Upvote:1
There actually is another (but less sane) way to travel, and is preferable if you want to avoid the bus. Here it is:
Keisei Sky Access Line to Higashi-Matsudo;
JR Musashino Line to Minami-Nagayama;
Tsukuba Express to Tsukuba.
Upvote:5
There's actually only one sane way to make this trip: take the direct bus from the airport to Tsukuba for 2200 yen. Buses run hourly and take ~60 minutes, schedules here: http://pfwww.kek.jp/users_info/access/busnrte.html
All other options either involve a massive detour via Tokyo, doubling the travel time, or are wildly expensive (taxi).