Autumn Foliage on Mount Tsukuba: Must-Visit Locations and Festivals

Autumn Foliage on Mount Tsukuba

Mount Tsukuba is one of the best places to enjoy hiking amid autumn foliage near Tokyo.

Tsukuba Station can be reached in about 40 minutes by train from Akihabara Station on the Tsukuba Express Line. From the station, you can go by local bus to the Mount Tsukuba entrance in about 20 minutes.

The ideal time to see the autumn foliage on Mount Tsukuba is typically from early to late November, with stunning scenery spreading from the summit down to the foothills.

Guide to Mount Tsukuba in Autumn

1. Best Time to View the Autumn Foliage on Mount Tsukuba
2. 4 Locations for Autumn Foliage on Mount Tsukuba
- Tsukubasan Shrine: Gorgeous Yellow Gingko Foliage
- Miyawaki Station: Autumn Foliage Light-ups
- The Nantai Peak of Mount Tsukuba
- The Nyotai Peak of Mount Tsukuba
3. Tsukuba Momiji Festival: Autumn Light-up and Events
4. How to Get to Mount Tsukuba

Best Time to View the Autumn Foliage on Mount Tsukuba

Mount Tsukuba reaches its peak viewing time from early to late November.

Due to the elevation changes, the gradual coloring from the summit to the foothills creates a beautiful sight. Visitors will be stunned by the scenic sight of seasonal transitions.

The best time to visit Tsukubasan Shrine is from early to late November, featuring a stunning contrast of red and yellow hues from the ginkgo and maple trees.

Since the peak viewing times can vary depending on the weather, you should check for the latest information before you visit.

Additionally, the area becomes crowded with many hikers and tourists during peak viewing times, especially on weekends, public holidays, and days of clear weather.

Consider going on weekdays if it fits into your travel itinerary. However, we recommend planning ahead to allow plenty of time for your outing if you visit on busy days.

4 Locations for Autumn Foliage on Mount Tsukuba

Depending on the recommended spots, there are different ways to enjoy the autumn foliage at Mount Tsukuba.

Here are four recommended spots and the unique features of their autumn leaves.

1. Tsukubasan Shrine

Tsukubasan Shrine is the top recommended spot to start enjoying the autumn leaves.

After about a 10-minute walk from Tsukubasan Shrine, you will reach the trailhead and Miyawaki Station along the Mount Tsukuba Cable Car and Ropeway. This allows you to enjoy both safe mountain climbing and beautiful foliage.

This area is renowned for its beautiful maple and ginkgo trees. The autumn leaves around Tsukubasan Shrine reach their peak viewing time about a week later compared to the foliage near the cable car and the trailhead.

We recommend checking the latest peak viewing information before heading out.

Basic Information
Location	1 Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki
Hours	Open 24 hours
Fee	Free
Parking	Regular vehicles: 500 yen/day Public parking around the shrine: 449 spaces
Access	40 minutes by Tsukubasan Shuttle Bus from TX Tsukuba Station or Tsukuba Center; 10-minute walk from Tsukubasan Shrine entrance

2. Miyawaki Station (Mount Tsukuba Cable Car)

Miyawaki Station is located about a 10-minute walk from Tsukubasan Shrine.

The approximately 100-meter stone staircase connecting the west side of the Tsukubasan Shrine's worship hall to Miyawaki Station is a popular spot where you can enjoy stunning views.

The best viewing time is from mid to late November. You can see many maples around Miyawaki Station and in the woods east of the station, along with other trees such as Japanese maple, lacquer trees, and sumac.

There are also trails around Miyawaki Station, so you can snap photos while strolling.

Every year, from late October to late November, the Night Cruising and Maple Light-Up event is held, and autumn leaves around Miyawaki Station are illuminated. This creates a fantastical view that differs from the daytime foliage.

Basic Information
Location	1 Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki
Miyawaki Station Cable Car Hours	9:00 to 17:20 *Hours may vary by season
Miyawaki Station Cable Car Fees	Adults: 590 yen one way / 1,070 yen round trip Children: 300 yen one way / 540 yen round trip
Parking	Regular vehicles: 500 yen (per day) Public parking around the shrine: 449 spaces
Access	40 minutes by Tsukubasan Shuttle Bus from TX Tsukuba Station or Tsukuba Center. 10-minute walk from Tsukubasan Shrine entrance

3. The Nantai Peak of Mount Tsukuba

While the summit of Mount Nantai doesn’t offer much of a view, it is surrounded by beautiful autumn leaves, allowing you to feel the passage of time in a relaxed manner.

Autumn scenery on the Mount Tsukuba Nature Research Trail. Photo by Pixta

The Mount Tsukuba Nature Research Trail located around the Nantai peak features a beech forest that turns golden yellow, providing a different and lovely experience compared to the fiery red maple leaves.

You can reach the summit of Mount Nantai by hiking (Miyukigahara Course) or taking the cable car from Miyawaki Station (about 8 minutes).

The Miyukigahara Course takes about 15 minutes to reach the summit, allowing you to enjoy the autumn foliage leisurely. Although there are some relatively steep paths with rocky sections, there are spots where you can photograph the cable car against a backdrop of autumn leaves. This place makes it possible to enjoy the scenery while walking.

Basic Information
Location	1 Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki
Hours	Open 24 hours
Fee	Free
Parking	None
Access	About 8 minutes by cable car from Miyawaki Station to the summit at Tsukuba Summit Station; approximately 15 minutes on foot via the Miyukigahara Course

4. The Nyotai Peak of Mount Tsukuba

The Nyotai peak is 877 meters high, making it the tallest summit in the Tsukuba range. You will be overwhelmed by the view of the trees and autumn leaves, with the vast Kanto Plain stretching beyond your eyes, creating a breathtaking sight. Many visitors can be seen taking photographs, capturing the autumn foliage along with the cable car.

You can reach the Nyotai peak via the Mount Tsukuba Ropeway (about 6 minutes) from Tsutsujigaoka Station at the foot of the mountain. The autumn foliage from the approximately 300-meter drop of the ropeway is spectacular, featuring beautiful rows of maple trees and azaleas.

Additionally, the Mount Nyotai Observation Deck has a restaurant and shop where you can enjoy a meal or take a break while appreciating the scenery. We highly recommend the Shirakumo Bridge Course, about 110 minutes long in the nature-rich Mount Nyotai, for those who wish to enjoy hiking.

Basic Information
Location	1 Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki
Hours	Open 24 hours
Fee	Free
Parking	None
Access	About 6 minutes by ropeway from Tsutsujigaoka Station. Approximately 40 minutes on foot via the Otatsuishi Course

Tsukuba Momiji Festival

The Tsukuba Momiji Festival is held during the peak viewing time for autumn leaves, from early November to early December. This is the busiest time of the year, filled with people enjoying photo opportunities and hiking while admiring the foliage.

During this period, the Mount Tsukuba Cable Car Night Cruising and Maple Light-Up is also held, allowing you to enjoy a view of the autumn leaves that differs from the daytime scenery.

From Mount Tsukuba, you can see the nighttime views of Tsukuba City and Tsuchiura City, as well as the nightscapes of Tokyo, Saitama, and Chiba. It is truly worthy of the title Japanese Night View Heritage.

You can enjoy the night cruising on the cable car, the illuminated autumn leaves, and the fantastical space that can only be experienced here at this time.

Since many people visit during the event, the cable car and ropeway will increase their frequency of service. However, be aware that there may still be waiting times due to crowds.

Basic Information
Location	1 Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki
Hours	Late October to early December 4:40 PM to 8:00 PM
Fee	Cable Car: Round trip 1,050 yen for adults / 530 yen for children
Parking	Regular vehicles: 500 yen (per day) Public parking around the shrine: 449 spaces
Access	During this period, direct shuttle buses are operating from Tsukuba Center (Tsukuba Express Tsukuba Station) to Mount Tsukuba.

Access to Mount Tsukuba

Below, we will introduce how to access Mount Tsukuba and provide crowd information.

By Car

Joban Expressway (Tsuchiura-Kita Interchange)

- 1 km on National Route 125 → 6 km on Prefectural Road 199 → 10 km on Prefectural Road 236 → Mount Tsukuba (approximately 40 minutes)

- 13 km on National Route 125 → 3 km on Prefectural Road 14 → 4 km on Prefectural Road 42 → Mount Tsukuba (approximately 40 minutes)

Kita-Kanto Expressway (Sakuragawa Chikusei Interchange)
Take National Route 50 → Prefectural Road 41 → Approximately 20 km towards Mount Tsukuba → Mount Tsukuba (approximately 40 minutes)

Shuto Expressway Central Loop (Tsukuba Chuo Interchange)
Take Prefectural Road 19 → Prefectural Road 408 for 16 km → Prefectural Road 42 for 7 km → Mount Tsukuba (approximately 40 minutes)

During the event, there may be traffic congestion, resulting in long waits to enter the parking lot. It is advisable to allow extra time for your trip.

Using Public Transportation

The most recommended method is taking the Tsukuba Express (TX) from Akihabara Station (about 45 minutes) to Tsukuba Station or Tsukuba Center and then using the Tsukubasan Shuttle Bus (about 40 to 50 minutes) to reach the entrance of Tsukubasan Shrine or Tsutsujigaoka.

Access from Tsukuba Station and Tsukuba Center is only available via the Tsukubasan Shuttle Bus.

You can also reach Tsukuba Station or Tsukuba Center from major stations other than Akihabara Station using the highway bus.

Departure Station for Highway Bus	Travel Time
Tokyo Station	About 90 minutes
Haneda Airport	About 100 minutes
Narita Airport	About 110 minutes
Ibaraki Airport	About 60 minutes

Enjoy Autumn on Mount Tsukuba

Mount Tsukuba offers various ways to experience the beauty of autumn leaves. You can enjoy the foliage from different perspectives, whether visiting the shrine, hiking, riding the cable car, or viewing the illuminated night scenery.

Please take the opportunity to experience the incredible autumn colors that can only be discovered at Mount Tsukuba.

All pictures from Pixta