The old is the original villages that merged to become a city more than 20 years ago. The new was the creation of the "science city" that made such a merger necessary. Now there is a very high concentration of research centers, international companies, and of course, Tsukuba University.
Even in the past 7 years that I have been here, the city is changing again. There are 3 shopping malls, the latest being IIAS (strange name!) that is the largest mall in the Kita-kanto area. And many new residential areas creating a property boom.
The stimulus for much change has been the Tsukuba Express Line that opened two and a half years ago. The line is so profitable that the company has applied for an extention of the tracks from Akihabara through to Tokyo Station.
But despite all these old and new things, the most defining feature of Tsukuba is its mountain. Mt. Tsukuba is not so high, 877 meters, but is very beautiful with an unusual shape. My favorite view is from due south, but many people like different views. And I think winter is best because the sky is so clear.
One of the most beautiful scenes I have ever seen was last Sunday - very cold rain had been falling in the city all day, and the cloud finally lifted just after 4pm. Tsukuba-san, which had been hiding all day, was suddenly revealed in the glorious orange sunset. Capped with snow!
Mount Fuji is certainly a "must see" mountain of the world, but last Sunday, Mount Tsukuba was in a class of its own!
A big "thank you" to K-san who kindly sent me this photo. (I didn't have my camera when I went out last Sunday afternoon.)
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