🗺️ Mianfudong Cave面不動鍾乳洞

In the Dōkawa area of Tenkawa Village, Nara Prefecture, known as the "Sky Secret Realm," there is a vast limestone cave located at an altitude of 878 meters. Discovered in Showa 8 (1933), it took five years to excavate and develop. It is the largest cave in the Kansai region, where limestone caves are rare, and has been designated as a natural monument of Nara Prefecture. It is recommended to take the monorail nicknamed "Little Train" to reach the cave. After a five-minute climb through the steep slopes of coniferous forests, you will see the village of Dōkawa and the breathtaking natural scenery. Inside the 280-meter-long cave, the temperature remains around 10°C year-round and is not windy, making it cool in summer and warm in winter. This mysterious underground space, shaped by the forces of nature over a long period, is full of highlights. Stalactites hanging from the ceiling, stalagmites rising from the ground, and various attractions named Shishikutsu, Gongenkutsu, and Gyōjakutsu can be found. Among them, the most impressive is the "Tube Stalactite," which is slender and tubular in shape. In the latter part of the cave, the Kinseikutsu and Ginseikutsu clearly showcase its presence.

The mysterious underground space is filled with masterpieces of nature. The slender, tube-like stalactites known as "管鍾乳管" (kanchōnyukukan) are particularly rare. It is recommended to take the monorail that offers breathtaking views to get there.