Mount Tsukuba, Sacred mountain in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
Mount Tsukuba is a twin-peaked granite mountain in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. The two summits rise 877 meters (2,877 feet) above the Kanto Plain and remain visible from far away.
A nobleman named Tsukuha no Mikoto gave the mountain its name, as recorded in a manuscript from 721 AD. The shrine on the mountain developed over the centuries into an important religious site.
The male peak Nantai-san and the female peak Nyotai-san reflect the traditional belief that both summits form a pair. Visitors come on holidays and weekends to pray for harmonious partnerships and visit the viewpoints.
A cable car system and a gondola lift bring visitors to viewpoints near the summits. Several hiking trails also lead upward and offer different routes for walkers.
The surface of the mountain changes color with the seasons and throughout the day. A purple tint at sunset earned it the name Shihou.
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