Location: |
Yamanashi, Tabayama Village
(35.833758, 138.929130) |
Open: |
closed. [2021] |
Fee: |
closed. [2021] |
Classification: | Karst Cave |
Light: | Incandescent |
Dimension: | L=740 m. |
Guided tours: | |
Photography: | |
Accessibility: | |
Bibliography: | |
Address: | |
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info. |
1962 | designated as a natural monument by Yamanashi Prefecture. |
1998 | cave closed. |
青岩鍾乳洞 (Aoiwa Cave) has two levels and is known for very white speleothems like stalactites and stalagmites. The cave was named after Aoiwa valley where it is located. It was managed by the nearby Sanjonoyu Lodge. Today it is managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Waterworks. The show cave is closed, and the cave only accessible to cavers with a permit, or "academic research groups" as they call it.
The cave is located at a very remote location, and a long hike is necessary to reach it. Nearby Sanjonoyu Lodge offers an Onzen with hot springs, food and overnight stay. They also offered the cave tours, but they were discontinued in 1998. We do not know why it was actually closed, but the remote location and the resulting low number of visitors might have been one of the reasons. On the other hand, the cave is in a very good shape and the speleothems are quite pristine. The lodge is the starting point for climbing the Mt. Kumotori.