Top Things to do

• Boulangerie encuit

  Ibaraki Pref. Tsukubashi Inarimae 33-1

  A popular bread bakery located south from the JAXA Tsukuba Space Center on Prefectural Route 244 heading towards the Joban Expressway. In addition to standard Japanese shokupan bread and sweet buns, the bakery's diverse selection of over 60 bread varieties includes French bread, bagels, rusks, and tarts. The bakery's skilled owner, Hiroki Ogawa, worked at famous Tokyo hotels such as the Tokyo Prince Hotel and has won awards in numerous bakery competitions. Ogawa also likes a challenge, as is revealed by his choice to set up shop in Tsukuba City, a hotly contested market home to many delicious bakeries.

• Tsukuba-CHINA

  Ibaraki Pref. Tsukubashi Shibasaki 998-2

  A Chinese restaurant operating out of a distinctive, white walled modern building. The restaurant is located at the Shibasaki intersection on Prefectural Route 128 cutting through downtown Tsukuba City. The restaurant's menu of over 90 dishes focus on Cantonese cuisine made with shrimp, beef, and pork. The restaurant also offers shark fin and other authentic dishes. In spite of this large selection, one of the restaurant's charms is its simple, family-run atmosphere quite unlike that of large chain restaurants. In addition, there's a lunch menu with reasonably-priced dishes. The establishment is a favorite of local families.

• La Cote d’Azurl Main Shop

  Ibaraki Pref. Tsukubashi Higashiarai 19-26

  "A cake shop located at the Takezono 1-Chome Nishi intersection south of Tsukuba Station, the last stop on the Tsukuba Express. The shop is notable for its abundant variety of sweets. The shop carries cakes and other baked sweets, crepes, puddings, souffles, gelato, and Japanese sweets like daifuku (rice cakes stuffed with bean jam). One of the shop's staples is its ""Hanjuku Cheese,"" small cakes made with French cream cheese and fresh milk from cows raised at the foot of Mt. Tsukuba. There are also many natural parks in the area such as Takezono Park, making the shop a great place to stop by for a snack while enjoying a nature walk. In addition, the shop has free parking and is perfect for making a quick stop while exploring the local sightseeing destinations."

• Science Square Tsukuba

  Ibaraki Pref. Tsukubashi Higashi 1-1-1

  "A science and industry public relations hall which presents the research and results of AIST, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. The entrance to the facility is located at the Namiki 2-Chome intersection along Gakuen Higashi Odori Avenue. Entry is free. With an advance reservation, visitors can also take part in a 40-minute guided tour. Inside, visitors can learn about robots designed to assist daily life activities and iPS cells, ""seeing,"" ""hearing,"" and ""touching"" the not-too distant future. The facility also teaches strange and amazing things about animals, the human body, and other otherwise common and familiar parts of the world around us. The facility's exhibits are designed to inspire an interest in science in children."

• CYBERDYNE STUDIO

  Ibaraki Pref. Tsukubashi Kenkyugakuen 5-19 Eas Tsukuba 2F

  "A robot museum located inside iias Tsukuba a one-minute walk from Kenkyu-gakuen Station on the Tsukuba Express. Operated by Cyberdyne, a company which develops medical robots and other technologies, the museum is free. Here visitors can see and experience cutting edge robotic technology. In the exhibition hall, robots and cutting-edge assistive devices are displayed in front of a 17-meter long video screen. Visitors can also watch an original movie created by Shoji Kawamori, a major contributor to the ""Macross"" series, in an omnivision theater consisting of a 270-degree seamless screen (advance reservation required). In addition, for a small fee, visitors can take the HAL assistive robot exoskeleton for a spin and actually experience the future of robotic technology."

• Sakura Traffic Park

  Ibaraki Pref. Tsukubashi Aduma 4-3-3

  A vehicle-themed park located in Azuma, Tsukuba City where visitors can have fun while learning about traffic rules. The park is designed like a little city, including a brick station building modeled after Amsterdam Station in the Netherlands, small crosswalks, and traffic lights. There's also a D-51 steam locomotive on display which was completed in September 1937 and which operated until 1975, making the park a popular destination not only for families but train fans as well.

• Tsukuba no Yoishina

  Ibaraki Pref. Tsukubashi Aduma 2-128 Tsukuba Express Tsukuba Station yard

  A select boutique located on floor B1 of Tsukuba Station on the Tsukuba Express line. The shop carries an extensive selection of local specialty products and souvenirs from Tsukuba like Fukure mikan mandarin oranges and Tsukuba yacon tubers. Other selections include merchandise from the prestigious University of Tsukuba, handmade hams and sausages crafted by Gakuen Tezukuri Ham no Kai, local Tsukubane ware ceramics, and all manner of quality products created in Tsukuba. The shop takes pride in its lineup of goods which express a love for the area. The shop's stock is switched out on an irregular basis, meaning there's always something new for customers to find.

• Peony Garden Tokyo in Tsukuba

  Ibaraki Pref. Tsukubashi Wakaguri 500

  Some 10 thousand tree peonies spanning 550 varieties as well as 20 thousand Chinese peonies spanning 250 varieties are grown on the vast, approximately 60 thousand square meter grounds of this botanical garden. During the peak blooming period in early summer, the garden sees many visitors. The garden is open from late April to May.

• Tsutsujigaoka Rest House

  Ibaraki Pref. Tsukubashi Tsukuba 1 Tsukuba mountain ropeway Tsutsujigaoka Station landing point

  "A rest house adjoining Mt. Tsukuba Ropeway Tsutsujigaoka Station. Inside, there's a restaurant area as well as a gift shop carrying local specialty products and souvenirs. One of the restaurant's features is its location, which offers a sweeping view of the Kanto Plain. The restaurant's popular array of local dishes include ""Fukure Shoyu Ramen,"" flavored with fragrant Fukure mikan mandarin oranges; and ""Tsukubadori Oyakodon"" chicken and egg over rice made with local Tsukubadori chicken. The restaurant also serves seasonal selections like the ""Aki no Mikaku-zen"" tastes of fall meal and the ""Tsukubadori Nabe Teishoku"" Tsukubadori chicken hot pot set meal. The restaurant's gift shop sells ""Tsukubasan Karinto Manju"" buns, an original souvenir offered nowhere else. Visitors can also buy soft serve ice cream or a yakimanju toasted bun to enjoy while waiting for the next ropeway car."