Gyokusendō Cave
| Gyokusendō Cave | |
|---|---|
 Blue-lit limestone formations inside Gyokusendō Cave, Okinawa Prefecture. | |
| Location | Nanjo, Okinawa Prefecture,  Japan |
| Coordinates | 26°08′02″N 127°45′21″E / 26.1340°N 127.7558°E |
| Length | 5,000 m (5 km) |
| Discovery | 1967 |
| Geology | Limestone |
| Entrances | 1 |
| Access | Public (850 m accessible via walkway) |
| Website | Okinawa World - Official site |
Gyokusendō Cave (Japanese: 玉泉洞, romanized: Gyokusendō) is a limestone cave located in Nanjo, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The cave extends for approximately 5 kilometers,[1][2] with around 850 meters developed for public access as part of the Okinawa World theme park. It is one of the longest caves in Japan and features limestone formations and underground water channels.[3][4]
Location
The cave is located within the Okinawa World theme park in Tamagusuku‑Maekawa, Nanjo City. The site is approximately 30 minutes by car from Naha and can be reached via National Routes 331 and 507.[5] Bus services from Naha Bus Terminal (lines 51, 54, 81, 82, and 83) stop at “Gyokusendō-mae,” situated directly in front of the park entrance. The internal temperature remains around 21 °C with high humidity.[6][7]
History
The Cave was discovered in 1967 during digging work in the area.[8][9][10] In 1970, researchers conducted a survey to study its structure. A portion of the cave was opened to the public in 1972,[11] and walkways and lighting were addedt in 1973 to improve access. In 1990, additional facilities such as a museum and restaurant were built. The cave was designated a natural monument in 1994.[12] In 2013, renovations were made to install energy-efficient lighting and modern air systems.[13]
Gallery
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Bell of the Rising Dragon (昇龍の鐘) -
Stalactite formations inside Gyokusendō Cave -
Entrance to the old sake brewery inside the Cave -
Fossil remains of the prehistoric Ryukyu Deer (リュウキュウシカ) visible within the cave walls -
Underground waterfall inside the Cave, The stone marker identifies the feature as (地煙の滝) (Jien no Taki), meaning "Earth Mist Falls."
References
- ^ "Okinawa World/Okinawa Island Guide". www.oki-islandguide.com. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
- ^ "Okinawa World & Gyokusendo Cave | Japan Experience". www.japan-experience.com. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
- ^ "Okinawa's Gyhokusendo Caves and Kingdom Village". Stripes Okinawa. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
- ^ "Gyokusendo Cave – An Exotic World of Water and Stone". www.unmissablejapan.com. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
- ^ "Gyokusendo Cave - Japan Airlines". jal.japantravel.com. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
- ^ "Gyokusendo Cave (玉泉洞)". JinoTour Okinawa Blog. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
- ^ "全長5,000m！？南の島の洞くつ探検！沖縄の「玉泉洞」約30万年の時間経過した鍾乳洞"未公開エリア"で夏期限定ツアー開催". OKITIVE (in Japanese). 2025-07-15. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ Writer, Staff (2014-11-30). "The Mesmerizing Cave of Japan". www.wtravelmagazine.com. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "プレスリリース：［この夏は洞窟だ！］（PR TIMES）". 毎日新聞 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "【この夏は洞窟だ！】". ニコニコニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "Gyokusendo (玉泉洞) - Sightseeing Japan". 2023-03-19. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "Okinawa's Gyhokusendo Caves and Kingdom Village". Stripes Okinawa. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ LLC, Lestacworld (2023-02-15). "Important to know about Gyokusendo Cave". Lestacworld.com. Retrieved 2025-07-22.