Niimi City, located in the northwest part of Okayama Prefecture, is a mountain town surrounded by the Chugoku mountains. A karst plateau spreads to the south of the town, which is dotted with many limestone caves, large and small.
One of the representative spots is Makido cave. Nature’s magnificent art spreads through the entire 450 meter inner length, created over long years by rain and other water. Changes abound while going through the cave, from low ceilings that require you to bend over while walking, to a vast underground lake. Stalactites and stalagmites of various sizes create fantastic scenery, with features such as the “Tsu-ra-ra Seki” (Icicle Stone) and “Rim Stone.” The main locations are lit up with multi-colored lights. The continually changing blue, green, and purple lights create truly a wonderful world. The name “Makido cave” comes from the poet Akiko Yosano, who described it as a “Cave(Do) Filled(Ki) with Magic(Ma).” (This information is as of December 2020)
A virtual reality site has been launched that offers 360° realistic tours of inside the cave in 5 languages.
https://secure.panoramic.graphics/publicvr/makidou/
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