Kyusendo the Biggest Cave in Kyushu

Kyusendo

Kyusendo claims to be the biggest cave in Kyushu, being more than 4 kilometers in length. Only about 800 meters of it is open to the public.

It wasn't discovered until 1973. There is a small shrine and a Buddhist altar within the cave. It is also home to thousands of bats, though I didn't see any.

Though nowhere near as impressive as Akiyoshido, the biggest cavern in East Asia, it is more impressive than a few caves I have visited in Japan. Some people like caves, some don't.

It is located on the Kumagawa River in Kumamoto, about halfway between Yatsushiro and Hitoyoshi.

Mikurodo

 

Near the very tip of Cape Muroto in Kochi, Shikoku, is a pair of small caves near the shore that, while not in any way impressive, still get lots of visitors and pilgrims because of their history.

In the first years of the 9th Century a young man named Mao had been trying to achieve Buddhist enlightenment for some years and brought himself to the cape and within these caves set about a grueling program of austerities and meditation.

At the age of 30 he achieved his aim and changed his name to Kukai, a combination of "sea" and "sky" which is what he could see from inside the confines of the cave. 

The mani is now known as Kobo Daishi, a name bestowed on him long after his death, and he is probably the most well-known religious figure in Japanese history, founding the Shuingon sect, and the focus of the Shikoku Pilgrimage.

Nakiri Shrine. Another Cave Shrine

About a 15 minute walk along a path through the woods from Udo Jingu is a small cave with Nakiri Shrine within it.

It is not as impressive as he cave at Udo Jingu, but it is closer to the sea and you are likely to be the only visitor, and so is more atmospheric and even dramatic.

Next to the small shrine is a statue of Fudo Myo. In this case a Namikiro Fudo, a "wave-cutting" Fudo Myo who protects seafarers. In 1868 the cave stopped being a home to a Buddhist deity and became the "shinto" Nakiri Shrine. Can't find any info on which kami they enshrined here, thoufg there is a carving of a fish hanging from the shrine.

This is also what happened at Udo Uingu, which was established as, and existed as for more than a millenia, a Buddhist site, until 1868.

It is well worth the walk from Udo Jingu

Gyokusendo Cavern

Gyokusendo is the largest cave system on Okinawa, and the second largest in Japan after Akiyoshido in Yamaguchi.

It is located in the southern part of the island and is part of the Okinawa World Theme Park.

Formed over 300,000 years, there are about 5 kilometers of cave in total, though only less than one kilometer is open to the public.

There are lots of stalagmites and stalactites as well as running water and pools and the whole thing is illuminated with colored lights.

Akiyoshido details

The cavern of Akiyoshido has numerous features that have all been given evocative names.... this one is called 1,000 Rice Paddies....

There are of course lots of stalagmites and stalagtites.....

Its the biggest cavern in Japan and located in Mine City, Yamaguchi...

This one is named "King of the Cavern"...

This may well be Jellyfish Climbing Waterfall....

Akiyoshi-Do the biggest cavern in Japan

Akiyoshi Do in central Yamaguchi Prefecture is the largest cavern in Japan and one of the largest in East Asia. Located under Akiyoshidai, the largest karst (limestone plateau) in Japan which is home to about 200 caves.

It is about 10 kilometers in length, but only the first kilometer is open to the public.

It truly is cavernous inside, reaching 100 meters at its widest point and 80 meters at the highest point.

It took about 300,000 years for the water to erode the cave system. There are numerous "features" with evocative names but that will be in a later post. If you dont want to walk all the way back out there are two other exits, one an elevator up to the plateau.

Akiyoshido is located in Mine City and is open 365 days a year.

Ikura-do

The entrance to Ikura cave (Ikura-do) is at the base of a 240 meter high cliff along the Takahashi River.

The cave is 1.2 kilometers long and is mostly narrow.

Its best to wear waterproofs as the roof drips.

The cave climbs mostly, and while there are no caverns as such there are several places where one can peer up to great heights.

If you suffer from claustrophobia you probably wouldnt want to go in.

The cave exits high in the cliff face at the Arisanomiya Shrine from where there are stairs leading back down to the river and waterfall.

The cave, gorge, and waterfall are located in northern Okayama Prefecture, not far from Niimi

Not too far away is Maki Cave, only 400 meters long, but more open and spacious.

Arisanomiya Shrine

The shrine of Arisa is located in a cave about 90 meters above the Takahashi River near Niimi in Okayama Prefecture. To get to the shrine you have to walk and climb through 1 kilometer of the Ikura cave.

Arisa was a local girl who lived in the village about 400 years ago. She had a boyfriend called Mosaku. Apparently all was well until one day the daughter of the local lord passed through the village. This girl/woman was so stunninbgly beautiful that even as far away as China they had heard about her great beauty.

Mosaku became smitten by this girl and left the village to go after her and try to win her hand.
Arisa waited.
And waited.
He never did come back.

No longer able to stand her grief Arisa climbed up to the top of the waterfall that drops down from the cliff above the cave and threw herself off.

The villagers built the small hokora for her.

For some reason, the logic of which defies me, the shrine is now a place where young couples come to pray for good relationships.

Unfortunately the only way to reach the shrine is to pay to enter Ikra-do, but it is well worth it.

Cave of 1000 Buddhas

The Cave of 1,000 Buddhas is another of the "attractions" at Kosan-Ji on Ikuchijima in Hiroshima Prefecture.

One descends into a labyrinth of underground caves and tunnels past a series of tableaux and depictions of buddhist hells.

Then one enters the realm of the buddhas.

The caves and tunnels are all man-made.

One emerges back into the light at the foot of a giant statue of Kannon.