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Ryusendo Cave is a limestone cave located in Iwaizumi Town, Iwate Prefecture, also known as Iwaizumi Wakkutsu.
With a total length of approximately 1,200m and a height difference of approximately 249m, it is considered one of Japan's three great limestone caves, along with Akiyoshido Cave in Yamaguchi Prefecture and Ryugado Cave in Kochi Prefecture. It is said that the actual total length is even longer, but it has not been fully investigated.
In 1938, it was designated a national natural monument under the name "Iwaizumi Wakkutsu Cave and Bats" along with five species of bats that inhabit the cave.
A mysterious underground lake with famous spring water
Iwaizumi Town is a settlement nestled in the mountains, and while access isn't particularly easy, it's a wonderful place with abundant nature. Beautiful water flows out of Ryusendo Cave in large quantities as a river, and a walking path has been built around this clear river.
You can tour the inside of the limestone cave for a fee.
Inside, there are various sights to see, such as "Dragon's Abyss" and "Silent Waterfall," but the best is undoubtedly the underground lakes. It is famous for having a total of seven underground lakes, and the mystical blue color that seems to draw you in is called "Dragon Blue" and is well worth seeing.
The spring water from the underground lakes is also famous as pure water, and in 1985, "Ryusendo Water" was selected as one of Japan's 100 best waters.
The Ryusen Shindo Science Museum, located across the road from Ryusendo Cave, can also be accessed with your Ryusendo Cave admission ticket.
It displays stone tools, pottery, and other artifacts excavated from the Ryusen Shindo Cave, which was newly discovered during the tourism development work.
