is longer
and less commonly used. I decided to go with the Miyukigahara Trail. It looked pretty straightforward and felt like a good balance, not too short, not too long. There weren’t many hikers around since I came on a weekday. I’ve heard this trail gets pretty crowded
on weekends and holidays. So if you’re looking for a quiet hike,
I’d definitely recommend a weekday visit. The atmosphere was peaceful, and there
was something sacred about it. Maybe I was just pre-conditioned to feel that way after reading about the history? Or maybe it’s the struggle of hiking
and the quietness of the moment… The quietness that forces you inwards. I heard this is one of the core
principles of Shugendō practice. You hike mountains to suffer, and through that,
find enlightenment. What a beautiful concept. I came across a small rest spot
with flowing water along the trail. It wasn’t on the map, and there was no sign explaining it. Still, a nice place to pause for a moment. Not too far from there, I noticed a small shrine
tucked away in what felt like a random spot. It felt out of place, like it was hiding in plain sight. A quick search told me it’s called Katori Shrine. It’s dedicated to a god of martial arts and protection. I stopped there for a short break before moving on. After almost two hours of hiking,
I finally arrived at the mountaintop. This area is known as Miyukigahara, a broad,
open space near the summit. It’s where the cable car line ends, so it’s often
the busiest part of the mountain. You’ll also find small restaurants, cafe and vending machines around here. Its a comfy spot to refresh before going to the summit. From Miyukigahara, you can choose to hike
to either of Mount Tsukuba’s twin peaks. The Nantai-san peak, also called the male peak, takes about 15 to 20 minutes to reach. The Nyotai-san peak, or female peak, is a bit farther, around 20 to 30 minutes. I decided to go for Nantai-san first. I made it to Nantai-san, the male peak of Mount Tsukuba. According to legend, the gods Izanagi and Izanami once descended to this mountain. They were the creators of the Japanese islands. The two most important deities in Japanese mythology. The story goes that Mount Tsukuba welcomed them,
while Mount Fuji did not. Because of that, Tsukuba became lush and full of life,
while Fuji remains barren. This tale is often used to explain why Mount Tsukuba is green and fertile year-round. After a short break, I continued toward the other peak. Along the trail, I stumbled upon Gama Ishi, the “toad rock.” It’s named for its shape, which looks like a toad
with its mouth open. Legend says tossing a small stone
into the mouth brings good luck. The story ties back to a toad that taught
a merchant the secret of healing oil. After about 30 minutes of walking, I reached the other peak. Nyotai-san means “female body mountain”
and is the twin to Nantai-san. It’s associated with feminine energy
and the nurturing side of nature. This peak is slightly higher than
Nantai-san by just a few meters. It’s also more picturesque, with large stones
and a wide, open view. Here you get a clear view of the Kanto plains
stretching far into the distance. I soaked in the majestic view for a bit
before making my way back down. I decided to take the cable car back down
to save time. The trail is simple enough, but the rocky
terrain was more than I expected. The official map says the hike takes about 90 minutes,
but it could take up to 2 hours. So if you’re planning to hike it, be sure to come prepared. Hiking Mount Tsukuba has been
on my bucket list for a long time. I’m glad I finally did it and learned
about its cultural importance. It sparked my interest in Shugendō
and other spiritual spots in Japan. I’d love to visit more places like this and learn as I go. With Tsukubasan behind me, I wrapped up the day… Feeling tired, but very fulfilled. Thank you for watching this video. I hope you enjoyed it and maybe learned something new. I make these videos as a way to practice,
reflect, and explore. If it inspired you in any way, I’d really appreciate it
if you subscribed. See you in the next one.
This spring, I finally hiked the twin peaks of Mount Tsukuba in Ibaraki. The trail led me through quiet forests, unexpected shrines, and legends from Japan’s mythology. It was a peaceful yet challenging walk that deepened my interest in Shugendō and spiritual paths in nature.
🇯🇵 日本語:
この春、茨城県にある神聖な山・筑波山の双峰をついに登りました。静かな森や突然現れる神社、日本神話にまつわる伝説を辿る旅は、穏やかでありながら挑戦的でもありました。修験道や自然の中の信仰に、より関心を持つきっかけにもなりました。
🇮🇩 Bahasa Indonesia:
Musim semi ini, saya akhirnya mendaki dua puncak Gunung Tsukuba di Ibaraki. Jalurnya membawa saya melewati hutan sunyi, kuil-kuil, dan kisah legenda dari mitologi Jepang. Perjalanan yang tenang tapi melelahkan ini membuat saya semakin tertarik dengan Shugendō dan jalur spiritual di alam.
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro
00:25 – Tsukuba station to Tsukubasan Jinja Iriguchi
01:06 – Tsukubasan Shrine
02:09 – Different hiking trails in Mount Tsukuba
03:07 – Shugendo?!
03:38 – Small shrine
04:26 – Miyukigahara mountaintop
05:16 – Nantai-san, Izanami & Izanagi legend
06:10 – Gama Ishi “toad rock”
06:35 – Nyotai-san & summit
07:18 – Cable car down & outro
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