Tsukuba, Japan
つくば市
Tsukuba is a town of 241,656 people in Ibaraki, Japan, founded in November 30, 1987.
Why visit Tsukuba
Townapedia lists 22 museums and landmarks, 89 parks and trails, 261 places to eat, 14 places to stay and 8 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Science Museum of Map & Survey and Tsukuba Museum of Art Ibaraki.
Weather in Tsukuba
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Tsukuba
Tsukuba (つくば市, Tsukuba-shi) is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. As of January 1, 2024, the city had an estimated population of 256,526 in 121,001 households and a population density of 900 persons per km2. The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 20.3%. The total area of the city is 283.72 square kilometres (109.54 sq mi).
From the Wikipedia article Tsukuba (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Tsukuba on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do8
University of Tsukuba
School · 2.6 km
University in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences
School · 10.5 km
Higher education institution in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
National University Corporation Tsukuba University of Technology
School · 2.5 km
Higher education institution in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
Tsukuba Gakuin University
School · 1.0 km
Higher education institution in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
Museums and landmarks22
Hirasawa Kanga ruins
Monument and historic site · 10.6 km
Archaeological site in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
Kamitakatsu Shell Mound
Monument and historic site · 4.5 km
Shell midden in Tsuchiura, Kantō, Japan
Konda Kanga ruins
Monument and historic site · 2.4 km
Archaeological site in Japan
Yokaren Peace Memorial Museum
Museum · 10.5 km
Museum in Ami, Ibaraki, Japan
10 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds89
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77 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes261
Buono
Restaurant · Cake, Coffee Shop, Ice Cream, Italian, Italian Pizza, Pasta, Pizza · 2.0 km
1, つくば市
We-Mo 11:00-21:30
249 more on the map.
History
Mount Tsukuba has been a place of pilgrimage since at least the Heian period. During the Edo period, parts of what later became the city of Tsukuba were administered by a junior branch of the Hosokawa clan at Yatabe Domain, one of the feudal domains of the Tokugawa shogunate. With the creation of the modern municipalities system after the Meiji Restoration on April 1, 1889, the town Yatabe was established within Tsukuba District, Ibaraki.
Beginning in the 1960s, the area was designated for development. Construction of the city centre, the University of Tsukuba and 46 public basic scientific research laboratories began in the 1970s. Tsukuba Science City became operational in the 1980s. The Expo '85 world's fair was held in the area of Tsukuba Science City, which at the time was still divided administratively between several small towns and villages. Attractions at the event included the 85-metre (279 ft) Technocosmos, which at that time was the world's tallest Ferris wheel.
From the History section of Tsukuba on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay14
Churches and places of worship38
Shopping40
Gas and EV charging12
Schools, colleges and libraries55
Healthcare41
Map of Tsukuba
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Ibaraki Airport (IBR) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 29 km away.
- Kashiwa 28 km southwest, about 28 min by car
- Inzai 28 km south, about 28 min by car
- Nagareyama 32 km southwest, about 32 min by car
- Kamagaya 36 km south, about 36 min by car
- Koga 38 km west, about 38 min by car
- Matsudo 39 km southwest, about 39 min by car
- Yachiyo 39 km south, about 39 min by car
- Narita 38 km southeast, about 38 min by car
- Sakura 42 km south, about 42 min by car
- Narashino 45 km south, about 45 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Tsukuba Center & Mt.Tsukuba01, On-chan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Tsukuba Public Library 02, Miyuki Meinaka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tsukuba ARS No.1, Miyuki Meinaka, Public domain
- Ibaraki prefectural road route 237 (Hanamuro-Ushiku line) in Takezono,Tsukuba city, 小石川人晃, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Matsuri Tsukuba nebuta01, On-chan, CC0
- Cityscape in Tsukuba, Miyuki Meinaka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tsukuba Chuo Police Station, Miyuki Meinaka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Azuma Bus Stop in Tsukuba-Hanamuro Tunnel 2, 本日晴天, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Azuma Bus Stop in Tsukuba-Hanamuro Tunnel, 本日晴天, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Azuma Bus Stop in Tsukuba-Hanamuro Tunnel 1-2, 本日晴天, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Azuma Bus Stop in Tsukuba-Hanamuro Tunnel 1-1, 本日晴天, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Joyo Tsukuba Building, Miyuki Meinaka, Public domain
- Tsukuba Center Building from Oshimizu Park Intersection, Miyuki Meinaka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tsukuba 20220103140455 (52280317979), inunami, CC BY 2.0
- Tsukuba 20171223 162805, Ka23 13, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tsukuba 20221211 163154, Ka23 13, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tsukuba Cityia Building 01, Miyuki Meinaka, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Tsukuba-Hanamuro Tunnel, May 2014, 本日晴天, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Tsukuba Nova Hall, Polimerek, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Illumination in Tsukuba Center Dec 2011, On-chan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Tsukuba center building, march 2012, On-chan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Buildings in Tsukuba 2, Syced, CC0
- Night Azuma 1 chome in Tsukuba, Miyuki Meinaka, Public domain
- Kasamayaki in Tsukuba Center, Miyuki Meinaka, Public domain
- Tsukuba 20220103140507 (52280052661), inunami, CC BY 2.0
- Waiting room in Tsukuba Center, May 2014, 本日晴天, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Panoramic view of downtown Tsukuba, Polimerek, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Clothing at Mongolian Lunar New Year festival in Tsukuba 4, Syced, CC0
- Tsukuba main bus station, Polimerek, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 5C building, On-chan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ibaraki-Pref-Univ-of-Health-Sciences-2012071601, Hasec, CC0
- Tsukuba International University, Abasaa, Public domain
- 上高津貝塚遺跡-貝塚跡 - panoramio, Toshihiro Matsui, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Yokaren Peace memorial museum, Ami-town, Motokoka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tsukuba University of Technology Kasuga Campus, Miyuki Meinaka, Public domain
- KVA festival 2010, Miyuki Meinaka, Public domain
- ChizutoSokuryounoKagakukan, Kirinbō, CC BY-SA 3.0
- TBG entrance, Miyuki Meinaka, Public domain
- Iias TSUKUBA view, Kiku-zou, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Tsukuba Expo Center02, On-chan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Takezono Nishi elementary school01, On-chan, CC0
- DAYZ TOWN TSUKUBA April 2012, On-chan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Nova hall Tsukuba-city, Otherde, CC BY 3.0
- GSJ Geological Museum, Abasaa, Public domain
- Doho Park,Tsukuba.Ckt-90-3 c16 14, Geographical Survey Institute of Japan, Attribution
- Kenkyugakuen-ekimaekoen Tsukuba-city, Otherde, CC BY-SA 1.0
- Tsukuba Medical Center Hospital 2013, Miyuki Meinaka, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Tsukuba University Hospital, Miyuki Meinaka, Public domain
- Meikei Gakuen Junior & Senior High School, Abasaa, Public domain
- Takeko in Tsukuba, Miyuki Meinaka, Public domain
- Azuma junior high school, Tsukuba 01, Miyuki Meinaka, CC BY-SA 3.0
- つくば市立九重小学校正門, 稲葉 聖岳, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gakuen no Mori School, Miyuki Meinaka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hotel Nikko Tsukuba, Syced, CC0
- Tsukuba ARS No.2, Miyuki Meinaka, Public domain
- Anpuku-ji Temple (Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture) 01, 小石川人晃, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Namiki-HighSchool, Otherde, CC BY 3.0
- Hirasawa Kanga Iseki3, ja:User:Masao, CC BY-SA 2.5
- AIST Cubeの看板, Raspico, CC0
- Sen-nuki tower, Matsumi park, Tskukuba - panoramio, Toshihiro Matsui, CC BY-SA 3.0
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