Tourist Attractions around Tsukuba Center

Tsukuba Botanical Garden 

Web Page: https://tbg.kahaku.go.jp/english/index.php

Access: 5min Bus Ride from the Tsukuba Center Bus Terminal Tsuku-Bus (North: Hokubu Shuttle) (Bus stop No. 3) >> alight at Tsukuba Botanical Garden (5 min.) >> 3 min. walk. OR Techno-Park Oho Route (Bus stop No.5) >> alight at Tsukuba Botanical Garden (c.5 min.) >> 3min. walk

Open Time: 9am to 4:30pm (enter before 4pm), Closed for Mondays. 

Entrance Fee: 320 Yen for Adults (Free for high school students and younger)

Reservation: N/A Language: N/A

Located in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, this botanical garden is a part of the National Museum of Nature and Science, fully utilizing its position amid the rich nature at the southern base of Mt. Tsukuba, 7,000 species of plants—tropical and temperate—from Japan and around the world are cultivated here. General visitors can see roughly 3,000 of them. The garden is divided into nine sections, like evergreens, shrubs, aquatic plants, etc., and features three greenhouses recreating environments like the savannah and the tropical rainforest. You can see many rare foreign plants here.

Tsukuba Science Museum (EXPO Center)

Web Page: https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1454/ https://www.expocenter.or.jp/files/topics/825_ext_01_0.pdf 

Access: 5min Walk from the Tsukuba Center on the Pedestrian Road Open Time: 9:50am to 5pm (enter before 4:30pm), Closed for Mondays. 

Entrance Fee: 500 Yen for Adults, 250 Yen for high school students and younger Planetarium 1,000 Yen for Adults, 500 Yen for high school students and younger

Reservation: N/A

Language: Mainly Japanese 

At this science museum you can see, touch, and enjoy leading edge science. Along with displays that let you learn and experience the mysteries of science you can view miraculous videos and gorgeous starry skies in one of the world’s largest planetariums. With regular events including science shows and lectures you’re sure to make a new discovery every time you visit.

Tsukuba Space Center (JAXA)

Web Page: https://global.jaxa.jp/about/centers/tksc/

Access: 6min bus ride or 10 mins by taxi From Tsukuba Center Bus Terminal, take Kantetsu bus bound for ”Arakawaoki station (West Exit)” (Bus stop No. 4) >> alight at “BUSSHITSU-ZAIRYO-KENKYUKIKO MAE / National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)”. >> 1 min walk. 

Open Time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (enter before 4:30 pm), closed irregularly. 
 (schedule: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/embed?src=10ktsv0plsltccu5rasjl6rt5o@group.calendar.google.com&ctz=Asia/Tokyo ) 

Entrance Fee: Free Reservation: Reservation is required for the guided tour (https://visit-tsukuba.jaxa.jp/tour.html). 

Language: Japanese/English 

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) opened in 2003. In addition to the research, development, and launching of satellites, JAXA is responsible for Japan's space exploration missions, including asteroid explorations.

Tsukuba City is home to JAXA's Tsukuba Space Center. This facility is at the heart of space research and exploration in Japan. It is also responsible for research and development on satellites, rockets, and tracking and controlling satellites in operation. Astronaut training and communication with the International Space Station (ISS) even occur here!

Visitors to JAXA can see actual-size models of the H-II Launch Vehicle (an actual flight model) and satellites. Tours of the facility occur five times a day at 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, and 15:00 (English tours are available with advanced booking). Tours take approximately 75 minutes.

Tsukuba Geological Museum

Web Page: https://www.gsj.jp/Muse/en/

Access: 8 min bus ride and 5 min walk. From Tsukuba Center Bus Terminal, take Kantetsu bus bound for ”Arakawaoki station (West Exit)” (Bus stop No. 4) >> alight at “Namiki 2cho-me” >> 5 min walk.

Open Time: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm

Entrance Fee: Free Reservation: groups of 15 or more are required to make a reservation.

Language: English guide available

The Geological Museum has more than 150,000 registered specimens, such as rocks, minerals and fossils collected through the course of the research activities of the Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ) originally founded in 1882. Since its opening at Tsukuba in 1980, the Geological Museum has been introducing a wide range of visitors to the research activities of GSJ and the general geological information. It provides the public with opportunities to learn about domestic regional geology, underground resources, marine geology, global environment, and geological hazards including volcanic eruption, earthquake and tsunami, as well as the latest knowledge of earth sciences. The Museum holds seasonal special exhibitions and urgent investigation debriefing sessions as necessary. It also advances the effort to make good use of our knowledge and technology on earth science in the industry.

The Geological Museum hopes you to find what our planet really is like, learn how closely humans are interconnected with it, and think what we should do to be friendly with our Only One Earth.

Pedestrian Path

Very good for jogging, biking, and walking, especially during Cherry Blossom Season

Access: 0 min from the venue and Tsukuba Center

About an 8km path that connects a few parks, Tsukuba Center, the EXPO Center, the Tsukuba International Congress Center (venue), and University of Tsukuba (the north end)