So, there really IS an interesting path up to Tsukuba-san! We went towards the plum-garden from the parking, then after a few hundred meters turned right up the bed of a small river, following something that may or may not have been a path. We met a real path at some point, which led us further up, but more "left", until we met a branch where we followed a rocky river bed all the way up to Nantai-san. The rest was the "standard route".
Here are some pictures:
 Tsukuba-san |
 Bjoern |
 On the "path" up |
 Bjoern following Masako, who is following "red marks". Some of us remembered Ryujinkyo... |
 Yoko, Victor and Iulia, wearing traditional TWMC Christmas-walk headgear |
 Masako, Souad and Iulia on Nantai-san |
 View of Nantai-san from Nantai-san |
 Back at Tsukuba-san shrine |