It's been extremely hot every day, but today's maximum temperature was 34.5℃, barely lower than 35℃. We call it "extremely hot day" when a max temperature exceeded 35℃. A lot of extremely hot days this year, aren't they?
So, to seek a cool place, I went to the cavern located in the mountainous area of Taga-cho, Shiga Prefecture. It is called locally "Kawachi no Kaza-ana Cave", also known as Kawachi Wind Cave. This is a limestone cavern that was formed 550,000 years ago. We can fully enjoy the cool cave, especially during hot summer season.
Actually, I had known about this cave for some time, but I have almost no interest in that cave until now because I can't even imagine the size of the cave from the sightseeing brochure, so I have always assumed that this cave was narrower compared with other famous cavern. That was my misunderstanding. Anyway, I can't stand the recent hot weather! So, I tried visiting there for the first time.
It took about an hour by car from my house to the cave car parking. Then, I walked along a cool mountain stream for a while, heading towards the cave entrance.
I walked on the steel-made walkway on the way. Since the old stone steps seen in the right were too steep for elder people to go up, I think this walkway was built later. At first, I tried climbing the stone steps, but I gave up soon. 
I arrived at the cave entrance. When I came here, I felt a cold breeze blowing. This feels good!
First, we descend from the narrow cave entrance. Although the entrance is only about 1 m high, once inside you will find yourself in a vast space known as the 'Great Hall'.
You can see some tourists just descending from the entrance. Then we will go down in the large 'Great Hall'. This scene was viewed from the 'Great Hall'.
I zoomed out to capture the whole scene of the 'Great Hall'. What you can see in the back is the descending way mentioned above. The upward step way in front connects with the final destination of the 'Great Hall'.
Here is an even more zoomed-out view of the tourist cave from the highest point. This 'Great Hall' is so open and spacious that tourists look very tiny, like a dwarf.
The temperature inside the cave was around 20.0-20.5°C, but this temperature was measured by the thermometer equipped in my digital camera. According to its web site, it is said that the temperature is kept at about 12°C throughout the year. Incredible!
Incidentally, I was wearing a 空調服 (Ku-cho-fuku)™, a brand of electric fan-equipped clothes with fans installed in the back. The fans attached to the clothes suck outside air into the clothes, evaporating sweat, thereby releasing heat through vaporization and cooling the body.
Therefore, it made my body even cooler. It's as if I were in another world. I didn't want to go outside, so I went back in this cave again.
This upward path mentioned above leads beyond the 'Great Hall'. This scene was viewed from the 'Great Hall'.
Tourists are climbing the path.
I also climbed the path and reached a dead end in the cave at last. Actually, the cave continues further when going upstairs through the ladder seen in the back. But it is not allowed to go. Currently only a small section of the cave is open to the public. There are some low ceilings on the way, so be careful not to bump your head.
As I mentioned earlier, I had never been to this mysterious cool cave before, but it is a much more spacious cave than I expected. In fact, it's a really cool place! It's offering a cool retreat during summer. I would highly recommend it to everyone.
Finally, when searching for this cave online, maybe you can try the keywords 'Kawachi Wind Cave'.
When I visited 'Kawachi Wind Cave', I drove on the Prefectural road No.17 along the Serikawa River. There are several spots where you can go down to the river and enjoy playing in the water.
This photo was taken just below the car parking of 'Kawachi Wind Cave'. The easiest place to play! The water is shallow, but it's the perfect place for small children to play♪
I visited on 1 August 2025. Last updated: 12 August 2025
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