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32-519: Located in southwestern Ibaraki Prefecture, Chikusei is located on the west side of Mount Tsukuba and is bordered by Tochigi Prefecture to the north. The Kinugawa River and the Kokaigawa River flow through the city. The city is located about 70 kilometers north of downtown Tokyo. Except for the hills with an altitude of about 200 meters connected to the Abukuma mountains at the northeastern end, almost

64-484: A national geography completed in 721 AD, says Mount Tsukuba was named after a noble called Tsukuha no Mikoto ( 筑箪命 ) . According to this account, the area around Mount Tsukuba was once called Ki no kuni ( 紀国 ) . Under the reign of Mimaki no Sumeramikoto ( 美麻貴天皇 ) ( Emperor Sujin ), Tsukuha no Mikoto from the Uneme clan ( 采女氏 ) was appointed as its governor . He had a strong desire to leave his name in history, so he renamed

96-541: A number of amphibians and over 70 species of butterfly (蝶) . Larger animals such as the Japanese hare , mamushi pit viper (蝮) , sika deer (鹿) , Japanese boar (猪) , raccoon dog (狸) , Japanese badger (穴熊) and the Japanese red fox (狐) can be occasionally spotted. In addition, over 700 bird species are known to Mt. Tsukuba, these include the Japanese robin (駒鳥) , Japanese pheasant , Japanese white-eye (目白) , Japanese grosbeak , cinnamon sparrow (すずめ) , Japanese quail and

128-446: A variety of conifers . Below these giants of the forest, the mountain is also home to hydrangea (紫陽花) , rhododendron (つつじ) , hosta , bush clover (ヤマハギ) , five-leaf akebia (アケビ) , fern , gold-banded lily (ヤマユリ) and the dog-tooth violet (片栗) , to name a few. Amongst these exist a myriad of insects, including hairy caterpillars (毛虫) , centipedes , giant hornets (スズメバチ) , stick insects , praying mantis (カマキリ) , cicada (セミ) ,

160-567: Is 14.3 °C (57.7 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,208.3 mm (47.57 in) with October as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.1 °C (79.0 °F), and lowest in January, at around 2.6 °C (36.7 °F). Per Japanese census data, the population of Chikusei peaked around 1990 and has steadily declined since. During the Edo period , parts of

192-630: Is a cold, lonely, and barren mountain, while Mt. Tsukuba bursts with vegetation and is filled with colors as the seasons change. Ancient chronicles say that the sacred progenitors of the Japanese race are enshrined here, the male divinity, Izanagi-no-Mikoto , at Mt. Nantai, and the female divinity, Izanami-no-Mikoto , at Mt. Nyotai. Legends say that the two deities wed and gave birth to other deities, and even to Japan herself. In antiquity Mt. Nyotai served as location for kagai − harvest festivals associated with fertility − allowing people to participate in

224-481: Is a site for the cultivation of mandarin oranges. Various varieties, including Unshu mikan and Natsumikan, are grown in this region. Notably, the cultivation of a native species called "Tsukuba mikan" or "Fukuremikan" is prevalent. This indigenous mandarin is small-sized, with a diameter ranging from 2 to 3 cm, and is characterized by a thin peel and large seeds. Considered the sole native species of mandarin oranges in Japan,

256-590: Is also within commuting range for to the cities of southern Tochigi Prefecture. Chikusei has 20 public elementary schools and seven public middle schools operated by the city government, and four public high schools operated by the Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education. These is also one private middle school and one private high school. [REDACTED] JR East – Mito Line Kantō Railway – Jōsō Line [REDACTED] Mooka Railway Mount Tsukuba Mount Tsukuba ( 筑波山 , Tsukuba-san )

288-416: Is an 877 m (2,877 ft) mountain located at the northern-end of Tsukuba , Japan . It is one of the most famous mountains in Japan, particularly well known for its double peaks, Nyotai-san ( 女体山 , lit. "female body") 877 m (2,877 ft) and Nantai-san ( 男体山 , lit. "male body") 871 m (2,858 ft). Many people climb the so-called "purple mountain" every year for the panoramic view of

320-502: Is famous not only for the legends that have appeared in poetry anthologies since 710 A.D. Today, the mountain and its centuries-old Shinto shrine Tsukubasan Shrine are both a source of blessing for the Japanese people and a must-see attraction to both local and foreign tourists. As the peaks (male and female) make a couple, they are worshipped as kami in the Shinto religion and are believed to bestow marital harmony and conjugal bliss. At

352-719: Is the beautiful Kasumi freshwater pearls . They were known for their high luster and rosy hues, which is the result of a four-year cultivation period. However, in 2006, cultivation was discontinued as cheap freshwater pearls from China proved too difficult to compete against. The water from Lake Kasumigaura has long been used for the irrigation of paddy fields in the surrounding alluvial plain and upland fields on diluvial terraces covered by thick deposits of volcanic ash . The primary crops are rice and lotus root (a local speciality). Other crops include tomato , cucumber , eggplant , watermelon , corn , edamame , sweet potato , kabocha , daikon and peanut . Many tourists come to

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384-418: Is used for fishing , irrigation , tourism , recreation , and for consumption by the surrounding public and local industry. A variety of fish can be caught from the waters of Lake Kasumigaura, including smelt , Japanese icefish , crucian carp , goby , Japanese eel and river prawn . The most popular catch is cultivated carp, followed by smelt and goby. Another cultivated treasure from Lake Kasumigaura

416-560: The Diet of Japan . Chikusei has traditionally had strong agricultural economy, with noted products including koshihikari rice, nashi pears , small watermelons, cucumbers, strawberries, and tomatoes. Taking advantage of the location near the Tokyo metropolitan area and with abundant wide flat land, multiple industrial parks were created from the 1980s, forming a part of the Kanto inland industrial area. It

448-449: The Eurasian coot are a few of the birds seen around the lake. Lake Kasumigaura provides over 60 tons of water per second; most goes to agriculture (83%). The rest is provided to local industry (13%) and public (4%) in the prefectures of Ibaraki , Chiba and Tokyo . Eutrophication is a serious problem for Lake Kasumigaura. Legislation was enacted in 1982 to help prevent it, including

480-637: The Japanese green woodpecker . Lake Kasumigaura Lake Kasumigaura ( 霞ヶ浦 , Kasumigaura ) is the second-largest lake in Japan , located 60 km to the north-east of Tokyo . In a narrower sense and officially, Lake Kasumigaura refers to a waterbody with an area of 167.63 km . In a wider sense, Lake Kasumigaura can also refer to a group of contiguous lakes , which includes Lake Kasumigaura proper, hereby referred to as Nishiura (西浦), and two smaller lakes, Kitaura (北浦; 35.16 km ) and Sotonasakaura (外浪逆浦; 5.85 km ), and also encompasses

512-507: The Kantō plain from the summit. On clear days the Tōkyō skyline , Lake Kasumigaura and even Mount Fuji are visible from the summit. Japanese mountains are mostly volcanic , but Mount Tsukuba is non-volcanic granite and gabbro in origin. Renowned beautiful granites are produced in the northern quarries even today. The Fudoki of Hitachi Province ( 常陸国風土記 , Hitachi no kuni Fudoki ) ,

544-458: The surprise attack against the USN Pacific Fleet and its base at Pearl Harbor , Hawaii , on 7 December 1941 (8 December [1208] in Japanese calendar ). On the other hand, the "No Go" signal used the mountain's name, if needed, would be TSUKUBAYAMAHARE ( ツクバヤマハレ [Kanji: 筑波山晴れ ] ), meaning "Mount Tsukuba is sunny". Located at an elevation of approximately 140 meters, Mount Tsukuba

576-615: The Mountain of Tsukuba / Where the eagles dwell / Near the Wells of Mohakitsu, / Seeking each other, in song of Kagai, / I will seek the wives of other men / And let other men woo my own. / The gods dwelling in these mountains / Have allowed this / Since olden times; / Do not make exception today / And do not reproach the lovers / And blame them not.” The Imperial Japanese Navy used the "Go" signal— NIITAKAYAMANOBORE 1208 ( ニイタカヤマノボレ一二○八 [Kanji: 新高山登る一二○八 ]) , meaning "Climb Mount Niitaka 1208"—to begin

608-543: The Tsukuba mikan belongs to the Rutaceae family and has historical roots, with mentions dating back to the "Hitachi Fudoki." The successful cultivation of mandarin oranges on Mount Tsukuba is attributed to the presence of a "thermal belt" on the mountain slope. This thermal belt experiences higher temperatures compared to the foothills, especially during the cold winter months. In the elevation range of 170-270 meters on Mount Tsukuba,

640-446: The area "Tsukuha", which is now pronounced Tsukuba. As legend has it, thousands of years ago, a deity descended from the heavens and asked two mountains for a place to spend the night. With its great summit and almost perfect cone, Mt. Fuji refused, believing with pride and arrogance that it does not need the deity's blessings. Mt. Tsukuba, on the other hand, humbly welcomed the honored guest, even offering food and water. Today, Mt. Fuji

672-622: The area between the two peaks. Here one can purchase ramen , omiyage , beer and the local cure-all, toad oil (がま油). At both Mt. Nantai-san and Mt. Nyotai-san are small shrines devoted to their respective gods. The mountain is a popular starting point for parasailing. Mount Tsukuba has an abundance of nature which covers the entire mountain. At lower elevations of the mountain are trees such as live oak (赤樫) , mountain cherry (山桜) , Japanese cedar (杉) , Japanese red pine (赤松) and Hinoki cypress (檜) . Higher in elevation, one can find species such as beech (ぶな) , Japanese mountain maple (山紅葉) and

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704-500: The entire area is flat land with an elevation of about 20 to 60 meters or extremely gentle hills, and about 95% of the total area of the city is residential or cultivated. rice paddies occupy about 40% of the total area of the city. Ibaraki Prefecture Tochigi Prefecture Chikusei has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa ) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Chikusei

736-531: The foot of the southern face lies the main shrine called “Tsukuba-san-jinja” (筑波山神社). This ancient shrine is a popular destination for tourists, festival ( matsuri ) attendees and the occasional Japanese-style wedding. It is from here where the main hiking trails up the mountain begin. One can choose to go straight up the mountain via the Miyukigahara course (御幸ヶ原コース), which parallels the Swiss -made funicular , to

768-430: The lake from its sources of ocean water. As a result, the salinity of Lake Kasumigaura declined, and today the lake contains fresh water. This lake was famous for its traditional fishery during the Edo period . But today, fishing production has drastically decreased due to water quality deterioration that was partially caused by the closure of the tide gate in 1963 for purposes of desalination. Today, Lake Kasumigaura

800-587: The lake in the summer to view the Hobikibune (帆引き船) sailed fishing boats which are unique to Lake Kasumigaura. The Suigo aquapark , located in Tsuchiura , is popular during the hottest months. The windmill of Kasumigaura comprehensive park is a popular site along the shores throughout the year and especially in the spring when the tulips are flowering. The lake is a recreation hotspot. Sport fishing enthusiasts and anglers can be found close to shore and around

832-475: The merger of the city of Shimodate, and towns of Akeno , Kyōwa and Sekijō (all from Makabe District). Chikusei has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 24 members. Chikusei contributes two members to the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Ibaraki 1st district of the lower house of

864-587: The modern city of Chikusei were administered by Shimodate 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 of Shimodate was established within Makabe District, Ibaraki ). Shimodate was raised to city status on March 15, 1954. The city of Chikusei was established on March 28, 2005, from

896-611: The mountains' marriage and promoting marriage between people. A poem by Takahashi no Mushimaro in the anthology Man'yōshū implies that these festivals also permitted adultery: 「鷲住 筑波乃山之 裳羽服津乃 其津乃上尓 率而 未通女壮士之 徃集 加賀布嬥歌尓 他妻尓 吾毛交牟 吾妻尓 他毛言問 此山乎 牛掃神之 従来 不禁行事叙 今日耳者 目串毛勿見 事毛咎莫」 “Washi no sumu / Tsukuha no yama no / Mohakitsu no / sono tsu no ue ni / adomohite / wotome wotoko no / yukitsudohi / kagafu kagahi ni / hitozuma ni / ware mo majiramu / waga tsuma ni / hito mo kototohe / kono yama wo / ushihaku kami no / mukashi yori / isamenu waza zo / kefu nomi ha / megushi mo na miso / koto mo togamu na” “On

928-528: The notch between the peaks. Or one can follow the Shirakumobashi course (白雲橋コース) up to the east ridge, where it joins up with the Otatsuishi course, and then continues on up to Mt. Nyotai. In addition to the funicular there is also an aerial tramway which follows the east ridge up the mountain, paralleling the Otatsuishi course (おたつ石コース). At the top of the mountain there are many gift shops and food stalls in

960-553: The river mouths surrounding the lake. Recreational boats , such as yachts , power boats , sail boats and personal watercraft , are regularly enjoyed on warm weekends. The wide surrounding wetlands are wonderful for birdwatching , as large numbers of water fowl can be observed, primarily during the wintering period. Japanese cormorant , Bewick’s swan , little egret , grey heron , mallard , Eurasian wigeon , striated heron , sharp-tailed sandpiper , bush warbler , wood sandpiper , marsh grassbird , Japanese reed bunting , and

992-513: The rivers connecting them. In this case the total area is 220 km . About 45% of the land surrounding the lake is natural landscape and 43.5% is agricultural land. Lake Kasumigaura originally was a brackish-water lagoon , with indirect connections to the Pacific Ocean via the Hitachigawa and Tone Rivers. In 1963, the construction of a gate near the confluence of these rivers disconnected

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1024-472: The thermal belt maintains temperatures 3-4 °C higher than the foothills, creating favorable conditions for mandarin orange cultivation. This phenomenon has allowed for the appearance of tourist-oriented mandarin orchards since the 1980s. A similar utilization of a thermal belt for agriculture is observed in Shizuoka Prefecture, where tea cultivation takes advantage of comparable conditions. Mt. Tsukuba

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