A mysterious world lit up in a rainbow of colors. Explore nature's art created over many years

Travel to a wondrous limestone cave featuring multi-colored LED lighting and the beauty of natural formations. The fascination of the delicate, other-worldly stalactites

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)

Makido cave

The temperature in the cave is always around 15°C (60°F). It is cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Makido cave
Makido cave

The “Go-ju No-to” (Five-story Tower) formation, which resembles a five-story Buddhist pagoda.

Makido cave

The entrance to the “Koibito-no-Izumi (Lovers’ Spring)” at the very back of the cave. It is a popular heart-shaped spot.

Makido cave

A limestone caved formed by erosion from rainwater and groundwater. Water echoes in this quiet place.

Makido cave
Makido cave

Ryugu-bashi (Undersea Palace Bridge), which spans the underground lake.

Makido cave
Makido cave
満奇洞

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/

Makido cave
Address
2276-2 Toyonaga-akouma, Niimi City, Okayama [Map]
TEL
+81-867-74-3100
Open
8:30-17:00 (entrance is until 16:30)
Closed
None
Parking
100 spots (large bus parking available)
Price
1000 yen for high school students and older, 800 yen for junior high school students, 500 yen for elementary school students, no charge for preschoolers and below
Access
About 20 minutes’ drive from the Chugoku motorway / Hokubo interchange, About 30 minutes’ ride on taxi from JR Niimi Station, or about 1 hour by car from Okayama Airport
Credit card
Not accepted
URL
Website

MAP

Features

Home to the headwaters of the Takahashi River, Niimi City in northwestern Okayama Prefecture is surrounded by lush nature and boasts over 200 limestone caves. There are also many tasty local foods, including Chiyagyu Wagyu beef and Pione, a grape known for its size and sweetness, making Niimi a great destination for your next trip. RELATED ARTICLES
NIIMI
Home to the headwaters of the Takahashi River, Niimi City in northwestern Okayama Prefecture is surrounded by lush nature and boasts over 200 limestone caves. There are also many tasty local foods, including Chiyagyu Wagyu beef and Pione, a grape known for its size and sweetness, making Niimi a great destination for your next trip.
Wake-cho in southeastern Okayama Prefecture is a town with a rich natural environment nurtured by the Yoshii River. It is dotted with tourist spots that garner attention from within Japan and abroad, such as Katatetsu Roman Kaido, a popular cycling and walking road, and Fuji Park which has the largest variety of wisteria in Japan. RELATED ARTICLES
WAKE
Wake-cho in southeastern Okayama Prefecture is a town with a rich natural environment nurtured by the Yoshii River. It is dotted with tourist spots that garner attention from within Japan and abroad, such as Katatetsu Roman Kaido, a popular cycling and walking road, and Fuji Park which has the largest variety of wisteria in Japan.
Onomichi is a quaint town located along the Seto Inland Sea in eastern Hiroshima Prefecture. Onomichi was certified as as Japanese Heritage on 2017. The town extends from the mainland across some of the neighboring islands.Small ferries operate between the downtown area and the nearby islands, adding to Onomichi's nostalgic port town atmosphere. RELATED ARTICLES
ONOMICHI
Onomichi is a quaint town located along the Seto Inland Sea in eastern Hiroshima Prefecture. Onomichi was certified as as Japanese Heritage on 2017. The town extends from the mainland across some of the neighboring islands.Small ferries operate between the downtown area and the nearby islands, adding to Onomichi's nostalgic port town atmosphere.

Themes

Japan's one and only enclosed sea, the Seto Inland Sea. It contains over 700 islands, each with a culture and cuisine blessed by mountains and sea. It's so beautiful that some call it "the Aegean Sea of the East." RELATED ARTICLES
SETO INLAND SEA
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JAPANESE TRADITION
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Western Japan has mesmerizing sights you have never glimpsed before,from the islands in the vast waters of the Seto Inland Sea to the ancient castles rising into the sky and rivers that will make you sense eternity. RELATED ARTICLES
AMAZING VIEWS
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SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS
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There is nothing better than sampling the local seasonal flavors and specialties of a region. There are so many kinds of local cuisine Western Japan. Be sure to taste the foods beloved by locals when you take a trip RELATED ARTICLES
LOCAL FLAVORS
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With its warm climate, West Japan has many fruit-producing regions, including Okayama, "the fruit kingdom," famous as the top producer of white peaches and Muscat grapes. You can savor sumptuous sweet treats using lavish portions of seasonal fruit such as parfaits and shaved ice. RELATED ARTICLES
PREMIUM FRUITS
With its warm climate, West Japan has many fruit-producing regions, including Okayama, "the fruit kingdom," famous as the top producer of white peaches and Muscat grapes. You can savor sumptuous sweet treats using lavish portions of seasonal fruit such as parfaits and shaved ice.
The exquisite beauty of the blooming cherry blossoms, and also their transient beauty as the petals fall, has been revered in the literature and aesthetic concepts of Japan since ancient times. Spring in Japan is the perfect time to immerse yourself in its hanami (flower viewing) culture, when friends and family gather under the cherry blossom trees and appreciate the beauty of the flowers while drinking and eating merrily. RELATED ARTICLES
SAKURA
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The culture of therapeutic bathing and mind by relaxing in a hot bath amid beautiful ever-changing scenery is a fixture of Japanese culture. The Setouchi region boasts scenic outdoor baths set above sprawling islands. RELATED ARTICLES
ONSEN
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MOVIES
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Destinations

A peaceful body of water surrounded by Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, the Seto Inland Sea is renowned for its many beautiful islands and scenic views. Known also as the Aegean of the East, it attracts countless visitors from around the world. RELATED ARTICLES
SETOUCHI
A peaceful body of water surrounded by Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, the Seto Inland Sea is renowned for its many beautiful islands and scenic views. Known also as the Aegean of the East, it attracts countless visitors from around the world.
Okayama, the Land of Sunshine, abounds with the blessings of lush mountains and a bountiful sea, the beauty of nature and the crossroads of prominent Japanese historic heritage. Always a key transport hub in the Setouchi region, in recent years it has also become the gateway to the art of the Seto Inland Sea. RELATED ARTICLES
OKAYAMA
Okayama, the Land of Sunshine, abounds with the blessings of lush mountains and a bountiful sea, the beauty of nature and the crossroads of prominent Japanese historic heritage. Always a key transport hub in the Setouchi region, in recent years it has also become the gateway to the art of the Seto Inland Sea.
Hiroshima, the International City of Peace, is known throughout the world for its two World Heritage sites and for being the setting of superb literary works. This is a compulsory stop for connoisseurs from around Japan looking for unique food culture, not least of which are okonomiyaki, said to be Japan's national dish, and oysters. RELATED ARTICLES
HIROSHIMA
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Shimane Prefecture is redolent of tradition, boasting a large number of nationally-recognized historical and cultural treasures such as the Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine and Matsue Castle. Its large number of hot springs means it attracts a large number of people seeking healing in body and soul. It is also popular among visitors who can enjoy the fresh seafood from its Japan Sea coast and traditional foods such as soba noodle and Japanese sweets. RELATED ARTICLES
SHIMANE
Shimane Prefecture is redolent of tradition, boasting a large number of nationally-recognized historical and cultural treasures such as the Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine and Matsue Castle. Its large number of hot springs means it attracts a large number of people seeking healing in body and soul. It is also popular among visitors who can enjoy the fresh seafood from its Japan Sea coast and traditional foods such as soba noodle and Japanese sweets.
In the northern part of the prefecture facing the Sea of Japan, there is a beautiful stretch of coastline of the Tottori Sand Dunes and white sand and pine trees while the south is a majestic mountain range including Mt. Daisen, the tallest peak of the Chugoku region. Tottori is therefore an area of natural beauty changing by the season, where delicacies from the sea and the mountains await. RELATED ARTICLES
TOTTORI
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Kagawa is the smallest prefecture in Japan. It is famous in Japan and abroad for being home to Sanuki udon, one of the “big three” udon noodle varieties, to the point that Kagawa is also known as “Udon Prefecture.” Kagawa is also gaining ground as a leader of Japan’s art culture by serving as the stage for the Setouchi Trienniale, a renowned contemporary arts festival. RELATED ARTICLES
KAGAWA
Kagawa is the smallest prefecture in Japan. It is famous in Japan and abroad for being home to Sanuki udon, one of the “big three” udon noodle varieties, to the point that Kagawa is also known as “Udon Prefecture.” Kagawa is also gaining ground as a leader of Japan’s art culture by serving as the stage for the Setouchi Trienniale, a renowned contemporary arts festival.
Kochi Prefecture is a premier destination for natural beauty, with its dynamic, warm Kuroshio current-bathed coastline, crystal-clear rivers such as the Niyodogawa famous for its “miracle blue” waters, and ample scenic hotspots. It is also popular as a foodie destination, a variety of seafood including skipjack tuna and its delicious sake rice wine. RELATED ARTICLES
KOCHI
Kochi Prefecture is a premier destination for natural beauty, with its dynamic, warm Kuroshio current-bathed coastline, crystal-clear rivers such as the Niyodogawa famous for its “miracle blue” waters, and ample scenic hotspots. It is also popular as a foodie destination, a variety of seafood including skipjack tuna and its delicious sake rice wine.
Many people flock to Ehime prefecture to soothe their mind and body with the healing waters of Japan's oldest hot springs resort Dogo Onsen, and the breathtaking Tashimabi scenery of numerous islands scattered throughout the Seto Inland Sea, as seen from the Shimanami Kaido bridge route connecting six of the larger islands. In addition to these and other attractions, Ehime is also blessed with a warm climate and locally grown citrus fruits, as well as an abundance of seafood sourced from the three coastal waters that surround it. RELATED ARTICLES
EHIME
Many people flock to Ehime prefecture to soothe their mind and body with the healing waters of Japan's oldest hot springs resort Dogo Onsen, and the breathtaking Tashimabi scenery of numerous islands scattered throughout the Seto Inland Sea, as seen from the Shimanami Kaido bridge route connecting six of the larger islands. In addition to these and other attractions, Ehime is also blessed with a warm climate and locally grown citrus fruits, as well as an abundance of seafood sourced from the three coastal waters that surround it.
Tokushima prefecture magnificently captures the beautiful nature and traditional culture of Japan in its many attractions including the Kazura Bashi Vine Bridge, one of the country's three uniquely structured bridges, and the Iya Valley region with its preserved nostalgic rural scenery. A trip to Tokushima will surely be unforgettable as you marvel at the Naruto whirlpool, one of Japan's top three tidal streams, and experience the excitement of the country's hallmark Tokushima Awa Odori Dance Festival. RELATED ARTICLES
TOKUSHIMA
Tokushima prefecture magnificently captures the beautiful nature and traditional culture of Japan in its many attractions including the Kazura Bashi Vine Bridge, one of the country's three uniquely structured bridges, and the Iya Valley region with its preserved nostalgic rural scenery. A trip to Tokushima will surely be unforgettable as you marvel at the Naruto whirlpool, one of Japan's top three tidal streams, and experience the excitement of the country's hallmark Tokushima Awa Odori Dance Festival.