City Overview

History and Culture of Tsukuba

Approximately 20,000 years ago, this region entered a cold period. However, around 12,000 years ago, the climate warmed, and people began establishing villages in fixed locations and settling down. Among the Jomon period sites in Ibaraki Prefecture, numerous shell mounds remain along the coastline and around Lake Kasumigaura, which was an inland sea at the time. The area stretching south from the base of Mount Tsukuba is the relatively flat and expansive Tsukuba Plateau. Blessed with a favorable climate and few natural disasters, it appears to have been a central hub for productive activities since ancient times. This section introduces the history of the Tsukuba region, the culture nurtured here, and the development of the research and academic city. (1)(2)(3)

Mount Tsukuba

Affectionately known as “Purple Peak” or “Purple Mountain,” Mount Tsukuba is a renowned peak representing the Kanto region, as the saying goes, “Fuji in the West, Tsukuba in the East.” Its majestic form rising almost at the center of the Kanto Plain has been cherished by the people of the eastern lands since ancient times.

During the Man'yō era, from the 7th to 8th centuries, it was celebrated in numerous poems and songs, cherished widely by both literati and commoners alike. (2)

Tsukubasan Shrine is located on the mountainside at an elevation of about 250 meters. It venerates the western peak (Mount Nantai) and eastern peak (Mount Nyotai) as sacred bodies, enshrining two ancestral deities, one male and one female. Later, based on the Japanese mythological tradition of “Izanagi and Izanami,” the great deities of Tsukuba came to be revered as the twin deities Izanagi and Izanami.

The depth of devotion to Mount Tsukuba is evident from historical records: during the Kamakura period (12th-13th centuries), the Kamakura Shogunate donated shrine lands, and numerous warlords of the Sengoku period submitted prayer texts seeking victory in battle. Throughout the Edo period (17th-19th centuries), Mount Tsukuba, protected by the shogunate, developed as a sacred mountain embodying the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism, a status it maintained until the end of the Edo era. (3)(4)

Taking the cable car from Miyawaki Station brings you to Miyukigahara, a flat area between the two peaks of Mount Nantai and Mount Nyotai. Its name comes from the belief that the male and female deities of the mountain once walked here. The view from this spot is spectacular; on clear days, you can see Lake Kasumigaura, the distant Pacific Ocean, and even Mount Fuji. (2)

Hachimanzuka Kofun

The southern foothills of Mount Tsukuba are an area within the prefecture rich in ancient burial mounds. Hachimanzuka Kofun is the largest keyhole-shaped burial mound in the Sakuragawa River basin. With a total length of approximately 90 meters, most of the front section has been lost and turned into wheat fields. Only the higher ground compared to the surrounding farmland allows the shape of the front section to be discerned.

The rear circular mound retains its original shape relatively well. Its summit is a flat area about 20 meters in diameter, featuring a small shrine dedicated to Hachiman in the center, hence the name Hachimanzuka. Haniwa clay figures have been excavated from the rear circular mound, leading to the estimation that it was constructed in the first half of the 6th century.

It is believed that from the late Yayoi period, when rice cultivation culture flourished, villages gradually united, powerful leaders emerged, and began governing regions, leading to the construction of burial mounds. The area along the shore of Lake Kasumigaura and the connected river regions has been rich in land and water resources since ancient times. Numerous burial mounds can be found at key points of river and lake transportation, indicating that the interred individuals controlled political, economic, and military affairs. (1)(2)(5)

Hirasawa Kanga Ruins

This site is presumed to be the location of the district government office for Tsukuba District, Hitachi Province, dating back over a thousand years to the Nara and Heian periods. Surveys in 1975 revealed its significance as an important site, leading to its designation as a National Historic Site in 1980. A restoration and improvement project was planned from 1993 to 1994, during which comprehensive surveys confirmed the site's full layout.

This included numerous large buildings, thought to be raised floor warehouses —a feature rarely seen at typical archaeological sites—surrounded by a large moat. These warehouse remains are thought to be the site of the county government's main storehouse where rice, hemp cloth, and other taxes were stored at that time.

To preserve and utilize this valuable cultural asset for future generations, three raised floor warehouses—a log-cabin style warehouse (azekura), an earthen warehouse, and a board-wall warehouse—have been reconstructed, recreating the ancient space. (1)(2)(6)

Construction of the
Tsukuba Science City

In the 1950s, Japan's economy, having undergone postwar reconstruction, was heading toward unprecedented growth and expanding relentlessly. Tokyo's population continued to swell rapidly due to inflows from all over the country, growing from approximately 8 million in 1955 to over 10 million by 1962. Aiming to host the Tokyo Olympics, major construction projects such as the Tokaido Shinkansen, Metropolitan Expressway, monorail, and subway systems were advanced. As the city's landscape transformed, the concentration of population in Tokyo accelerated further. The lag in developing Tokyo's urban infrastructure and facilities —housing, water and sewage systems, roads, and transportation—caused various disruptions to people's lives and work.

At the time, vigorous debates ensued to resolve these issues. Among the proposals were the relocation of the capital, which suggested moving the national government and administrative functions currently handled by Tokyo to regional areas, and the capital expansion plan, which involved large-scale reclamation of Tokyo Bay. Thus, resolving the problems caused by the growing population in the capital became a critical task for the government.

Amidst this situation, the government, under a plan to collectively relocate government offices—the core of the capital's functions—made the following decision in September 1961 to realize the construction of a new city: “To prevent excessive population concentration in the capital, various countermeasures must be strengthened. Therefore, we will promptly examine the collective relocation of government agencies (including affiliated institutions and national schools) whose functions can operate effectively outside Tokyo's urban districts.” The plan to build a new city in Tsukuba is said to have originated from this government decision.

At the time, many research institutions under various ministries and agencies were compelled to improve their facilities and equipment, and to renew their research environments and systems. Some also showed interest in the new city construction plan. Meanwhile, in university education, the baby boom led to a rapid increase in university students, forcing Tokyo's universities to expand their campus facilities. Against this backdrop, a basic concept for building a new city comprising a “Research District” and an “Academic District” was formulated. The focus narrowed to constructing a “Research and Academic City” as the first phase, created by relocating national research institutions and universities. At the Cabinet meeting on September 10, 1963, it was agreed that the Tsukuba area would be the site for the Research and Academic City.

Legislating the construction plan in 1970 played a crucial and effective role in accelerating the construction process. By 1980, the relocation of many national universities and research institutions was complete. Staff gradually moved in, activities commenced, and the city began functioning. However, large-scale construction of urban infrastructure continued until the opening of the International Science and Technology Exposition. (7)(8)

International Science and
Technology Exposition
“Tsukuba Expo '85”

In 1985, the Tsukuba Expo '85 was held in the Tsukuba Science City under the theme “Dwellings and Surroundings – Science and Technology for Man at Home,” with a total investment of 650 billion yen. With the intention of reexamining humanity's relationship with science and technology, it garnered significant international support by demonstrating the potential for the peaceful use of science and technology and presenting a vision of the 21st century opened up by science and technology.

This Science Expo became a festival of the century, featuring pavilions from 28 domestic companies and organizations, along with exhibits from 47 countries and 37 international organizations. Over the 184 days of the event, 20,334,727 visitors came to Tsukuba, averaging over 100,000 daily. It conveyed the power and wonder of science to countless people.

Furthermore, through this exposition, the name “Tsukuba,” previously not widely known, became instantly recognized both domestically and internationally as a leading center for Japan's cutting-edge science and technology research. (3)(7)(8)

Following the Tsukuba Expo '85, the period after 1986 saw the construction of numerous industrial parks in the surrounding development areas. Concurrently, the merger of Ōho Town, Sakura Village, Toyosato Town, Tsukuba Town, Yatabe Town, and Kukizaki Town led to the establishment of Tsukuba City, marking the beginning of the city's expansion phase. In 1999, the Tsukuba International Congress Center opened as the core communication facility within the Tsukuba Science City. (7)(8)

In 1996, recognizing science and technology as the foundation for Japan's future development, the First Science and Technology Basic Plan was formulated. The Second Science and Technology Plan was established in 2001, heightening expectations and demands for the Tsukuba Science City. Concurrently, national research institutions were converted into incorporated administrative agencies, and in 2004, the University of Tsukuba was reorganized as a national university corporation. During this period, coinciding with national administrative reforms and shifts in science and technology policy, the opening of the Tsukuba Express (TX) connecting Tokyo's Akihabara and Tsukuba in 2005 spurred large-scale development plans along the TX line.

The formation and development of this new city brought significant changes to the Tsukuba Science City, marked by physical transformations such as urban expansion and direct connectivity to Tokyo.

Since 2006, following the formulation of the Third Science and Technology Basic Plan, Tsukuba Science City has been expected to further strengthen its role as an international research hub while also playing a significant role in areas such as environmental measures. The Japanese government proposed the “Cool Earth 50” initiative, aiming to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 compared to current levels. To achieve this goal, Japan sought to contribute globally by leveraging a combination of cutting-edge technology and traditional social structures, establishing its position as an environmental leader.

In line with this effort, the “Tsukuba 3E (Environment-Energy-Economy) Forum” was established. The forum set the goal of halving Tsukuba City's carbon dioxide emissions by 2030. To this end, members of the Tsukuba 3E Forum pledged to unite industry, academia, government, and citizens to return the benefits of research and development to society. As an “Environmental Model City,” Tsukuba will disseminate its achievements domestically and internationally, aiming for the “Tsukuba Environmental Style” and contributing to curbing global warming.

By uniting not only public educational and research institutions but also citizens, industry, and government, the Tsukuba 3E Forum aims to make Tsukuba an international hub for low-carbon emissions and a global model. In this sense, it represents a step beyond the Fourth Science and Technology Basic Plan.

In 2016, it hosted the G7 Science and Technology Ministers’ Meeting in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, and in 2019, the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Trade and Digital Economy in Tsukuba, Ibaraki. It has steadily built its reputation as a city of science and was designated a “Super City-type National Strategic Special Zone” in 2022. Currently, approximately 20,000 researchers work at around 150 research institutions, with about 5,000 foreign researchers and international students residing here. The city continues to develop as a hub where world-class talent thrives. (9)(10)

Science and Art

In recent years, Tsukuba has begun initiatives mindful of its accumulated history, lifestyle, and culture as a longstanding Tsukuba Science City, based on the recognition that culture is something that builds over time.

The Tsukuba City Basic Plan for Promoting Culture and Arts, with the guiding principle of “Weaving with Art,” was created to make arts and culture more accessible to Tsukuba citizens, and collaboration with experts from diverse fields is progressing.

The '2025 Tsukuba Media Art Festival,' which started in 2014, showcases culture unique to Tsukuba, a city known for its focus on science. In 2025, the festival reached its largest scale yet, featuring numerous works that transcend fields, blending technology and art, created by internationally recognized artists and students from the University of Tsukuba. At the Tsukuba Science Hackathon 2025, artists resided at the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), creating works inspired by diverse dialogues with researchers. These pieces were exhibited at the event and later displayed at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. (11)(12)

Matsuri Tsukuba

Tsukuba City's largest summer festival, held annually in late August. Multiple venues around Tsukuba Station host diverse events, including food stalls offering Tsukuba's finest local delicacies and various gourmet treats, as well as stages featuring live music and dance performances.

Started in 1981 by volunteers, this festival blends the diverse cultures unique to Tsukuba Science City, becoming a quintessential summer tradition that unites local traditions with cutting-edge science. Since 2014, the “Matsuri Tsukuba Executive Committee,” headed by the Mayor of Tsukuba, has been formed. The event now attracts over 400,000 visitors annually, including locals and people from outside the prefecture. (13)(14)

Tsukuba,
a Ramen Battleground

It's said that Tsukuba City has about 100 ramen specialty shops and roughly 200 establishments where you can eat ramen. With events like the “Tsukuba Ramen Festa,” Ibaraki's largest ramen festival, held since 2012, it's a region with a very vibrant ramen culture.

Tsukuba City boasts numerous high-quality ramen shops, and regardless of location, many popular shops consistently draw long lines. Furthermore, it's characterized by many distinctive shops: those with passionate fan bases, those maintaining the same flavor for decades, and those introducing new menu items with every visit.

But why has Tsukuba become such a ramen battleground? Generally, areas expected to draw a certain volume of customers, with good access by train or car, and frequented by many people for shopping or sightseeing, tend to become battlegrounds. Beyond these factors, the Tsukuba area itself already had a strong ramen culture, with many long-established Chinese restaurants and older chain stores.

It seems the culture grew and accumulated here, nurtured by the diversity of people who came to work on building the Tsukuba Science City and those who moved here, offering them a convenient meal option. (15)(16)(17)