Akiyoshidai and Akiyoshido Karst Course

A vast karst plateau dotted with limestone rocks, and a giant cave spreading beneath it. Akiyoshidai and Akiyoshido let you feel the natural forms shaped over ages. This one-day course links the plateau and the cave.

Course Route

9:30 Start at Akiyoshido Cave One of the largest limestone caves in Japan, with a total length of about 10 kilometers. Of this, roughly 1 kilometer is open as a walking route, running one way from the main entrance to the Kurotani entrance. The cave stays around 17 degrees Celsius all year, so it feels cool even in summer. Take about 40 to 60 minutes one way to walk past grand formations such as the Hundred Plates and the Golden Pillar, shaped by water and time.

11:00 Elevator up to the plateau Partway along the route there is an elevator that carries you straight up from the cave to the Akiyoshidai plateau. Emerging from the dark underground into the bright grassland is an experience unique to this course.

12:00 Lunch break at the lookout Spread out a bento before the karst scenery of grassland studded with limestone. There are parking areas and shops near the karst observatory, making it a good base for a break.

13:30 Hike Akiyoshidai Follow the trails across gentle hills scattered with white rocks. Akiyoshidai is one of the largest karst plateaus in Japan, and the white limestone is often likened to a flock of sheep.

15:30 Finish at the karst observatory Take in the sweeping plateau and sense the long span of geological time.

Highlights

The contrast between the huge underground space of the cave and the open karst plateau above is the main draw. The grassland changes greatly with the seasons: lush green from spring to summer, golden with swaying pampas grass in autumn, and blackened by controlled burning from winter into early spring.

Access and Tips

Buses from Shin-Yamaguchi Station are the usual way to reach Akiyoshido and Akiyoshidai. By car, the nearest exit is Mine Interchange on the Chugoku Expressway, and there are paid and free parking areas nearby. The cave stays cool all year, so a light layer is reassuring. The plateau has little shade, so bring a hat.

Practical Travel Notes

• Time needed: The cave walk takes about 40 to 60 minutes one way. Adding the plateau views and a hike, allow half a day to a full day to be comfortable.
• Getting there: By public transport, local buses from Shin-Yamaguchi Station are handy, but services are limited, so check the timetable in advance. A car lets you link the cave and the plateau efficiently.
• Cave admission: Akiyoshido is a paid show cave. Fees are revised from time to time, so check the latest amount on official guidance such as the Akiyoshido visitor center before you go. Combined tickets covering the elevator or the nearby Kagekiyo and Taisho caves are sometimes offered.
• Avoiding crowds: During long holidays and the summer break, the main entrance and observatory parking fill quickly, so arriving early in the morning is best.
• Footing: The cave floor is wet and slippery, and the plateau is undulating. Sturdy walking shoes are essential.

A Quick Tip

Because you move between the cave and the plateau with real elevation change, sturdy walking shoes are essential. Take your time with this grand landscape.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Akiyoshido Cave (opening hours): 9:00-16:30 in the normal season, 9:00-17:30 in the peak season from July 1 to September 30, and 8:30-17:30 on specified days during Golden Week and the Obon holidays
• Cave admission: In the normal season, 1,600 yen for adults (high school students and older), 1,300 yen for junior high school students and 850 yen for elementary school students. In the peak season of Golden Week and summer (July 1 to August 31) it is 1,900 yen for adults, and in the quiet winter season (December 1 to February 28) it is 1,350 yen for adults, 1,050 yen for junior high school students and 700 yen for elementary school students
• Closed: Open all year round (also open as usual over the New Year holidays)
• Parking: On the main entrance side, Municipal Parking Lot No. 1 (200 spaces) and Parking Lot No. 2 (300 spaces) charge 500 yen per use for an ordinary car. The lots near the Kurotani entrance (120 spaces for ordinary cars) and near the elevator entrance (150 spaces for ordinary cars) are free of charge
• Inquiries: 0837-62-0115 (Akiyoshidai Tourist Information Center, general information desk), 0837-62-1430 (Tourism Policy Division, Tourism and Commerce Department, Mine City)
• Official information: Mine City Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park tourism information website (official) / Yamaguchi Prefecture Tourism Federation "Oidemase Yamaguchi"

* The above is a guide based on information published by each facility and local government. Hours and prices may change, so please check the official information before you set out.