Shizushi Limestone Cave Park, Kyotamba

Great experience with kids, steps is quite steep, not suitable for disable. You can find japanese bred of bats👆😊

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September 20, 2025 (Saturday) My family of three went on a cave exploration trip. Even though it was a Saturday, there was only one other person there, so it was very quiet. From the parking lot, we checked in at the office, and then climbed a steep slope to reach the cave itself, which was quite tiring. The cave was immediately cool upon entering, like being inside a refrigerator. I had brought a jacket, but I sweated quite a bit climbing up and down, and the distance was short, so I think it might have been okay without it. More importantly, work gloves are a must. The handrails were wet and slippery, and so cold that it was difficult to grip. Your clothes will get wet and dirty, so long hems and skirts are a no-go. Also, there were sections where we descended not just steeply, but almost vertically, using ladders. My 3-year-old daughter cried and screamed and gave up halfway. It's understandable, as even adults would find it scary. It's not suitable for toddlers, please don't go. 🙅 There's a long pipe slide and a smaller slide, but neither of them were very slippery. 🛝 There's also a camping facility, which is well-maintained, but there's not a soul around, so it's a little spooky. 😨 However, there was a large maple tree, and I thought it would be nice to camp under it in the fall. 🍁

It's quite a walk from the parking lot (uphill). After purchasing your ticket, you'll have to walk again to the cave entrance (a steep uphill climb). It's quite chilly inside the cave. There are two nearly vertical staircases. It's narrow, but it felt like an attraction and was quite fun. However, I think it would be difficult unless you have a certain level of leg and arm strength. It might not be suitable for small children or the elderly. It's slippery and you'll get dirty on the stairs, so wear proper shoes and clothes you don't mind getting a little dirty.

Heading north on National Route 173 into Kyotanba Town, you'll see a parking lot and signs for the Limestone Cave Park on the right. Turn right and the road soon turns into a gravel road, and you'll see the parking lot. The parking lot can accommodate about 20 cars, but the bottom is unpaved. Crossing the bridge over the national highway from the parking lot leads to the park office and the path to the limestone cave. The park office is about a seven-minute walk from the parking lot, where you pay a park fee of ¥530 per person (including the cave entrance fee). The cave is listed as about 300 meters from the office, but it's actually quite a steep mountain path with a fairly steep incline, making it quite tiring. Once you reach the top of the mountain path, you'll find the cave entrance. The cave itself isn't particularly large, but it's a wonderful natural air conditioner to welcome you during this scorching summer. The temperature inside the cave remains at 15 degrees Celsius year-round, making it almost cold. The cave is almost vertical, so after a while, you'll feel like you're climbing a ladder. The stainless steel handrails are cold, making your hands slippery and quite thrilling. You'll end up at the bottom of the cave, so you'll have to go back the way you came. The cave is beautifully lit, and you can see rock formations like the Golden Pillar and Jizo Rock, formed by years of erosion. It seems like visitors have been tossing coins into the cave for some time, and there's a large pile of coins there. Both on the way to the cave and inside the cave, you'll be climbing mountain paths and ladder-like stairs, so sandals and slippers are not recommended; you must wear shoes. Water drips everywhere inside the cave, and the passages are narrow in places, so white or clean clothing is sure to get dirty. BBQs and camping are available within the park, so some people come for camping. When I visited, rainbow trout fishing was only 300 yen (including bait and equipment), so I thought I'd try it, but I gave up when I found out that you could buy one fish for 350 yen and use it for a BBQ or take it home. There are many other things to enjoy at this facility besides the cave.