Tsukuba Climb

I have never climbed Mount Fuji, and actually, I am not really interested in climbing it since everyone goes there, it is obviously crowded, meaning you cannot climb at your own pace. That is why I enjoyed the climb of Mount Tsukuba. Less crowded but still famous for being the highest mountain in Ibaraki Prefecture with its 877 meters. "877 meters only?" said a guy in the back. Well, indeed, it is not as high as Mount Fuji BUT, I wrote BUT, it is worth a Fuji! Yes it is! Climb it during the rainy season with all the mud and slippery rocks all along the way and you'll get an idea of how exhausting this can be.

Talking about the slope, well, it is a real slope. You sometimes need to use your alpinist skills to overcome obstacles and to pull yourself to the top. I also never thought I could sweat that much but I swear that reaching the top is a great reward. Although it was foggy and I could not see a thing of the beautiful scenery, I was proud of myself. I had challenged my body that obviously needed some exercise.

This may sound like the climb is a real nightmare but it is absolutely not. I made it a great pain for me by imposing myself a fast pace. Needless to say my calves and thighs were as hard as the stones I was stepping on but how good you feel when this is over! The path is in the middle of trees, so it is impossible not to breathe the great air of the mountain's bountiful nature; impossible not to contemplate the greenery masking your view to the top. Impossible not to feel that you are doing one of the most exciting climbs of Japan, so I was told by a local guy.

That same guy does the climb like every week or so to keep in shape. Crazy detail: he never brings anything with him. This is just the nature and him, the slopes and him, the mountain and him. No water. No water? No. But this person has been climbing Mount Tsukuba for years and years so he knows it pretty well and he knows how to manage his efforts. He goes his own pace, not trying to break any record. Personally I was climbing as fast as I could, trying to wake up my legs that, in my city life in Mito, do not move a lot behind an office desk.

I tried to imagine myself not drinking at all during the climb. I failed. I guess I would need to repeat the climb every week or every day. The guy was obviously in a good shape but was not trying to push himself. Wait, where did he start from? This may change everything. We started from the bottom, from where the bus, coming from Ishioka station, stops. A bit of flat before attacking the first slopes. Believe me, the pictures are misleading. There IS a slope right from the bottom. And by slope, I mean SLOPE, the best to warm up fast and feel the pain. The slope keeps going up through Numata（沼田）. Before really climbing the muddy path starting from toad-shaped Tsukuba shrine（筑波山神社）, you will be surprised to see a big primary school on your way. And you'll be wondering if kids like to go to that school if they live at the bottom of Mount Tsukuba. Well, I guess they are used to it and anyways, they don't really have a choice.

Well, people don't seem to complain about their life around there. They live in harmony with the nature and this is all that matters after all. Mount Tsukuba is a pride of Ibaraki Prefecture and the people living there are actually on sacred soil. If families have lived there for generations and generations, they are often considered by Japanese visitors as sacred people as well, being entirely part of the mountain. I swear, if you want a nice hike, try to climb Mount Tsukuba. Slowly or fast, the experience is unique. Make it your local Fuji. Relax your mind and strengthen your body at the same time.

Or, if you are the laziest person in the world, use the cable car to reach the top. The only difference is: instead of costing you energy, this will cost you money. But what do you want to say in the end? "I did it!" or "I paid it!"? Best memories are usually those that leave a trace . . . and cramps.