Otaki Limestone Cave is located beyond a mountain from Gujo Hachiman in Gifu Prefecture. The cave was formed when underground water gradually eroded faults in limestone strata dating back to the Paleozoic Era.
One of the cave’s distinctive attractions is the unusual wooden cable car that carries visitors up a steep slope through a cedar forest to the cave entrance. This rare form of transport adds a memorable touch to the journey into the underground world.
The sightseeing route extends for approximately one kilometer, leading visitors through a fascinating landscape of limestone formations. At the deepest point lies a spectacular waterfall about 30 meters high. The site also has a fishing pond where visitors can catch fish and have them cooked on the spot.
Inside the cave, visitors can admire a variety of stalactites and other limestone formations created by abundant underground water over long periods of time. These natural sculptures form an impressive subterranean landscape, revealing the beauty and power of nature at work.
The highlight is the 30-meter-high underground waterfall at the cave’s deepest point. Considered one of the largest underground waterfalls in Japan, it is the feature from which Otaki Limestone Cave takes its name.
The waterfall, located at the far end of the cave, plunges approximately 30 meters through the underground cavern. Its impressive scale makes it one of the most remarkable sights along the route.
A wooden cable car operates between the reception area and the cave entrance, transporting visitors up the steep forested slope. The exit is located separately from the entrance, allowing visitors to follow the sightseeing route through the cave.