Gifu Attractions｜Japan's highest (900m) sightseeing stalactite cave—Hida Great Stalactite Cave

#Natural Landscape Attraction: Hida Great Stalactite Cave (Hida Great Stalactite Cave) 📍Address: 1147, Nibugawa-cho, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture 🕰️Business hours: 08:00–17:00 💰Average consumption: Adults (high school students and above) ¥1100 / Children (elementary and junior high school students) ¥550 💞Recommendation reason: An unexpected attraction, because I had never heard of this place before. This is a stalactite cave discovered during the Showa period. It is 800 meters long and 900 meters above sea level. It is the highest stalactite cave in Japan. Transportation tips: Take the Hirayu Shinhotaka Line bus from Takayama Nohi Bus Center. There is a bus every hour and the one-way trip takes about 30 minutes. You need to transfer to a special bus to reach the Big Stalactite Cave when you get off the bus. So when you buy your ticket at Takayama Station, you will be given a shuttle bus schedule in addition to the original bus ticket. Take the bus to the tourist information center at "Hida Big Stalactite Cave Station". The driver will arrange a time with you to take you back and forth between the bus station and the Big Stalactite Cave. When you arrive at the entrance of the stalactite cave, you will see a super huge pot. It is said that this pot was really used in the past. The pot is called "Japanese Ichisaku Nuo Pot" and is said to be related to Ryomen Sukuna in Jujutsu Kaisen. There is a gentle slope from the pot to the entrance. The entrance to the large stalactite cave is only about 160 centimeters. The temperature in the cave is only about 10 degrees all year round, and it is really gloomy and creepy in winter. I heard that you need to turn on the air conditioner in summer to ensure a suitable environment for stalactites. Apart from being wet and cold when entering the stalactite cave, the road surface inside the cave is well designed and the route is clearly marked, but it is wet all year round and there are slippery road reminders and notices everywhere. The Japanese like to give names to stalactites to make them more attractive. Some places have lighting effects, mostly blue, purple or white light. There are also some decorations to set off the atmosphere, and signs to introduce the stalactite scenery. There are also many small waterfalls, and occasionally some secret places. Usually the roads in these places are particularly rugged and narrow, and you have to climb a lot of stairs. Because the temperature inside the cave is relatively low, there is still wine stored there. The whole area is divided into three major sections. If someone is feeling unwell, they can leave in the middle. I think this design is very considerate. There is a small shrine at the exit, and then you can go back to the entrance, where there are some shops and restaurants where you can buy souvenirs. Finally, you can take the free shuttle bus back to the Hida Great Stalactite Cave Tourist Information Center.