Senbutsu Stalactite Cave — Attraction in Kitakyushu

super awesome place!! Ive been in a few caves in Japan but nothing exciting like this one!! It's a total of 40 - 45 mins return walk. People with tall heights might have to chrunch down the whole way; that's how low the cellings are!!! I was lucky to have a height of 150cm which made me through the cave with only few chrunching downs. Surprise#1) they advise you to change shoes into slippers which are provided there for free. Surprise#2) Once you go up the stairs, you'll see the little "god house" which indicates that the local people from ages who found this place has been looking after this place like a spirtial thing. Surprise#3) They cave is touchable!! Most caves are guarded with poles and gates but this cave, you can actually touch the walls and cellings; their cellings here are veeeeeery low!!! Surprise#4) half way through the cave you'll see the natural water running through the cave. NOW!! This is the part where it gets exciting!!!! The only way you can get to the end of this cave is to WALK INTO THE WATER!! OMG it's soooooooooo cold!!! Surprise#5) the was gets deeper and deeper!! Surprise#6) there will bea place that has beautiful lighting on the wall. GREAT place to take pictures. Surprise#6) you will see a path with no lights ahead. That's the dead end. That is as far as you can go. Need to head back where you came from but watch out!! The paths are made for only one person. Need to make a way for the coming people!! Overall, the visit is worth it!! I do think that for few people with heights and maybe width may struggle a bit going through the paths but...

Very unique must-try experience! You get to walk in the underground cave that is over 900m long. Some tips:

1. First half can be done with regular shoes, but the second half would require sandals as you will be walking in water. The water level can come up to your knee and can be quite cold.

2. They let you borrow sandals for free, but if you don't like sharing public footwear, then bring your own!!

3. There is hand and feet washing area and they provide free towels, but it is shared with others so bring your own towels if you don't like that.

4. Bathroom is really clean and are the western kind. They do ask for 10 YEN donation per use to help with the maintenance cost. It's written in Japanese so don't miss it!

5. Parking is massive and free.

6. It is an in-and-out route so be prepared to share the narrow pathway...

n.b. the bus only runs on Sat/Sun.

This is one of the most amazing places I have been to. I tried to go by bus on a weekday but after waiting an hour an kindly old gentlemen stopped his car and called his friend who has a taxi.

Since it was a week day, it was pretty much deserted and I would recommend it as sloshing through the watery tunnels was even more atmospheric while being alone.

I wouldn’t recommend this cave for the infirm or elderly or very small children as it is hard going. Almost half of the cave is untouched with no paving and as such is really beautiful. I’d love to explore more tourist level untouched caves.

Definitely go here if you are up to a...