Mt. Tsukuba（筑波山, Tsukubasan）
| Elevation | 877 m |
|---|---|
| Classification | 100 Famous Mountains of Japan |
| Location | Ibaraki Pref. (茨城県 つくば市) |
| Coordinates | 36.22581, 140.10500 |
Highlights of Mt. Tsukuba
- Selected as one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Japan
- Elevation 877 m
- Located in Ibaraki Pref.
Weekly weather (reference)
About Mt. Tsukuba
Mount Tsukuba (筑波山, Tsukuba-san) 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 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.
Tacrolimus, an immunosuppressive drug used for organ transplants, was first disovered in a soil bacterium named after the mountain, Streptomyces tsukubensis. The name tacrolimus itself is derived from "Tsukuba macrolide immunosuppressant".
Etymology
The Fudoki of Hitachi Province (常陸国風土記, Hitachi no kuni Fudoki), 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...