Japan! @ Day 6 - Special Entry
[Fugaku-Fuketsu Lava Cave]
Introduction:
"FUGAKU-FUKETSU (wind) LAVA CAVE" is one of the representative lava caves of the Fuji foot of a mountain. The cave which became these two tunnel types was made by the lava flow on the occasion of the eruption of Mt. Fuji of 1130 years ago. After receiving specification of the natural treasure of a country, it is introduced globally, and it has become a precious existence on geology.
"FUGAKU LAVA CAVE" is a characteristic that wind goes through by difference of temperature and the wind pressure of an entrance and the exit of the cave. It is cold even during summer when entering the inside cave. Normal temperatures are three degrees. Till the early stages of Showa, it was used for storage of the egg of a silkworm as a natural refrigerator.
The total extension of a cave is 201m and height is 8.7m. Mysteriously, the sound doesn't echo internally.
Source:
GEOCACHING
Along the way to the Lava Cave, I saw signboards showing 0oC with of course Japanese language which I cant understand at all. Deep in my heart, its kinda funny when the outside temperature was around 24oC and they didn't change the temperature on the boards :D We reached to this souvenir shop at the parking area and still the big signboard showing 0oC. (and I didn't ask the Japs about that...)
Nearby, there was a signboard of Fuji Five Lakes Guide map and u can see where we were!
This is the Fugaku-Fuketsu Lava Cave signboard
From the souvenir shop, we had to walk around 5mins towards the entrance.
We passed by these naturally made geographical surroundings... It was really nice day and weather..
This is the entrance of the cave, which we had to pay some Yen to get in :D
Another signboard in Japanese...
The history of this Lava cave is described here..
Cave entrance...once we descended down the stairs, I felt that the air became colder and colder....so mysterious..
The notice board..now in multilingual
We descended further in the cave and the temperature suddenly changed! It was very cold in the cave and I kept thinking of the 0oC signboards from before! LOL! I talked to Kodama San (the Japs in Black Blazer) with the tone, "No wonder u use the blazer...." and he just smiled at me..
It was cold in the cave and I still holding my camera with the flash turned ON.
And amazingly we reached to this gated area covering the ice pillars in this cave. So unbelievable! I wonder how this ice still standing with outside weather was nearly summer?? No wonder this cave was so cold!
The barricade to protect the ice pillars from visitors
More ice pillars...
Now u can see me!
Then, there was another gated area with more Japanese signs..(owh I really dont care bout the signages!)
Inside the area, there were silkworms kept in the tins (like biskut jagung punye tins) with some illustration for those who Japanesely blind, like me!
Here, they also kept some seeds (i dunno what seed and why it is so special to be kept here) and with some more illustrations..
We had to u-turn to go back to the cave entrance. OTW out, I snapped more photos of the ice pillars...cos it was so cool~~
We met this group of Japs Kids just arrived to the cave...
Outside, I saw this sign with understandable language describing that this cave is one of the Natural Monument
This board is the illustrated map of the lava cave..
This might be the lava from Mt Fuji eruption...(i guess so..)
The souvenir shop...and I didn't buy anything from here, sigh....
Now I believed that the signboard was true!
The ice cream shop...vanilla and corn flavoured, yummeh!
- End of Special Entry [Fugaku-Fuketsu Lava Cave] -
