[Ryusendo Cave Travel Guide] A Mystical Experience at One of Japan’s Three Great Limestone Caves

The “First Underground Lake” became open to visitors in 1959.
Of the three underground lakes you can view, it’s the shallowest, with a depth of 35 m.
It’s known for its mysterious yet glossy beauty, with a clear, transparent blue color.
Its captivating blue is called “Dragon Blue.”
The lake’s crystal-clear water is so highly regarded that it was selected as one of Japan’s 100 Famous Waters.

The “Second Underground Lake” was confirmed through a diving survey by cave explorers in 1962.
It has a depth of 38 m.
To the north of Mt. Ureirasan, where Ryusendo Cave is located, a forested area spreads out, and rain and snowmelt gather and become the underground lakes of Ryusendo Cave.
Don’t miss the “Second Underground Lake,” a natural wonder with jewel-like beauty.

The “Third Underground Lake” is the final point of Ryusendo Cave that is open to the public.
With a depth of 98 m, it looks as if the color changes like a gradient toward the depths below.
Depending on where the underwater lights are and the angle you view it from, the lake can look like a heart, making it a popular spot for couples.
The beautiful space created by water and light is perfect for a date.

The “Ryusen Shindo Science Museum” is the world’s first natural cave science museum, using a cave as a science museum.
Ryusen Shindo was discovered in 1967 during a prefectural road expansion project.
Since it sits on the opposite bank across the river from Ryusendo Cave, it’s said there’s a strong possibility they were once connected.
Traces of water flow remain, and the limestone cave formations are well developed, making it academically valuable.

“Gekkyuden (Moon Palace)” features lighting with five-color LEDs, letting you enjoy dreamy changes of light.
It’s named because the stalactites inside look like a world on the moon.
From the return route of “Gekkyuden (Moon Palace),” the rocky surface when looking toward the entrance appears like a heart, and many couples walk through holding hands.
It’s also popular as a “spiritual spot where love comes true.”

“Jodogahama Beach” is a rocky cove along the Sanriku Coast and one of Japan’s most iconic scenic spots.
Around 1680, a monk named Reikyo was said to have exclaimed, “It is just like the Pure Land Paradise,” after seeing its white rocky shore, beautifully clear sea surface, and otherworldly, complex terrain—hence the name.
The intricately shaped coastline, created by the dynamic forces of sea and land, is overwhelmingly powerful and lets you feel the greatness of nature’s strength.
One particularly popular highlight is the “Blue Cave,” a blue space created by sunlight and highly transparent seawater, where you can experience nature’s mysterious energy.

Gandoko Lake is a dam lake created in 1961 by the construction of the “Gandoko Dam.”
Surrounded by forests of white birch and Japanese red pine, it has a mysterious atmosphere and boasts a beautiful landscape said to be Japan’s finest among man-made lakes.
Broadleaf trees flourish and change with the seasons, with fresh greenery in spring and vibrant foliage in fall, and there are also well-maintained campsites, open spaces, and walking paths.
With its cool climate at an altitude of 700 m, it’s a nature park where you can take pleasant walks from spring to early summer while viewing skunk cabbage, lily of the valley, and Japanese azaleas.

A gorge rising along the Satetsu River, a tributary of the Kitakami River that runs through Iwate Prefecture from north to south.
Formed by erosion, sheer cliffs 50 m to 100 m high stretch for around 2 km. The fantastic landscape, dotted with unusual rock formations, caves, and waterfalls, is counted as one of Japan’s 100 Scenic Views and is also designated as a National Historic Site, Place of Scenic Beauty, and Natural Monument.
To view the powerful scenery from the water, take a round-trip “boat ride” that travels along the river in around 90 minutes.
The boatman skillfully steering with a single pole and the “Keibi Oiwake” song sung by the boatman are also among Geibikei Gorge’s signature experiences.