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"A town where you can encounter two universes" - what does this catchphrase mean? [Takine Town, Tamura City, Fukushima Prefecture]

Tamura City's Takine Town, located almost in the center of Fukushima Prefecture, has the catchphrase, "A town where you can meet two universes." This time, we will introduce the mysteries of Takine Town, hidden in both the depths of the earth and the heavens.

What is Takine Town, the "town where you can encounter two universes"?

Takine-machi in Tamura City, Fukushima Prefecture, is a town located on the Abukuma Plateau and boasts abundant natural beauty. To the east of the town stand mountains reaching over 1,000 meters in elevation, withMount Otakinebeing well-known among mountain climbing enthusiasts. Sendai-daira, located on the western slope of Mount Otakine, is a viewpoint offering panoramic views of the town below. It's also a popular spot for camping and hiking.

Agriculture is also thriving, taking advantage of the cool climate of the plateau and the abundant water produced by the mountains. Wild grapes grown in the town are processed to produce jam, juice, wine, and more

One of the catchphrases used to convey the charm of Takine Town is, "A town where you can meet two universes." Two universes...? It certainly makes you scratch your head, doesn't it?

In fact, the two universes refer to a famous spot in Takine Town

  • A place where you can encounter the universe beneath the earth: Two limestone caves
  • A place to see the universe in the sky: Astronomical observatories

We will explain each one in detail

The universe beneath the earth: A limestone cave where you can feel the breath of ancient Earth

Takine TownAbukuma CaveIrizumiLimestone Cavehas two limestone caves

Abukuma Cave: Experience the beauty of nature

Abukuma Cave is 4,218.3 meters long, of which 600 meters are open to the public. It is characterized by the wide variety of stalactites that can be seen, including stalactites dripping from the ceiling and stalagmites growing from the floor

The largest hall in the cave, "Takine Goten," features rare stalactites found nowhere else in Abukuma Cave. Each has a name that reflects its unique characteristics, such as Crystal Curtain, Shield, and Cave Coral.

The "World of the Moon" hall features a lighting system for stage effects, which enhances its fantastical appearance. Abukuma Cave was reportedly the first limestone cave in Japan to install this system.

You can see up close this magnificent piece of art that has been raised drop by drop by the erosion of the groundwater itself. The general course takes about 40 minutes, so one of its attractions is that it is easy to visit. The cool cave interior means you won't feel the heat even in midsummer. It seems like it could be used as a summer holiday spot

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT
[Tamura City, Fukushima Prefecture] Abukuma Cave is one of Japan's most famous limestone caves! Experience the natural beauty created by 80 million years of time!
https://jp.neft.asia/archives/3788
Abukuma Cave, a limestone cave in Tamura City, Fukushima Prefecture, is known as the largest limestone cave in the Orient for its variety and number of stalactites. This natural work of art, created over the course of 80 million years, is well worth a visit. Abukuma Cave's Origins: Abukuma Cave, located within the Abukuma Kogen Chubu Prefectural Natural Park, is known, along with Irizumi Cave, as part of the Abukuma Cave System, a group of caves formed by water springing from the south of Mt. Otakine to the east. https://jp.neft.asia/archives/4738 The cave was discovered in 1969, when a dynamite explosion occurred during limestone mining...
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Abukuma Cave <Information>

  • Facility name: Abukuma Cave
  • Address: 1 Sugaya Higashikamayama, Takine-cho, Tamura City, Fukushima Prefecture, 963-3601
  • Phone number: 024-778-2125
  • Business hours: 8:30-17:30 (8:30-16:30 from December 1st to March 12th)
  • Closed: Open all year round
  • URL:https://abukumado.com/

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Irimizu Cave: A place to soak up your sense of adventure

Irimizu Cave is a 900m long limestone cave. It was discovered in 1927 and has been investigated for many years since then. There are many oddly shaped stalactites inside the cave, and it has been designated as a national natural monument

The greatest feature of Irizumi Cave is its natural environment. Water flows through the cave, and from a certain point onwards you have to go through the water to get any further inside. For this reason, there are two sightseeing courses inside the cave: Course A, which only shows the general tourist cave part where you won't get wet, and Course B, which goes all the way to the area where the water flows. Course C, which goes further inside and shows all of the public parts of Irizumi Cave, requires the accompaniment of a guide

The process of crawling through the narrow caverns and slithering through the water is just like the "cave exploration" depicted in fantasy. It's sure to stimulate your sense of adventure. Please refer to the official website for detailed information on precautions and what to bring for each course

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT
[Tamura City, Fukushima Prefecture] Irimizu Cave is a dungeon you have to crawl through on all fours! It's full of charm that you won't find in Abukuma Cave!
https://jp.neft.asia/archives/4738
Fukushima Prefecture is home to the nationally famous Abukuma Cave. This time, we'll be introducing Irimizu Cave, another cave that, along with Abukuma Cave, forms part of the Abukuma Cave System. https://jp.neft.asia/archives/3788 The Difference Between Irimizu Cave and Abukuma Cave: Like Abukuma Cave, Irimizu Cave is also open to the public as a tourist cave. However, Abukuma Cave is very tourist-friendly, with illuminated lighting and well-maintained pathways for easy walking. The Entrance to Irimizu Cave: On the other hand, Irimizu Cave is in a completely pristine state. Beautiful...
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Irimizu Cave ＜Information＞

  • Facility name: Irimizu Cave
  • Address: 89-3 Sugaya, Takine-cho, Tamura City, Fukushima Prefecture, 963-3601
  • Phone number: 0247-78-3393
  • Reception hours: Course A 8:30-16:30 / Course B 8:30-15:30
  • URL:https://www.irimizu.com/home

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The Universe in the Sky: Experience the Brightness of the Sky at "Hoshi-no-mura Observatory"

Takine Town is also famous for the beauty of its starry skies. Because there is little light pollution from the ground, you can see a sky full of stars that seem to spill out onto the horizon. The "Star Village Astronomical Observatory台」です。施設内には、天文台、プラネタリウム館、売店コーナーがあります。

The observatory is home to Fukushima Prefecture's largest 650mm Cassegrain reflecting telescope. It also has a dedicated solar telescope, allowing visitors to observe Venus and the moon. It is an exceptionally moving experience to be able to see distant nebulae and galaxies that are invisible to the naked eye. On nighttime open days, you can see a different view than you can see during the day

Hoshinomura Observatory ＜Information＞

  • Facility name: Hoshinomura Observatory
  • Address: 60-1 Kanmata Nukazuka, Takine-cho, Tamura City, Fukushima Prefecture, 963-3602
  • Phone number: 024-778-3638
  • Business hours: 9:00-17:00
  • Closed: Every Tuesday
  • URL:https://www.city.tamura.lg.jp/soshiki/20/

Google Map

"Two universes" you can encounter in Takine Town

of Takine Towntwo universeswe explained about

Takine Town is home to two contrasting universes: the mysterious underground "stalactite cave," and the "observatory" that connects to the cosmos above. The experiences you gain from these two universes will be irreplaceable memories. Use this as a hint when enjoying leisure activities in Takine Town

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