This 200-meter-long cave is located in central Okinawa Island.
The exciting and adventurous path showcases numerous mysterious stalactites formed over tens of thousands of years.
The highlight is the central plaza, where you can see the symbolic and auspicious "red and white" stalactites facing each other.
Enjoy the "otherworldly atmosphere" and the "fantastical space" created by the lighting effects.
Known as a lucky place since ancient times, this cave is called "Nuchishinuji Gama" in the Okinawan dialect, meaning "the cave where life was preserved."
During the Ryukyu Kingdom era, a prince from the World Heritage site Nakijin Castle escaped here during a civil war and survived.
Later, during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II, about 300 local residents took refuge in this cave for three months.
They were eventually captured by American soldiers, but miraculously, no one died from combat.
Remarkably, two babies - a boy and a girl - were born inside the cave during this time.
Having saved lives twice and witnessed new births, this cave is considered an extremely auspicious place.
A limestone cave is a natural underground chamber formed in limestone rock.
Rainwater seeps into the ground, becoming groundwater that erodes and dissolves limestone over tens of thousands of years, creating these caves.
The temperature inside Okinawa's limestone caves remains constant throughout the year, ranging from 20 to 23 degrees Celsius (68 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit).
This makes the caves feel cooler than the outside air in summer and warmer in winter, providing a comfortable environment year-round.
Rainwater seeps into the ground and drips down through the limestone caves.
Over time, a chemical reaction occurs between the carbon dioxide in the rainwater and the calcium carbonate in the limestone.
This reaction slowly dissolves the limestone, forming stalactites and stalagmites.
On average, these cave formations grow at a rate of about 1 millimeter every 10 years.
In the darkness of these caves, where sunlight doesn't reach, various creatures adapted to this environment thrive.
This limestone cave is home to several unique species, including:
- Cave-dwelling horseshoe bats
- Cave geckos
- Long-arm river prawns
- Japanese mitten crabs
These animals have adapted to life in the dark, cave environment.
The cave's symbol features auspicious red and white stalactites facing each other.
The red stalactite is particularly rare and special.
It's believed that the red color comes from the red soil carried by rainwater as it seeped through the ground.
A rimstone pool is a water-filled basin surrounded by a dam-like formation of calcite.
In Japanese, it's sometimes called "Azeishi-ike" (畦石池).
These pools form when minerals in groundwater crystallize and settle along the edges of the water, gradually building up the rimstone barriers.
Calcite is a type of mineral composed of calcium carbonate. It's also known as Iceland spar.
In the world of spirituality and crystal healing, calcite is considered a powerful natural stone.
It comes in various colors, each believed to amplify different energies.
Calcite is often referred to as a "power stone," and its symbolic meaning is "hope and success."
Sunlight streaming through an opening in the cave ceiling creates a magical heart-shaped illumination.
This natural wonder is said to bring luck in love to those who make a wish here.
With the right camera angle, you can capture a perfect heart shape.
It's a great photo opportunity to share with friends or on social media!