This site is a web media that delivers all kinds of trivia, from sightseeing and gourmet spots in the six Tohoku prefectures to local, customs, and history.
Ryusen-do, the gigantic limestone cave located in Iwaizumi Town, Shimohei District, Iwate Prefecture ?
It is one of Japan's most famous limestone caves, a huge cave whose entire structure has yet to be fully elucidated. This time, we visited this mysterious power spot that will excite even adults!
What is Ryusendo Cave?
Ryusendo Cave is a limestone cave located in the eastern part of Mount Urira in Iwaizumi Town, Shimohei District, Iwate Prefecture, about a two-hour drive from Morioka City . It is also known as Iwaizumi Wakutsu
Ryusendo Cave (entrance)
is confirmed to be 4,088m making it the fifth longest cave in Japan
It is counted as one of the three major limestone caves in Japan, along with Akiyoshido in Mine City Ryugado Cave in Kami City, Kochi Prefecture
Ryusendo Cave (stalactites)
Inside, you can see a variety of sights created by the cave, including icicles, cave coral, stalagmites, rimstone, flowstone, and stone pillars
The spring water has been selected as one of Japan's 100 best waters
Ryusendo Cave is also known as Iwaizumi Yakutsu, and as its name suggests, a large amount of water springs out from it, and eight underground lakes has also been confirmed (currently, only three of these are open to the public).
Ryusendo Cave (Shimizu River)
The water volume is over 17,000 m3 per day , and the slightly alkaline water, which is rich in calcium, "100 Famous Waters of Japan" addition to being used as tap water in Iwaizumi Town, it is also commercially available as mineral water.
I envy the people of Iwaizumi Town for being able to drink tap water from one of Japan's 100 famous water sources!
Is Ryusendo Cave famous for bats?
Ryusendo Cave is also designated as a natural monument. Its registered name is "Iwaizumi Wakutsu and Bats ." Along with the cave, the bats are also registered as natural monuments.
Ryusendo Cave (Bat Cave)
In fact, only about 700m of the entire Ryusen Cave is currently open to the public, with the rest of the cave remaining undeveloped or under investigation. Among these caves the "Bat Cave," where five species of bats have been spotted: the greater horseshoe bat, the lesser horseshoe bat, the Japanese long-eared bat, the Japanese bunny bat, and the long-eared bat.
Among these, the long-eared batthe horseshoe bat with its complex nose structure horseshoe bat , which is slightly smaller and has a pale brown underside , are said to be academically valuable species.
Is the power spot "Ryusendo Cave" a sacred place for lovers?
Since ancient times, Ryusendo Cave has been said to grant visitors the ability to "open their third eye and see the truth of things," and to"break through the status quo and move on to a new stage," and competitions, work, and health . The third eye is an amazing thing...
However, in recent years, it has become popular as a power spot for finding love , having been selected as a "Lovers' Sanctuary"
When I first heard about it, I wondered why, but the reason wasn't explained in detail, so I decided to look into what I thought might be the reason
Does it look like a heart? The existence of the Moon Palace
The Moon Palace located just inside the entrance , is a popular photo spot for couples because when you look at it from the back on your way home, it looks like a slightly slanted heart.
Is this cold water Hyakkoi Water?
In the local dialect, cold water is called "hyakkoi mizu ," so the water is affectionately known as "hyakkoi mizu" (100 love water) or "hatsukoi mizu" (first love water),
"First Love" is fine, but I think "One Hundred Loves" is too full of love and might not be so good... but that's just my personal opinion
The existence of O-holes and Me-holes
There are many old legends about Ryusendo Cave, one of which is the story of O-ana and Me-ana
, Shimizugawa Myojin at the entrance to Ryusen Cave, which was different from the present day , and it is said that there were two caves in the rock wall here called "Oana" and "Meana." It is said that young men and women praying for the fulfillment of their love would secretly visit the myojin, and then the man would throw a pebble into Meana and the woman into Oana to have their love fortunes read.
Does the Third Underground Lake look heart-shaped?
The third underground lake inside the cave appears heart-shaped due to the LED lighting .
...This might be a bit harsh
One more thing to add is that the water from was praised as "water that brings fertility."
Some of the reasons were a little questionable, but I think it's these reasons combined that led to it being selected as a "sacred place for lovers"!
Highlights of Ryusendo Cave
Inside Ryusendo Cave, there is of course the underground lake, but there are also many other attractions. This time, we will introduce the highlights along the sightseeing course route
Once you pass through the air curtain at the entrance, you'll hear the roar of the river! The Hyakken Corridor will tickle your sense of adventure
The first thing you see when you enter the cave is an air curtain that blocks strong winds. The details are unknown, but it is likely intended to maintain the environment inside the cave by blocking air circulation with the outside
Although it is a constant sound from outside the cave, even inside the cave you can hear the roar of a river, as if you were along a mountain stream with a large amount of water. the water gushing out from inside the cave creates a river inside the cave .
Ryusendo Cave (a mountain stream inside the cave)
Walking along the well-maintained footing, sometimes directly above the river and sometimes along the riverside, mysteriously stimulates your sense of adventure and makes you feel excited. It's as if you're at an attraction in a certain theme park in Chiba Prefecture
Ryusendo Cave (Hyakuken Corridor)
As you go further in, the passage gradually becomes more linear, then changes into a terrain that looks like a high split leading up to the ceiling. This is Hyakkenroka , and there is an anecdote that says that long ago, a long, narrow path was created when a dragon passed through it.
The wide open space of the Moon Palace makes you feel like you're on the moon
It is called the Moon Palace because it evokes the image of the surface of the moon that appears in movies and novels
Ryusendo Cave (Moon Palace)
Here you can see stalactites of various shapes that have been formed over a long period of time, including rocks with unique names based on their appearance, such as Venus Cave, Silent Waterfall, Kameiwa Rock, and Jizo Rock
Beautiful but a little scary? Three mysterious underground lakes
Once you leave the Moon Palace and follow the route, the three underground lakes will finally come into view
Ryusendo Cave (underground lake)
First of all, the First Underground Lake is 35 meters deep . Ryusendo Cave has long been known as a cave from which a large amount of water springs forth, but perhaps due to fear, no internal investigations were carried out until recently. Exploration began in the 1920s, and the first investigation of the First Underground Lake was carried out in 1959.
Ryusendo Cave (Second Underground Lake)
Next comes the Second Underground Lake , which 38 meters deep and was discovered in 1962 during a diving survey by Kenichiro Ochi.
Ryusendo Cave (Third Underground Lake)
the Third Underground Lake discovered during a diving survey in 1967. It is said to 98 meters deep .
The tourist course ends here, but apparently five more underground lakes have been discovered further ahead. That's an incredible amount of water! Research has revealed that these waters are collected from the forest area north of Ryusendo Cave, with a catchment area of 43 square kilometers and the furthest water reaching them being 14 kilometers away .
From here, it's all about stamina! Climb the stairs to the highest point on the sightseeing course
This is where the sightseeing course ends. There are two routes to choose from on the way back.
First, you will go back the way you came. It's easy because you just go back the way you came
The other course is a climb up the stairs Mihara Pass , which is quite tough. There is even a warning sign along the way that says, "If you are not feeling well, please turn back." According to the sign, there are 165 steps to climb and 107 steps to descend, for a total of 272 steps .
Ryusendo Cave (Daiichi Underground Lake Observation Deck)
This is the view looking down from the First Underground Lake Observatory,
Information board, thermometer, and hygrometer at Mihara Pass in Ryusendo Cave
This information board is located at Mihara Pass , the highest point on the sightseeing course about 35 meters above the surface of the underground lake .
summary
When I think of caves, I imagine exploring a narrow, dark place cautiously, but Ryusen Cave was spacious and comfortable to visit, and I was truly amazed by its scale!
I hope that in the future, as more research and maintenance progresses, the tour course will be expanded!
Incidentally, on the other side of the road is Ryusen Shindo, which was discovered during road widening work in 1967. This has been developed as a science museum, and stone tools and earthenware excavated from within the cave are on display. You can enter the museum with your ticket to Ryusen Cave, so it might be worth taking a look
Traveling around the Tohoku region, I enjoy drinking delicious sake and exploring the local history, traditions, and customs. I write articles based on my interests. I'm currently interested in folk performing arts, local toys, and folk beliefs.
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