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Cave Spots in Japan

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  • Hakuundo Cave
    Travel / Tourism
    Hiroshima Shobara-shi Higashishirocho Taishakumido 1940
    This limestone cave is one of the most spectacular found in Taishaku Gorge, which is in turn counted as one of the 100 Landscapes of Japan. Beyond its narrow entrance, the cave extends back 200 meters and is five-meters-wide and 20-meters-high. The entire area was once limestone tableland; extensive natural erosion over the ages has turned it into a sprawling karst plateau, and it is believed countless vast limestone caverns occupy the area underground. The stalactites, stalagmites, stone columns, and other structures inside the cave have been preserved in their natural state for visitors to enjoy. A wooden walkway and lights have been installed throughout the cave, making it possible to take in the cave’s natural beauty in comfort and safety.
  • Jizokura
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamagata Mogami-gun Okuramura Minamiyama
    This cave is located in Okura Village, Mogami County. Situated in the middle of Mt. Jizomoriyama, there is a promenade to it from Hijiori Onsen. It is said that an old monk who appears in legends about the Hijiori Onsen used to live there, and that you can find luck in love or business by making a pilgrimage to the site.
    Jizokura image
  • Ryukei-do Cave (No. 2 Lava Tunnel)
    Travel / Tourism
    Shimane Matsue-shi Yatsukacho Terazu
  • Fukumitsu Ishi Stone Quarry
    Travel / Tourism
    Shimane Oda-shi Yunotsucho Fukumitsu Ha 1421
    This is the most productive stone quarry in Shimane prefecture, and this facility now offers a glimpse at the history and culture of around 450 years of quarrying here. The stone Fukumitsu-ishi quarried after the late Warring States period is light blue-green tuff, and it was used for the statues of Gohyaku-rakan (five hundred arhats) in the World Heritage Site Iwami Ginzan silver mine. This stone stands out for its excellent humidity control, sound absorption and anti-slip effect, and is a common material for bathroom floors, coasters, shrine torii gates, waterways, and more. Quarrying work still continues in this cool, quiet mine shaft.
    Fukumitsu Ishi Stone Quarry image
  • Kumaya Cave
    Travel / Tourism
    Okinawa Shimajiri-gun Iheya Mura Dana
    Kumaya Cave is located in Dana, Iheya Village, Shimajiri County. It was formed over 280 million years ago by erosion of sedimentary rocks. The interior of the cave is about 10 meters high and stretches about 40 meters from its mouth. It has been designated a Prefectural Natural Monument. The Edo Period scholar, To Teikan, advocated the theory that the cave was Amano-Iwato, a cave that figures in early Japanese mythology, and it is also known as the southernmost land of the Amano-Iwato legend.
    Kumaya Cave image
  • Hoshino Cave
    Travel / Tourism
    Okinawa Shimajiri-gun Minamidaitoson Kita 64
    "A limestone cave in Minami Daito Village, Shimajiri County. It is located on the Minami Daito Island, which was formed by the uplift of a coral reef, and it was formed through the erosion of the limestone that originated from the coral reef. It is the largest of the limestone caves scattered around the island. Visitors can view stalagmites, stalactites, ""curtains,"" and other limestone formations along with fossilized coral."
  • The Hundred Plates
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamaguchi Mine-shi Shuhocho Akiyoshi Akiyoshi-do
    This is the most famous spot in Akiyoshido Cave, a nationally designated Special Natural Monument and one of Japan's largest limestone caves. Just a little way in from the main entrance, you'll find this spectacle of the travertine terrace formed by the precipitation of lime dissolved in water, which looks like an array of stair-stepped plates. The sight of more than 500 cascading plates is simply breathtaking. The lime water running from the middle of the cascade is the creator of these frozen ripple-shapes, and the visible testament to the ages needed to create this formation gives a tangible sense of the earth's history.
    The Hundred Plates image
  • Cave Fuji
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamaguchi Mine-shi Shuhocho Akiyoshi Akiyoshi-do
    "This is the largest stalagmite inside Akiyoshido Cave, one of Japan's largest limestone caverns. The overwhelming rock pillar was formed by the dripping of lime carrying water that deposited the rock little by little over the ages. The snow-white limestone cave roof resembles clouds concealing a mountain peak, helping to give this stalagmite its name. There are other caves with their own ""Cave Fuji,"" but this is much larger than the others, making it quite popular."
    Cave Fuji image
  • The Golden Pillar
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamaguchi Mine-shi Shuhocho Akiyoshi Akiyoshi-do
    This massive limestone pillar stands roughly halfway between Akiyoshido Cave's main entrance and the Kurotani entrance. This golden pillar was formed over tens of thousands of years as underground water rich in calcium carbonate flowed from the ceiling and deposited the limestone here. It's now 15 meters high and 4 meters across. The massive pillar's front seems to be decorated in an intricate pleated pattern like clothing. The beautiful shape resembling that of a palace column has an overwhelming presence, and the way it glitters gold under the LED lights only adds to its impressive display.
    The Golden Pillar image
  • The Blue Ceiling
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamaguchi Mine-shi Shuhocho Akiyoshi Akiyoshi-do
    This is one the famous sights inside Akiyoshido Cave, the largest limestone cavern under Akiyoshidai Plateau, and one of the largest in Japan. This wide open space is found just inside the main entrance, and is about 30 meters high and about 50 meters wide. The distinctive name refers the way the sunlight from the entrance reflects off the river and makes the ceiling look blue, like the sky overhead. The left side has an adventure course where you can use a flashlight to climb the stone shelves and explore. The course is short but climbing ladders and squeezing between stalactites adds a thrilling sense of exploration to your visit. The course is available anytime except when water levels in the cave are unusually high.
    The Blue Ceiling image
  • Akiyoshido Cave Adventure Course
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamaguchi Mine-shi Shuhocho Akiyoshi
    This adventure course leads off of the Blue Ceiling room, just inside the main entrance of Akiyoshido Cave. For a fee, you can rent a flashlight and explore the thrilling, unlit adventure course for about 15 minutes. The course itself is short, but climbing the rock face on ladders and squeezing between stalactites adds a thrilling sense of exploration to your visit. The adventure course is available anytime except when water levels in the cave are unusually high.
    Akiyoshido Cave Adventure Course image
  • Matate-no Iwaya Cave
    Travel / Tourism
    Kagoshima Kumage-gun Nakatane Cho Masuda
    This gaping cave is located next to the Injo Coast. The name stems from a legend that Tanegashima Hatatoki, the 10th lord of the island, suddenly disappeared here long ago, leaving his horse standing at the cave's entrance. The Injo Coast has long been known as a place of scenic beauty thanks to its unusual natural rock formations and giant boulders. The sea cave, which was formed by wave erosion over countless years, quietly blends into the landscape. Entering the cave is currently prohibited due to the danger of falling rocks and cave-ins.
    Matate-no Iwaya Cave image
  • Fucha
    Travel / Tourism
    Kagoshima Oshima-gun Wadomaricho Kunigami 216-1
    "This sea cave is located a 10-minute drive from Okinoerabu Airport, and a 15-minute drive from Wadomari Port. The cave is the result of a raised coral reef eroded by the rough waves of the East China Sea. ""Fucha"" means ""to spout into the air,"" and on days when the sea is rough or waves are high due to a typhoon, etc., the cave can spout jets of water over 10 meters in the air. On calm days, wild sea turtles can sometimes be seen swimming in the cave. A walking trail along the coastline leads to the cave from the direction of the airport."
  • Muroiwa Cave
    Travel / Tourism
    Shizuoka Kamo-gun Matsuzakicho
    The site was used as a quarry for Izu Ishi, a specialty stone used for the stonewalls of Edo Castle, until around 1954. There is also a cave where bats live, providing a bit of a thrill.
  • Kanegasaka Tunnel
    Travel / Tourism
    Hyogo Sasayama-shi Oire
    Kanegasaka Pass connecting Tamba City and Sasayama City was famous in ancient times for its dangerousness. In actuality, three separate tunnels have been built at the pass to ease movement between the two cities: the Meiji tunnel, started in 1880; the Showa tunnel, started in 1965; and the Heisei tunnel, started in 2001, making this place unlike anywhere else in Japan. The Meiji tunnel is the oldest brick-clad tunnel in Japan (and also the fifth oldest extant tunnel in Japan).
    Kanegasaka Tunnel image
  • Keishoji Temple Ruins “Jigoku-Gokuraku”
    Travel / Tourism
    Oita Usa-shi Ajimumachi Higashiera
    This cavern, a 10-minute drive from the Ajimu Interchange on the Higashikyushu Expressway, was dug by hand at the end of the Edo period so that the teachings of the Buddha could be preached to the common people. The inside of the cavern is preserved in its original state, which was a sort of Edo period attraction which enabled visitors to experience what Buddhist hell and paradise were like via a story setting. Stone statues await visitors; Yama, judge of the afterlife, passes judgement at the entrance to the road to hell; deeper in, you can find statues of the old hag Datsue-ba, and the red and blue demons of hell. Beyond Blood Pond, climb the hill of enlightenment to reach the Pure Land and the awaiting Amitabha. There is no entry fee and visitors are free to enter.
    Keishoji Temple Ruins “Jigoku-Gokuraku” image
  • Christian Cave Bethel
    Travel / Tourism
    Oita Taketa-shi Taketa
    This place of worship, a 15-minute walk from JR Bungo-Taketa Station, is one of only a few of its kind in the world and is carved out of tuff rock behind the samurai residences of Tono-machi. Consisting of a domed altar area inside, the bethel has five carved windows and a carved roof; it is believed there was a worship space in the front and an adjoining space where the priest lived in secret. It is said that there were many Christian believers in Taketa and Kusami due to the influence of fervent Christian Shiga Chikatsugu, who was lord of Oka Castle at the end of the Warring States period. After Christianity was prohibited in the country, this cave was used by Christians to worship in secret.
    Christian Cave Bethel image
  • CAVEOKINAWA
    rating-image
    4.5
    21 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Okinawa Uruma Ishikawa Kadekaru 479-1

    Nice natural cave. You cannot beat the price to experience here; a must do for a quick afternoon. Not necessarily a day trip in itself, but easy to combine with other nearby experiences.

  • Kameiwa no Cave
    Travel / Tourism
    Chiba Kimitsu-shi Sasa 1954-17
  • Onagara Cave
    rating-image
    3.5
    4 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Oita

    佐伯市の観光案内、国道からの入り口、分岐点で閉鎖中 標示あるべき。 18年8月 夏休み期間の最後、鍾乳洞入口の市道が、通行止め 入場できません。閉鎖中。再開の見込み表示もなし。

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