(龍宮窟) Ryugu Sea Cave

Due some geologic events that happened over the course of millions of years (not a hyperbole), this cave was formed and when it did it somewhat split into two curves, which the locals call "heart-shaped".

Overall, it was a quaint little cave, and you can do a nice stroll to peek down into it. If you have a car, it's an easy segue.

Budget: JPY6,270 (~USD59)
  • JPY2,410, Train, Tokyo Station to Ito Station, One day's worth allocated with Seishun 18 ticket.
  • JPY1,650. Train, Ito Station to Izukyu-shimoda Station.
  • JPY280. Bus, Shimoda Station to Ryuuguu-kutsu
  • JPY280. Bus, Ryuuguu-kutsu to Shimoda Station.
  • JPY1,650. Train, Izukyu-shimoda Station to Ito Station.
Visit Date
August 2, 2020

When to Go
Anytime during the year, for sure.

Special Notes
  • Public Transport Access. It is surprisingly accessible, but there's about seven buses in a day, so time your trip well. Google maps actually work well, so just key in this google map pin on your phone.
    • Train, Tokyo to Shimoda Station (下田駅)
      • It is JPY3,960 one way, or JPY7,920 for a day's trip.
      • An alternative is to use the Seishun 18 ticket up to Ito Station, then pay for the non-JR train to Izuku-shimoda Station, for a total of JPY5,710. However, this is only applicable for a day trip.
    • Bus, Shimoda Station (下田駅) to Ryuuguu-kutsu (龍宮窟).
  • Boating. I saw some posters where you can take a boat and the boat will pass through the cave too. But it is definitely not near the cave, and I tried a quick research to no avail. :(
  • Entrance fee: Free
  • Parking fee: Free, but limited. There are nearby parking lots, but can be upwards of JPY500.
  • A quick "trek". To see the Heart Shaped perspective - you can do a 15 minute loop around the mouth of the cave. The entry point is right behind the entrance of the cave.
The entrance to the cave. 

It was a short descent. This is basically it. 

The view of the cave. 

A panoramic shot. 

Another angle. 


The view from the top. The one in red is someone in our group. 

The view of the surrounding area. 

Taking a peek down. 

A last picture before we got back on the car. 




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