 Most viewed - Tsukuba つくば市 |
Getting to Mt. Tsukuba is easy by bus from Tsukuba Station's Tsukuba Center Bus Terminal. Tsukuba-san Shuttle buses going directly to Mt. Tsukuba leave every 30 min. on weekends or every hour during weekdays and non-peak hours.352 views
|
|
A big, two-day August festival in Tsukuba featuring diverse dance groups, bazaar, street performances, hula dancing, and food stalls. The climax is a nebuta parade in the evening. 292 viewsEverything is near Tsukuba Station (Tsukuba Express). Ever since the Tsukuba Express train line opened in 2005 from Akihabara, getting to Tsukuba is a breeze in about 45 min. Wide streets and sidewalks. The festival's main venue centered around this brown building which you see from Exit A5.
|
|
My video of Matsuri Tsukuba and the Nebuta parade.210 views
|
|
When I was there, a helicopter hovered about Mt. Nantai to rescue an injured hiker. I took a bus back to Tsukuba Station.201 views
|
|
Map of central Tsukuba.195 views
|
|
Torii to Tsukuba-san Jinja Shrine180 views
|
|
|
Matsuri Tsukuba posters172 views
|
|
For the finale, all the giant nebuta gathered at the large intersection. They didn't do much.126 views
|
|
Haneto126 views
|
|
Nebuta face-off.122 views
|
|
Rear view has a sleeping cat.121 views
|
|
A third giant nebuta depicts the Pharaoh Ramses II. Seeing an Egyptian theme on a Japanese float was interesting.120 views
|
|
There are many things going on at the same time all day long for two days from 10 am to 9 pm. 119 views
|
|
A hula troupe dances next to a yosakoi group.119 views
|
|
The fourth giant nebuta was perhaps the most unique. It was made of inflatable vinyl. It is partially deflated here.119 views
|
|
In Oshimizu Park were these nebuta tents where they store the nebuta floats. 大清水公演118 views
|
|
A short walk away is this large road serving as a venue for numerous dance groups performing almost all day long. This is also where the nebuta floats would be paraded in the eveing.116 views
|
|
Rear view of Ramses II116 views
|
|
Center Hiroba outdoor stage センター広場特設ステージ115 views
|
|
115 views
|
|
This float by a junior high school.115 views
|
|
This is Tsukuba Center Hiroba, the central part of the festival where there are food stalls and information booth.114 views
|
|
It drizzled off and on during the day.114 views
|
|
The first big one squeezes under the bridge. 114 views
|
|
114 views
|
|
Then came this giant mikoshi portable shrine called the Tsukuba Manto Mikoshi. It doesn't seem to belong to any shrine. つくば万灯神輿113 views
|
|
|
112 views
|
|
112 views
|
|
Almost fully inflated.112 views
|
|
Hayashi festival music112 views
|
|
The inflated nebuta comes around.112 views
|
|
Poor dragon112 views
|
|
Each giant nebuta float is preceded by a set of drums and drummers.112 views
|
|
Tsukuba Tourism Ambassadors111 views
|
|
English translators available! I noticed quite a few foreigners in Tsukuba, a national science and technology research and academic center.111 views
|
|
The program was called Happy Hawaiian Stage. ハッピーハワイアンステージ111 views
|
|
Kabuki-like magician.111 views
|
|
Street performer (Sign says, "Photography allowed.")111 views
|
|
Chuo Park bazaar111 views
|
|
Inside the nebuta tent.111 views
|
|
The mikoshi goes to meet the float.111 views
|
|
The floats were covered with plastic due to drizzling rain.111 views
|
|
The slayed dragon exhaled smoke.111 views
|
|
A nice elevated walkway connected Chuo Park and the main festival area.110 views
|
|
110 views
|
|
110 views
|
|
At first glance, it looks very strange. But they soon inflated it.110 views
|
|
110 views
|
|
Haneto dancers. Much fewer of them than in Aomori.110 views
|
|
110 views
|
|
Kids dancing110 views
|
|
This small float by local Boy Scouts.110 views
|
|
Quite dramatic indeed.110 views
|
|
At the very end, despite the rain, they took off the vinyl.110 views
|
|
And other musicians.110 views
|
|
109 views
|
|
Walking further down the Tsukuba Koen-dori road toward Oshimizu Park.109 views
|
|
109 views
|
|
Banpaku Float109 views
|
|
Being inflated now.109 views
|
|
Ramses II109 views
|
|
108 views
|
|
Haneto108 views
|
|
At first, I thought it looked kind of gimmicky, comical, and fake, but it turned out to be quite impressive.108 views
|
|
108 views
|
|
Too bad the plastic was on the floats. 108 views
|
|
On the other side of the underground train station is Chuo Park where Art Town Tsukuba and street performances were held. アートタウンつくば2009 ～大道芸フェスティバル～107 views
|
|
Another giant nebuta float.107 views
|
|
Another one squeezes through. 107 views
|
|
What would a festival be without taiko drummers?106 views
|
|
万博山車パレード106 views
|
|
106 views
|
|
106 views
|
|
Patching up the damaged parts of the float. Apparently, it got damaged as it passed under a bridge that is a little too low for the giant nebuta.105 views
|
|
From about 4 pm, they had the Matsuri Parade on the main road. まつりパレード 万博山車パレード105 views
|
|
105 views
|
|
Rear view.105 views
|
|
Without the plastic covering.105 views
|
|
105 views
|
|
Another venue in Creo Square was this small outdoor stage featuring hula dancing all afternoon long by various groups. クレオ前広場104 views
|
|
Street performers104 views
|
|
The nebuta tents were built in late July. No kids around sketching the nebuta though, as they do in Aomori during the day.104 views
|
|
Inside the nebuta tent was this nebuta float from Aomori, arrived earlier in Aug.104 views
|
|
104 views
|
|
Monkey's underarm has patch-up work.103 views
|
|
103 views
|
|
103 views
|
|
102 views
|
|
At 5 pm, the Nebuta Parade started. It was kind of strange to see a nebuta parade in almost broad daylight. 102 views
|
|
99 views
|
|
Gate to Tsukuba-san Jinja Shrine's Haiden Hall98 views
|
|
The ropeway runs every 20 min. The fare is 600 yen one way.96 views
|
|
96 views
|
|
96 views
|
|
Mt. Tsukuba ahead. It takes about 50 min. to reach Mt. Tsukuba by bus from Tsukuba Center Bus Terminal.93 views
|
|
92 views
|
|
Tsutsujigaoka has a ropeway aerial tram terminal taking you up to Mt. Nyotai, Mt. Tsukuba's female peak. 女体山91 views
|
|
I got off the bus at Tsutsujigaoka, the last stop. I hiked it from Mt. Nyotai (female peak) to Mt. Nantai (male peak). It's also possible to do it in the opposite direction from Nantai to Nyotai. つつじヶ丘91 views
|
|
Mt. Tsukuba has two peaks, Mt. Nantai (male peak) on the left and Mt. Nyotai (female peak) on the right. They are wedded peaks due to the wedded gods Izanami and Izanagi. 男体山 女体山86 views
|
|
Lookout deck on Mt. Nyotai on Mt. Tsukuba.85 views
|
|
People climbing on the narrow peak of Nyotai. Mt. Tsukuba is one of Japan's 100 Famous Peaks.85 views
|
|
It's possible to climb up to Mt. Nyotai as well.84 views
|
|
Tsutsujigaoka Ropeway Station below, as seen from the summit of Mt. Nyotai on Mt. Tsukuba.84 views
|
|
View from Mt. Nyotai.83 views
|
|
Climbing up the peak of Mt. Nyotai.83 views
|
|
Views from the summit of Mt. Nyotai on Mt. Tsukuba.83 views
|
|
Rock formation called Gama-ishi. ガマ石83 views
|
|
82 views
|
|
82 views
|
|
82 views
|
|
82 views
|
|
Approaching Mt. Nyotai. Mt. Tsukuba is noted for fall leaves. But I was a little too late. The leaves here turn color earlier than on the plains. 女体山81 views
|
|
View from Mt. Nyotai.81 views
|
|
Mt. Nantai in the distance.81 views
|
|
Atop the summit of Mt. Nyotai on Mt. Tsukuba.81 views
|
|
The trail continues to a clearing in the middle of the two peaks.81 views
|
|
Tsukuba-san Jinja Shrine's Nyotai Honden on Mt. Nyotai. It worships Izanami, wife of Izanagi.80 views
|
|
Between Mt. Nyotai and Nantai on Mt. Tsukuba is a row of tourist shops in this palce called Miyukigahara (御幸ケ原). That's Mt. Nantai in the background.80 views
|
|
View from Mt. Nantai on Tsukuba-san.80 views
|
|
Mt. Fuji as seen from Mt. Nyotai.79 views
|
|
79 views
|
|
From Mt. Nyotai, it's an easy hike but rocky trail to Mt. Nantai.79 views
|
|
The round building has a gift shop on the bottom, restaurant on the 2nd floor, and a revolving lookout deck on the roof (free admission).79 views
|
|
79 views
|
|
Bottom cable car station.79 views
|
|
In the middle of the two peaks is another lookout deck and gift shops.78 views
|
|
78 views
|
|
View from Miyukigahara.77 views
|
|
Tsukuba-san Shrine on Mt. Nantai, the male peak.77 views
|
|
Miyukigahara.77 views
|
|
Shrine atop Mt. Nantai on Mt. Tsukuba.77 views
|
|
77 views
|
|
76 views
|
|
Trail to climb up to Mt. Nantai.76 views
|
|
About Mt. Tsukuba's geology in Japanese.76 views
|
|
View from Mt. Nantai on Mt. Tsukuba.76 views
|
|
The cable car runs every 20 min. Fare is 570 yen one way. There are trails going down the mountain as well.76 views
|
|
Cable car going up to Mt. Nantai on Mt. Tsukuba.76 views
|
|
Tsukuba-san cable car on Mt. Tsukuba's Miyukigahara, near Nantai.76 views
|
|
View from Miyukigahara.75 views
|
|
Tsukuba-san Jjinja Shrine atop Mt. Nantai on Mt. Tsukuba. This is the Honden for the male god Izanagi.75 views
|
|
Tsukuba-san Jinja Shrine's Haiden Hall is adjacent to the cable car station. The Honden Hall is atop the two peaks on Mt. Tsukuba. 筑波山神社75 views
|
|
View from Miyukigahara.74 views
|
|
Mt. Nantai74 views
|
|
74 views
|
|
73 views
|
|
Entrance to Tsukuba-san cable car station.73 views
|
|
Tsukuba-san Jinja Shrine's Haiden Hall. The shrine is dedicated to both Izanagi and Izanami, Japan's parent gods.73 views
|
|
The trail soon gets steep and rocky, but not a problem for most people. High heels and miniskirt are not recommended.72 views
|
|
Ropeway station on Mt. Nyotai.72 views
|
|
On Nantai, there's an easy hiking trail going around the peak.72 views
|
|
This is one of them.72 views
|
|
Mt. Nantai marker for 871 meter elevation.71 views
|
|
Hiking trail around Mt. Nantai. There are two other lookout points along the trail.71 views
|
|
71 views
|
|
View from Mt. Nantai on Mt. Tsukuba.70 views
|
|
70 views
|
|
Looking toward Nyotai from Miyukigahara.69 views
|
|
Miyukigahara also has a cable car station.69 views
|
|
Around the cable car station below the mountain, the fall leaves were very nice.69 views
|
|
Mt. Nyotai as seen from Mt. Nantai on Mt. Tsukuba.68 views
|
|
68 views
|
|
68 views
|
|
In autumn, a chrysanthemum display is held on the grounds of Tsukuba-san Shrine.68 views
|
|
67 views
|
|
66 views
|
|
66 views
|
|
65 views
|
|
65 views
|
|
65 views
|
|
Depicting Mt. Tsukuba.65 views
|
|
65 views
|
|
Autmun maple leaves on Mt. Tsukuba-san.64 views
|
|
63 views
|
|
63 views
|
|
62 views
|
|
61 views
|
|
|
|
|
