Tsukuba Mountain Running & Trail Running!
Tsukuba Mountain Running & Trail Running!
A Wonderful Course from Tsuchiura Station to the Summit, Tsutsujigaoka, and Tsukuba Shrine (38km)
This time, I focused on running around Mount Tsukuba!
The route starts from Tsuchiura Station, ascends Mount Tsukuba via the Yakushi-in Course, descends through Tsutsujigaoka, and then continues on the road to Tsukuba Shrine.
A mix of road and trail running made for an exciting and scenic adventure!!
Route Overview
Tsuchiura Station → Tsukushi Lake (RinRin Road)
To head towards Mount Tsukuba, I ran along RinRin Road, which has very few traffic lights, making it an excellent route for uninterrupted running. There were only a few traffic signals at the beginning, and after that, it was smoothly and enjoyable.
As Mount Tsukuba came into view, the distant mountain range created a stunning landscape, making it a perfect photo spot.
📷 RinRin Road Starting Point – A signboard marks the route just outside Tsuchiura Station.
📷 View of Mount Tsukuba getting closer
Tsukushi Lake → Mount Tsukuba Summit (Yakushi-in Course)
Upon reaching Tsukushi Lake, I started the ascent via the Yakushi-in Course. Shortly after starting the climb, I reached a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the lake.
The toughest part of this section was a 600m-long staircase—probably the most challenging part of the whole course! However, once I conquered this, the summit was just a little further.
📷 Yakushi-in Course entrance
📷 Scenic view of Tsukushi Lake
Summit (Nyotai-san) → Tsutsujigaoka (Descent)
After enjoying the breathtaking views from the summit, I began my descent toward Tsutsujigaoka. Some sections were steep and rocky, making it tricky to pass hikers coming up.
At around the 1km mark, the trail split from the route coming up from Tsukuba Shrine. From this point, the number of hikers decreased, and I was able to run more smoothly.
📷 Summit view
📷 Rocky descent from the summit
Tsutsujigaoka → Tsukuba Shrine (5km Road Run)
From Tsutsujigaoka, I ran on a paved road for about 5km towards Tsukuba Shrine. The road had very few cars and people, making it a peaceful and enjoyable run. Since it was mostly downhill, the sensation of descending quickly after the long climb was incredibly fun!
📷 Plum blossoms near Tsukuba Shrine
📷 Tsukuba Shrine entrance
Highlights of This Run
✔ Distance: 38km, Elevation Gain: 891m
✔ RinRin Road – A traffic-light-free, smooth road ideal for running.
✔ Tsukushi Lake Viewpoint – A beautiful lookout shortly after starting the climb.
✔ 600m-long staircase – A tough section, but after this, the summit is near!
✔ Downhill road from Tsutsujigaoka – A quiet, traffic-free road perfect for smooth running.
This route offered a great mix of road and trail running, with a balanced level of challenge. Since the trail is well-maintained, regular running shoes were sufficient.
Mount Tsukuba is also beautiful during cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons, so I’m looking forward to running here again!