Menfudo Limestone Cave

What?
Menfudo Limestone Cave is located in Tenkawa Village, a very small town at the foot of the more famous Mount Omine.
Where?
The Menfudo Limestone Cave is located at the border of Nara and Wakayama Prefectures. Access by public transport is possible but needs careful planning. Information on Hello Japan mentions a long bus ride Shimoichiguchi Station to Dorogawa Onsen. From there it’s another 15 minute walk.
URL
Hello Japan Biosphere Reserve

A leasurely drive up to Soni Kogen (曽爾高原) to view the susuki pampass grass in all its glory followed by a trip to the Menfudo Limestone Cave in the Dorogawa area; that was the purpose of this day. Alas, as was the case many times this year, the weather had different plans.

Walking Soni Kogen in the rain really didn’t seem like a pleasant plan, so we dropped it and left a little later to just visit the limestone cave.
The drive towards the cave takes you right nearby Mount Omine, famous a sacred mountain, but also as a place of sexual discrimination because of the banning of women climbing it.

The road winds up towards the town of Tenkawa, a small and charming onsen-town. Menfudo Limestone Cave doesn’t seem to be a big attraction as it only has 4 parking spots.

After a very short walk upwards you come to a monorail station. Press the interphone button and the cute little woodblock-shuttle comes and get you. Of course this costs you money while you can easily hike your way up, but it’s just fun. Once arrived at the top station, pay the fare and pay the entrance fee and you can just enter the cave.

Special lighting in the cave.

Evening comes in Tenkawa Village.

Honestly, I’ve seen bigger, more beautiful limestone caves than this. But it is charming nonetheless and the people were extremely friendly. Traversing the whole cave takes you around 20 minutes which makes it a mid-sized cave I suppose.
Once outside we strolled around the town for a little while when the rain started pouring down and we decided to drive back.

Around Tenkawa village there seem to be several interesting attractions like a nature hike, an old shrine and a long suspension bridge for pedestrians. And of course the onsens. But for the limestone cave only it might not be worth the drive. So make sure you take a day with good weather and combine the lot.