"The highlight of my trip" - Antonio Arenas
*All pictures taken by the author
Ryusendo caves background is explained by geological timescales in which the surface level water started dissolving the limestone drop by drop. This process took thousands of years and in the meantime formed stalactites and underground waters with crystal clear water. These underground lakes are very complex and deep, reaching almost 100m in depth. The exploration began in the 1920's and it was made publicly available in the 1930's. In 1938, it was recognized as a National Natural Monument.
Ryusendo caves are formed little by little when limestone is dissolved by the drops of underground water. Because of this, the cave is full of passages that end in chambers that hold underground lakes that are deep and complex. They maintain a high humidity and a cool temperature that is constant all year round. These lakes come from the ground-level water of spring water from the mountains, and this is what makes the water crystal clear. It is also filled with bats since it's a habitat for them.
I visited the Ryusendo caves in 2025 in November. I was able to see beautiful surroundings and once inside the caves I felt an incredible and relaxing silence that was only interrupted by the drops of water that kept falling into the stones. I went inside and there were parts where I had to crouch but after every hard segment of the tour, there was a beautiful view of a natural underground lake, highlighted by underwater lighting. There are bats all around the cave so one can imagine how natural and well preserved the cave is. Please visit!
Adress: 1-1 Kannari, Iwaizumi, Iwaizumi-cho, Shimohei-gun, Iwate 027-0501, Japan
Instructions (from Morioka Station): Find the East Exit and go to bus stop number 1. Wait for the bus Ryusendo-Mae (龍泉洞前), the ride takes about 2 hours for 2,710 yen. The cave entrance will be in front of you.
Buy on the spot.
Buy the Bus ticket on the spot, it's 2,710 yen
The ticket to access the caves is 1,100 yen for adults and 550 for junior and elementary students.
For any consultation contact from 8:30-17:00 (Oct- April) and 8:30 - 18:00 (May-Sept)
Ryusendo Office
TEL. 0194-22-2566
FAX. 0194-22-5005
Japan-guide.com. (n.d.). Morioka Castle ruins park. https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5028.html
Japan National Tourism Organization. (n.d.). Morioka Castle ruins park. https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1814/
JR Bus Tohoku. (n.d.). Route 15 / 105. https://www.jrbustohoku.co.jp/route/15/105/
Ryusendo Cave Promotion Council. (n.d.). Ryusendo Cave. http://iwate-ryusendo.jp/