円空洞

Enku Bora


Useful Information

Location: 829 Minamicho Takasago, Gujo, Gifu 501-4102.
Follow Nagara River valley on Highway 61, turn on Road 315 towards Kayukawa. After 2.8 km at the end of the wall on the left is a small parking lot. 300 m/10 minutes walk to the cave uphill.
(35.6643090, 136.9254238)
Open: no restrictions.
[2022]
Fee: free.
[2022]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave
Light: bring torch
Dimension:  
Guided tours: self guided
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:  
Address: Enku Bora, 829 Minamicho Takasago, Gujo, Gifu 501-4102.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1632 Enku born in Minami village, Mino Province, Gifu Prefecture.
1665 Enku practising austerities in a cave at Mount Ibuki.

Description

円空洞 (Enku Bora) is a very small and unspectacular cave. It is named after the monk Enku, who is said to have spent time in the cave in the year. Several places in the area are named after him, for example the nearby 円空岩 (Enku Iwa), a rock where he reportedly spent time. Enku was good a carving statues from wood and he made many statues for poor people for free. He was a travelling monk for decades and traveled on foot throughout Japan, carving approximately 120,000 wooden images of Buddha during his lifetime.