The Blue Spring
A lit pool.
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A stalactite cave in south Okinawa, part of a cave system more than five kilometres long. The show cave opened in 1972 and runs about 800 metres along a built walkway, with an underground stream some 30 metres below the surface. Visitors walk among thousands of lit limestone stalactites and stalagmites, past clear pools such as the Aoi Izumi, the «Blue Spring», and formations with names like the «Golden Cup». Okinawan horseshoe bats, eels and aquatic insects live in the cave. The cave lies inside the Okinawa World park, which recreates a village of traditional Ryukyu Kingdom houses, with workshops for blown glass, pottery and weaving and shows of eisā drum dancing. The cave alone costs about 1,000 yen and the whole park about 2,000 yen; it opens 9:00-17:30 with last cave entry at 16:00, per visitor guides. The cave walk takes about 50 minutes and the floor is damp, so wear comfortable shoes.
A lit pool.
Along the walk.
On drums.
Tamagusuku, Nanjō city, south Okinawa
About 50 minutes for the cave alone and around half a day with the Okinawa World park and its shows, per visitor guides.