I went on a cave exploration recently

The other day, I went on a cave exploration.　

This cave is normally off-limits, but I asked the organization that manages it if I could visit, and they kindly showed me around. This is the entrance of the cave. The ceiling is not very high, so I wore a helmet to avoid bumping my head against the rocks. This cave is usually completely dark, but they turned on the lights. The sign board says, ‘Ouch, watch your head’. The blue hose in the photo is connected to the drain pump.

This is a view of the cave entrance from a distance.　

Since water collects near the entrance when it rains, a walkway has been created using concrete slabs. 

I looked back toward the entrance.

I proceeded further. From this point on, we will walk directly on the ground.

I looked back toward the entrance again here.

When I reached the point near the exit, I looked back toward the entrance side. The ceiling on the entrance side (back) is far lower than the exit side (front).

I’ve finally reached the exit.

I looked back again toward the entrance from the exit.

I've finally gone outside. This cave is 130 meters long and runs in a straight. So, for what purpose was this cave created?

This is a steam locomotive that pulls a train for sightseeing.　

（This photo was taken in 2019 at JR Nagahama station. ）

Actually, more than 80 years ago, around 1944, in the midst of the Pacific War (World War Ⅱ), this cave was dug to protect steam locomotives from attacks of allied forces.　However, due to the hard bedrock and the excavation being primarily done by hand, the tunnel was far from being tall enough or wide enough to accommodate locomotives when the war ended.　After the war, it was left abandoned and used as a garbage dump, but between 2008 and 2013, it was renovated as a war memorial.　I hear that recently tour groups visiting secret sites like caves came by tour bus, and school students came here for peace learning.　This war memorial is located near JR Maibara station at Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan.  　

（Photos of caves were taken on October 29th, 2026)