Tsukuba Science City

**Booking the JAXA tour:** Reserve online at JAXA's English site at least 1 week ahead (tours fill fast during school holidays). The 60-minute guided tour includes the Space Station Test Building (actual ISS components used for testing), the Rocket Hangar (H-II components), and the Mission Control Room (active but observed from gallery). Photography allowed in most areas except mission control. **What to focus on:** The ISS Kibo module mockup is the highlight — a full-scale replica where astronauts practice experiments in simulated microgravity. The guide explains how Japan's focus on materials science and protein crystallization experiments complements NASA's human research. The H-II rocket engine (LE-7A) on display burned hydrogen at 3500°C — the real hardware, not a model. **AIST Tsukuba innovation tour:** AIST (15-min bus from JAXA) offers monthly open-house events (check schedule online) where visitors can see humanoid robots (HRP series), try VR earthquake simulators, and tour the Geological Museum. More hands-on than JAXA, better for kids. Free admission. **Mount Tsukuba side trip:** After science immersion, decompress with a 30-min bus ride to Mount Tsukuba (877m), sacred twin peaks with a cable car to the summit. The view spans the Kanto Plain to Tokyo. The mountain's forest and shrine precincts provide total contrast to Tsukuba's modernism. **Where to eat:** Tsukuba Center area near the station has izakaya and ramen shops frequented by international researchers — multilingual menus common. Try 'Tsukuba University Ramen' at Rai Rai Tei, developed in collaboration with university food science students.