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At the eastern edge of the Aokigahara Sea of Trees, deep within the forest shrouded in silence, there is a cave that quietly opens its mouth. This is the Narusawa Ice Cave. Over 1,150 years ago, this cave was formed by the eruption of Mount Nagao, a flank volcano of Mount Fuji, in the 6th year of the Jōgan era (864). As the lava flow cooled and solidified, gases inside escaped, leaving behind a hollow space. The cave is 153 meters in total length, with an average temperature of 3 degrees Celsius, and is covered in ice throughout the year. (gltjp.com)
As you step into the entrance of the cave, the chilly air stings your skin. Descending a steep staircase and proceeding through a narrow passage, you encounter a lava tunnel with a ceiling only 91 centimeters high. Bending down and carefully moving forward, you are eventually greeted by a fantastical world woven from ice walls and natural icicles. From spring to early autumn, water droplets dripping from the ceiling freeze, and at times you can see enormous icicles up to 50 centimeters in diameter and 3 meters in height. (gltjp.com)
At the deepest part of the cave, there is a deep hole known as the "Hell Hole." How far this hole extends remains unknown, and legend has it that it connects to a cave on Enoshima Island in Kanagawa Prefecture, more than 70 kilometers away. In fact, there is also a hole in the Enoshima Iwaya Caves said to connect to the Narusawa Ice Cave, and this legend has been passed down at both sites. (excite.co.jp)
Additionally, the cave enshrines the Black Dragon God, Benzaiten, and the White Dragon God. The Black Dragon God is regarded as the guardian deity of the Aokigahara Sea of Trees, while Benzaiten and the White Dragon God are deities transferred from Enoshima Shrine, a connection derived from the legend that the Hell Hole links to the cave on Enoshima Island. (kids.rurubu.jp)
From the Edo period to the Taisho period, the Narusawa Ice Cave was used as a natural refrigerator, with ice harvesting and silkworm egg storage taking place. During the war, tourists stopped coming, and the entrance area became filled with ice. However, after the war, the occupying forces ordered the ice to be cut out, and there is even an anecdote that the cave was used as a dance hall. (chihirog.com)
Leaving behind the bustle of the surface and stepping deep into the Narusawa Ice Cave, enveloped in silence and cold air, you will find a mysterious world carved by the passage of eternity. The fantastical scenery created by icicles, the legendary Hell Hole, and the presence of the enshrined deities captivate visitors and leave a deep impression on their hearts. Why not visit this place and experience the wonder of nature and the weight of history firsthand?