風連鍾乳洞

Furen shonyudo - Furen Limestone Cave

Useful Information

Location:	1632 Notsumachi Oaza Tomari, Usuki, Oita 875-0351. 37 km south of Oita City on Route 10. 15 minutes from JR Inukai Station, 20 minutes from Usuki IC. (33.0113206, 131.7356733)
Open:	MAR to OCT daily 9-17. NOV to FEB daily 9-16. [2023]
Fee:	Adults JPY 1,000, Children (6-14) JPY 700. Disabled: Adults JPY 700, Children (6-14) JPY 500. Groups (20+): Discount JPY 100. [2023]
Classification:	Karst cave
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	L=500 m, T=15 °C.
Guided tours:	self guided, L=1,000 m, D=30 min.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Furen Limestone Cave Tourism Association, 1632 Notsumachi Oaza Tomari, Usuki, Oita 875-0351, Tel: +81-974-32-2547. E-mail:
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.

History

14-FEB-1926	cave discovered.
	designated a Natural Monument.

Description

風連鍾乳洞 (Furen shonyudo, Furen Limestone Cave) is not very big, but it is said to be one of the most beautiful dripstone caves in Japan. It is entered through a high portal, slanted about 15 degrees as the cave formation followed the cracks in the rock. It is located in a 10 Ma old limestone reef, which was uplifted and slanted by plate movement. The limestone is intensively used for the production of cement.

The 瑞雲(ずいうん)の滝 (Zuun Waterfall) is a spectaculra 10 m high flowstone formation. The 幽香連峰 (Yuka Mountain Range) consists of a group of 30 stalagmites which are up to 2 m high. Beneath normal stalactites and stalagamites the cave also has numerous helictites. A spectacular pilar with a height of 7 m has a diameter of 30 cm at the upper end, the stalactite, 40 cm at the lower end the stalagmite, and only 15 cm in the middle where they are grown together. It is called 霊妙閣 (Reimyokaku).