{"id":58684,"date":"2020-02-22T22:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-22T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=58684"},"modified":"2020-08-07T22:45:59","modified_gmt":"2020-08-07T13:45:59","slug":"mt-tsukuba-ibaraki-prefecture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/mt-tsukuba-ibaraki-prefecture\/","title":{"rendered":"In the Foothills of Lovers: A Journey to Mt. Tsukuba"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>\u201cFuji in the West, Tsukuba in the East.\u201d This is the phrase used to describe the importance of <strong>Mt. Tsukuba<\/strong> to Japan. <strong>Located in Ibaraki prefecture north of Tokyo<\/strong>, a beautiful, natural region, Mt. Tsukuba and its two peaks are said to be composed of lovers. Travelers visit Mt. Tsukuba not just to hike or trek, or enjoy the changing of the seasons through Ibaraki, but to make a pilgrimage to a sacred place and ask for the blessing of the mountain in their quest for a soulmate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Hot Springs and Lavish Food in a Cozy Ryokan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001954\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture\" data-id=\"58456\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001954\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-1.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-1\/\" class=\"wp-image-58456\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001954\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001954\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-1-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001954\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001954\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-1.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">Mt. Tsukuba<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>My journey to Mt. Tsukuba was simple because I came by car, although there are plenty of shuttle buses from nearby train stations to take tourists to the mountain\u2019s town at its base. For those who don\u2019t want to, or can\u2019t make the hike up the mountain, there are also ropeways that travel to the peak. By car, I traveled up the roads that snaked past small shops along the mountain\u2019s foothills and directly to my destination for the evening: Tsukubasan Edoya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001650\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-2-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"58434\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001650\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-2.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-2\/\" class=\"wp-image-58434\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001650\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001650\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-2-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001650\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001650\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-2.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001641\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"58433\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001641\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-1.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-1\/\" class=\"wp-image-58433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001641\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001641\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-1-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001641\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001641\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-1.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001928\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-21-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"58453\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001928\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-21.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-21\/\" class=\"wp-image-58453\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001928\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-21-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001928\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-21-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001928\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-21-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001928\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-21.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">Entryway and lobby of the ryokan Tsukubasan Edoya<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/travel.rakuten.com\/hotel\/Japan-Ibaraki_Prefecture-Tsukuba-Tsukubasan_Onsen_Tsukubasan_Edoya\/10637\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Tsukubasan Edoya<\/a><\/strong> \u7b51\u6ce2\u5c71\u6c5f\u6238\u5c4b <strong>is an over 300-year old <em>ryokan<\/em><\/strong> (Japanese-style hotel) in the foothills of Mt. Tsukuba. <em>Ryokan<\/em> differ from regular hotels largely because of their <em>onsen<\/em> (hot spring baths), which are open to all guests to use. <em>Onsen<\/em> across Japan often receive their steaming hot water directly from mountainside hot springs. Tsukubasan Edoya has a lovely bathing facility available for its guests, and of course complimentary bathrobes, towels, bags for carrying your shower supplies, soap, etc. If you\u2019re uncomfortable bathing in front of others, you can always go late (after 9pm or so), and it\u2019s more likely that the baths will be empty or nearly empty. It\u2019s important to note that <em>ryokan<\/em> like this often don\u2019t have bathing facilities in your room, so the <em>onsen<\/em> is your only place to get clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001903\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-18-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Tea Pot Decoration at Tsukubasan Edoya\" data-id=\"58450\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001903\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-18.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-18\/\" class=\"wp-image-58450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001903\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-18-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001903\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-18-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001903\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-18-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001903\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-18.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001946\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-23-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Art Decoration at Tsukubasan Edoya\" data-id=\"58455\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001946\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-23.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-23\/\" class=\"wp-image-58455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001946\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-23-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001946\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-23-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001946\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-23-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001946\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-23.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001854\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-17-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Sitting Room in the Lobby of Tsukubasan Edoya\" data-id=\"58449\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001854\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-17.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-17\/\" class=\"wp-image-58449\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001854\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-17-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001854\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-17-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001854\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-17-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001854\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-17.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">Gorgeous interior decorations and sitting area at Tsukubasan Edoya<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I arrived at Tsukubasan Edoya and was greeted at the front desk, given my room key, and told about the policies of the <em>ryokan<\/em>. <em>Ryokan<\/em> often include breakfast and dinner, but meals are served at set times (another feature of <em>ryokan<\/em>), so I had to decide when I wanted to eat within specific windows of time. At the door, I was given a number for my shoes in case I wanted to leave the <em>ryokan<\/em>. I also had the chance to check out the gift shop in the lobby, and a spacious seating area perfect for reading next to a set of wide, glass doors that let in plenty of sunlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001838\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-15-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Hallways at Edoya\" data-id=\"58447\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001838\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-15.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-15\/\" class=\"wp-image-58447\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001838\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-15-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001838\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-15-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001838\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-15-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001838\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-15.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001912\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-19-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"58451\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001912\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-19.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-19\/\" class=\"wp-image-58451\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001912\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-19-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001912\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-19-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001912\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-19-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001912\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-19.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">The hallways at Tsukubasan Edoya<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>My room, on the fourth floor, was a traditional tatami room with a tea set and kettle available and ready for making green tea. I made some tea and called the front desk to ask them to put out my <em>futon<\/em> (a traditional bedding set that goes on the floor). Then I got washed up a bit (there are sinks in the rooms), changed into my <em>yukata<\/em> (traditional robe-like clothing for men or women), and went to dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001706\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-4-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Tatami Room at Tsukubasan Edoya\" data-id=\"58436\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001706\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-4.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-4\/\" class=\"wp-image-58436\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001706\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-4-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001706\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-4-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001706\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-4-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001706\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-4.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001714\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-5-e1580280114672-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"In-Room Tea Set at Tsukubasan Edoya\" data-id=\"58437\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001714\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-5-e1580280114672.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-5\/\" class=\"wp-image-58437\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001714\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-5-e1580280114672-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001714\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-5-e1580280114672-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001714\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-5-e1580280114672-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001714\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-5-e1580280114672.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">Tatami room and a complimentary tea set<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Dinner was on another floor, and after being greeted very graciously by the wait staff, I was shown to a private tatami room where my meal was already waiting at a table. A member the of staff came and explained the meal to me \u2013 which items go with what, how to dip this in that, what courses were coming, when they will be served, and so on \u2013 and then gave me a drink menu and closed the door behind her on the way out. I was left completely to myself, in utter and beautiful silence, to eat, be at rest, and contemplate the food as I ate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001723\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-6-e1580281264978-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Dinner at Tsukubasan Edoya\" data-id=\"58438\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001723\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-6-e1580281264978.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-6\/\" class=\"wp-image-58438\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001723\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-6-e1580281264978-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001723\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-6-e1580281264978-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001723\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-6-e1580281264978-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001723\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-6-e1580281264978.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">The first course of dinner at Tsukubasan Edoya<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The meal was comprised of a staggeringly beautiful set of tiny dishes that were gourmet variations on Japanese food such as sushi, tempura, tofu dishes, <em>nabe<\/em> (hot pot), pickles, vegetable dishes, and dessert. It came with a complimentary glass of <em>umeshu<\/em> (plum wine), and I had the option to order additional drinks like <em>sake<\/em>. Naturally, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity and ordered a flight of different types of sake perfect for cleansing the palate and staying warm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-7 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001757\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-10-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Dinner Nabe at Tsukubasan Edoya\" data-id=\"58442\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001757\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-10.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-10\/\" class=\"wp-image-58442\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001757\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-10-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001757\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-10-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001757\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-10-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001757\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-10.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001749\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-9-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Sake Selection with Dinner at Tsukubasan Edoya\" data-id=\"58441\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001749\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-9.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-9\/\" class=\"wp-image-58441\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001749\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-9-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001749\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-9-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001749\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-9-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001749\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-9.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001805\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-11-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Desert at Tsukubasan Edoya\" data-id=\"58443\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001805\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-11.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-11\/\" class=\"wp-image-58443\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001805\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-11-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001805\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-11-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001805\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-11-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001805\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-11.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001740\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-8-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Dinner at Tsukubasan Edoya\" data-id=\"58440\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001740\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-8.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-8\/\" class=\"wp-image-58440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001740\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-8-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001740\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-8-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001740\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-8-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001740\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-8.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">Nabe, sake, and dessert to compliment the main meal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After dinner, I went to the onsen and because it was a little later than peak hours, I had the entire place to myself. I stayed as long as I could, nearly until the <em>onsen <\/em>closes at 10:00 pm, before drying and heading back to my room to pass out on my futon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-8 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21135435\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-26-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Onsen at Tsukubasan Edoya\" data-id=\"58546\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21135435\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-26.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-26\/\" class=\"wp-image-58546\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21135435\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-26-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21135435\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-26-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21135435\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-26-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21135435\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-26.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21135428\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-25-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Onsen at Tsukubasan Edoya\" data-id=\"58545\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21135428\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-25.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-25\/\" class=\"wp-image-58545\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21135428\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-25-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21135428\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-25-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21135428\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-25-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21135428\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-25.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">The luxurious and relaxing onsen at Tsukubasan Edoya<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The following morning I got up rather early, donned my yukata again, and went to breakfast. Unlike dinner, breakfast was served in a banquet hall on a different floor. Breakfast was arrayed much like dinner, all tiny dishes to experiment with, and I also had miso soup and as much rice as I wanted. There were fixings on a separate table to make <em>neba-neba don<\/em>, which is a combination of <em>natto<\/em> (fermented soybeans), okra, raw eggs, spring onions, and soy sauce all mixed together and eaten with a bowl of rice. It\u2019s somewhat of a brave choice for a tourist visiting Japan for the first time, but it should definitely be tried at least once. Having gotten used to this kind of dish a while ago, I made a bowl for myself and enjoyed it with breakfast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001920\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-20-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"58452\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001920\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-20.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-20\/\" class=\"wp-image-58452\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001920\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-20-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001920\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-20-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001920\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-20-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21001920\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-edoya-20.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">The ingredients for part of breakfast<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>During my time spent at Tsukubasan Edoya, the staff were exceptionally courteous, well-mannered, and helpful. This made the entire experience easy, wonderful, and memorable. The ryokan\u2019s location right at the base of Mt. Tsukuba is unparalleled and makes any trip that much easier to enjoy and get around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Blessing of the Gods<\/strong> at Tsukubasan Shrine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002310\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-20-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Entrance to Tsukuba Shrine\" data-id=\"58475\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002310\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-20.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-20\/\" class=\"wp-image-58475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002310\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-20-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002310\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-20-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002310\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-20-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002310\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-20.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">The main gate to Tsukubasan Shrine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After breakfast at Tsukubasan Edoya, I headed out to visit <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tsukubasanjinja.jp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Tsukubasan Shrine<\/a><\/strong> \u7b51\u6ce2\u5c71 which was built on a holy site that has stood in the same location for nearly 3000 years. The <em>ryokan<\/em> is not only located at the base of Mt. Tsukuba, but directly next to Tsukubasan Shrine. It\u2019s not an exaggeration to say that I stepped out of the front door of the <em>ryokan<\/em> and after ten steps I reached the stairs leading to the shrine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002118\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-9-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"A Headstone at Tsukuba Shrine\" data-id=\"58464\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002118\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-9.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-9\/\" class=\"wp-image-58464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002118\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-9-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002118\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-9-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002118\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-9-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002118\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-9.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002024\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-4-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"A Smaller Shinto Shrine near Tsukuba Shrine\" data-id=\"58459\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002024\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-4.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-4\/\" class=\"wp-image-58459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002024\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-4-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002024\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-4-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002024\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-4-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002024\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-4.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">Smaller shrines and headstones around the main Tsukubasan Shrine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Even by the time I arrived a little after 8:00 in the morning there were already a fair amount of hikers and trekkers making their way to the shrine. It wasn\u2019t crowded by any means, but it was very easy to tell how busy the place would eventually get. At that time in the morning, souvenir shops around the shrine were just starting to open, maintenance staff were cleaning, and the air was beautifully bright and crisp. It is this level of care that lends to the impression that you are standing in a sacred place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002034\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-5-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Hand-Cleansing at Tsukuba Shrine\" data-id=\"58460\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002034\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-5.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-5\/\" class=\"wp-image-58460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002034\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-5-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002034\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-5-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002034\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-5-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002034\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-5.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002045\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-6-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Market at Tsukuba Shrine\" data-id=\"58461\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002045\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-6.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-6\/\" class=\"wp-image-58461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002045\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-6-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002045\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-6-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002045\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-6-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002045\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-6.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002056\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-7-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Stairs Leading to Tsukuba Shrine\" data-id=\"58462\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002056\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-7.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-7\/\" class=\"wp-image-58462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002056\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-7-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002056\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-7-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002056\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-7-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002056\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-7.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">The pathway leading to Tsukubasan Shrine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s a bridge at the lowest part of the shrine that leads to an entrance gate, followed by a flight of steps that lead up the central shrine itself. There are watchful guardian statues at each junction and smaller shrines aside the main shrine. As usual, there is a rack for visitors to tie a piece of paper to in order to bind their problems to the shrine. All in all,<strong> Tsukubasan Shrine<\/strong> is meticulously cared for and gorgeously arranged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002149\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-12-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Guardian Statue at Tsukuba Shrine\" data-id=\"58467\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002149\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-12.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-12\/\" class=\"wp-image-58467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002149\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-12-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002149\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-12-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002149\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-12-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002149\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-12.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002221\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-15-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Prayers and Tsukuba Shrine Decorations\" data-id=\"58470\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002221\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-15.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-15\/\" class=\"wp-image-58470\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002221\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-15-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002221\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-15-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002221\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-15-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002221\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-15.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002322\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-21-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Pond at Tsukuba Shrine\" data-id=\"58476\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002322\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-21.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-21\/\" class=\"wp-image-58476\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002322\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-21-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002322\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-21-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002322\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-21-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002322\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-21.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">Meticulously manicured grounds at Tsukubasan Shrine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I went up to the main shrine, tossed a coin into the offering tray, made a wish, did the usual 2 claps, 2 bows, 1 clap in Shinto fashion, then smiled on my way out and down the steps back to the <em>ryokan<\/em> to check out and continue my journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002139\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-11-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"58466\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002139\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-11.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-11\/\" class=\"wp-image-58466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002139\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-11-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002139\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-11-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002139\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-11-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/21002139\/voyapon_ibaraki-tsukuba_-shrine-11.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">Tsukubasan Shrine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the end, my journey to Mt. Tsukuba and Tsukubasan Edoya was as rejuvenating as it was rewarding. I visited an often-overlooked, truly special place that was all the more rich for its comparison to a mythic summit like <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/mt-fuji-hike-driving\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Mt. Fuji<\/a><\/strong>, and went up a less-traveled path to the coziness of a 300-year old ryokan to sleep in the shadow of a mountain far, far older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Get to Mt. Tsukuba<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p> Akihabara station &#8211; Tsukuba station (Tsukuba Express): about 45 minutes<br>and then take the Shuttle bus, about 40 minutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1Phe5cXSNFlGvGH_lD663Wnxu3b5N_0Lg\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>Sponsored by Ibaraki Prefecture<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cFuji in the West, Tsukuba in the East.\u201d This is the phrase used to describe the importance of Mt. Tsukuba&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":147,"featured_media":58465,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"pgc_meta":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22,1408,1],"tags":[1337,1248,1711,1324,1383,1367,1306,1784],"class_list":{"0":"post-58684","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-accommodation","8":"category-kanto","9":"category-sponsored","10":"tag-hiking","11":"tag-ibaraki","12":"tag-near-tokyo","13":"tag-onsen","14":"tag-ryokan","15":"tag-sake","16":"tag-shrine","17":"tag-chibaibaraki"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>In the Foothills of Lovers: A Journey to Mt. Tsukuba<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In the shadows of majestic Mt. 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