[Fukushima] Abukuma Cave
As far as I could find, there were no buses from the JR station a few kilometers away, so it may be difficult to access Abukuma Cave without a car or tour bus. Also, as written on the official website, even the normal course is unstable and has quite a few ups and downs, so I highly recommend wearing comfortable sneakers and going only when your legs are in perfect condition!
Still, the magnificent space where you can experience the feeling of exploring is a must-see! I went there in the middle of winter, but the temperature inside the cave is constant all year round and the humidity is high, so it was a different world from the outside, so I ended up wearing short sleeves while climbing and descending the stairs. Also, my glasses fogged up! I personally recommend contact lenses to enjoy the spectacular view. Also, I think it's absolutely necessary to wipe the lens of your camera if you take photos.
At first I thought Abukuma Cave was a natural monument, but to be precise, the designated course was the "Irimizu Cave" which is a course at a slightly distant entrance. This course seems to be quite a serious cave exploration, as you have to change clothes and be accompanied by a guide at the back. I went there late at night, so they had already stopped accepting reservations.
In addition to the course open to the public, the cave is very long and there seem to be undiscovered areas that have not yet been fully explored, making it a place where you can feel the romance of limestone caves.
So, I was able to add Fukushima Prefecture to my record of traveling around the country.
#trip2022 #AbukumaCave #LimestoneCave #Fukushima