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30-479: Oda Castle is located 5 kilometers south of Mount Tsukuba , in southwestern Hitachi Province , overlooking the Sakura River which flows from the northern slope of Mount Tsukuba towards Lake Kasumigaura . Although the surrounding area is a large plain, when the castle was built Lake Kasumigaura extended further inland, and the area surrounding the castle consisted of many smaller rivers and marshes, which divided

60-681: A fortified residence at the foot of Mount Oda, and his descendants took the surname of "Oda" after this place name. However, later in the Kamakura period, the Hōjō clan gradually expanded into Hitachi, usurping many of the Oda clan's estates. For this reason, the Oda were early and strong supporters of the Kenmu restoration of Emperor Go-Daigo and the overthrow of the Kamakura shogunate . The Oda remained loyal to

90-546: 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

120-446: 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) ,

150-635: 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

180-485: 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,

210-506: 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

240-420: 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

270-508: The Japanese green woodpecker . Bodaiji A bodaiji ( 菩提寺 , lit. " bodhi temple" ) in Japanese Buddhism is a temple which, generation after generation, takes care of a family's dead, giving them burial and performing ceremonies in their soul's favor. The name is derived from the term bodai ( 菩提 ) , which originally meant just Buddhist enlightenment ( satori ), but which in Japan has also come to mean either

300-579: The Late Hōjō clan and the Oda and Satake were traditionally hostile to one another, the Oda allied with the Hōjō. Oda Castle was greatly expanded and its defenses strengthened. However, Oda Ujiharu and defeated by the Satake in 1559, and lost Oda Castle in battles with Uesugi Kenshin in 1564 and again in 1566. Each time he retreated to Tsuchiura Castle (which the clan also held) and was able to recover Oda Castle with

330-778: The Southern Court against Ashikaga Takauji , and during the Nanboku-chō period , Southern Court general Kitabatake Chikafusa made Oda Castle his field headquarters for over a year, and wrote the Jinnō Shōtōki (Chronicles of the Authentic Lineages of the Divine Emperors) defending the Southern Court's claims, while he was at Oda Castle. However, as the Southern Court gradually waned in power,

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360-472: 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 ) , a national geography completed in 721 AD, says Mount Tsukuba

390-466: 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

420-624: 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

450-666: The Oda clan was finally forced to pledge fealty to the Muromachi shogunate . Although the titular title of shugo was lost to the Satake clan , the Oda remained ranked as one of the eight most prestigious clans of the Kantō region. Into the Sengoku period , the Oda clan was surrounded by more powerful and aggressive neighbors. As the Uesugi clan and Satake clan formed an alliance against

480-466: The Satake clan submitted and were rewarded with all of Hitachi Province. The Satake victory was short-lived, as they were transferred to Dewa Province shortly after the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 by Tokugawa Ieyasu . Oda Castle was abandoned at that time. Oda Castle is located at the foot of Mount Oda and was originally little more than a fortified manor house with a moat and earthen rampart. During

510-466: The Sengoku period, it was expanded to include a second, third and fourth concentric enclosure, each with an elaborate maze-like system of water moats. The main residence was located between the inner most and second moat, and occupies as rectangular area approximately 120 by 140 meters. Yagura watchtowers were located at the west, east and south corners. The main gate of the castle was to the north, and

540-553: 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,

570-622: 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

600-525: The care of one's dead to ensure their welfare after death or happiness in the beyond itself. Several samurai families including the Tokugawa had their bodaiji built to order, while others followed the example of commoners and simply adopted an existing temple as family temple. Families may have more than one bodaiji . The Tokugawa clan , for example, had two, while the Ashikaga clan had several, both in

630-528: The clan's bodaiji temple was to the west. In total, the castle measures approximately one kilometer from east to west, and 700 meters north–south. After the Meiji restoration , the outer area of the castle was lost to urban development, and the ruins of the castle were bisected by the tracks of the now defunct Kanto Railway Tsukuba Line (with the Visitor Center near the castle located on the grounds of

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660-541: 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

690-438: The former train station). The main area of the castle remains relatively well preserved and archaeological excavations began to be carried out from 1997 through 2004. A portion of its clay ramparts and marshy moats were restored and the site opened to the public in 2016 as the "Oda Castle Ruins History Plaza". Mount Tsukuba Mount Tsukuba ( 筑波山 , Tsukuba-san ) is an 877 m (2,877 ft) mountain located at

720-611: 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

750-462: 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

780-541: 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

810-514: The support of the local populace. The castle fell to the Satake in 1569, but before Oda Ujiharu could retake it, he was besieged and defeated at Tsuchiura as well in 1573. Normally, this would have been the end of the Oda clan, but Oda Ujiharu was very persistent and waged a ceaseless guerrilla campaign against the Sakate for the next 20 years, at times coming close to recovering Oda Castle. His hopes were extinguished by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1590, when

840-674: The territory into numerous defensible islands. Of the many smallholdings in the area, the Oda clan, Hitachi with Oda Castle, was the most powerful. The Oda clan was a cadet branch of the Hatta clan, who were the shugo of Hitachi Province in the Kamakura period . Hotta Tomoie achieved distinction in the campaign against the Northern Fujiwara and was awarded estates in Hitachi Province by Minamoto no Yoritomo . He constructed

870-481: 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

900-453: 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 the area "Tsukuha", which

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