七ツ釜鍾乳洞

Nanatsugama shōnyūdō - Nanatsugama Limestone Cave

Useful Information

Location:	North of Saikai, follow Route 202 north. (33.023878, 129.660684)
Open:	APR to SEP 9-18, last entry 17:30. OCT to MAR 9-17, last entry 16:30. [2020]
Fee:	Adults JPY 520, Children (12-14) JPY 310, Children (6-11) JPY 210, Children (4-6) JPY 100. Groups (20+): Adults JPY 410, Children (12-14) JPY 260, Children (6-11) JPY 150, Children (4-6) JPY 100. [2020]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	L=1,600 m, T=14-16 °C.
Guided tours:	L=320m
Photography:
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Nanatsugama limestone cave, 2541-1 Nakaura Kitago, Saikai Town, Saikai City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Tel: +81-959-33-2303.
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

AUG-1954	cave discovered and first explored by the locals including the headmaster of Nanakama Jinjo Elementary School.
JUL-1964	designated a scenic spot by the Governor of Nagasaki.
DEC-1983	designated a natural monument by the Ministry of Education.

Description

The 七ツ釜鍾乳洞 (Nanatsugama shōnyūdō) or 七釜鍾乳洞 (Nanagama Cave) or 清水洞 (Shimizu hora, Shimizu Cave) is formed inside a 30 Ma old limestone. The small karst area has so far 35 known caves.

The cave also offers cave trekking tours for groups after appointment.

The cave visit is completed by a small museum which shows rocks and fossils from the Paleozoic to Cenozoic. Most of the exhibits are fossils from the local limestone or speleothems from the cave.