Things To Do In Fukuoka : STONE SHEEP AND SPELUNKING!

Becky Cresswell
Sep 5, 2016
3 min read

So when I was studying in Kitakyushu, Japan 2 years ago we had a school trip to a place called 'Hiraodai', a remote plateau just outside of the city. Kitakyushu itself is the northern most city in Kyushu at the top of Fukuoka prefecture. It's famous for being Eco-friendly (despite having acid water and smog clouds 60 years ago) and err, well not much else. Don't get me wrong it's a great place, surrounded by mountains and the ocean, but it's not somewhere a guidebook would ever tell you to go so none of us were expecting the trip to be mind-blowingly good. We were wrong.

Not really knowing what I was getting myself in for I hopped on the bus with my classmates, laughed and joked at the bus navigating the steep, curving mountain roads...and then was lost for words as we arrived in one of the most beautiful places I've been to in Japan. Hiraodai itself is one of (if not the best) example of a karst plateau from the Jurassic period in Japan…which is geek speak for its got a lot of limestone and amazing scenic views. So if you love nature or just want a taste of rural Japan this place is for you!

When I went it was still summer and the rolling hills of grass and stone (famous for looking like little stone sheep) were bathed in bright sunshine making it perfect weather for hiking around the area, relaxing in the nature parks or, yes that’s right, GOING SPELUNKING.

Because aside from nature making the outside of Hiraodai beautiful it did pretty well on the inside too as it's home to a network of underground limestone caves, open to the public (weather permitting) and super, super cool. No I mean actually cool, because running through the caves is a freezing underground stream of fresh water that you have to wade through (in ugly supplied sandals might I add) to explore to caves. It's not deep, but it's certainly cold! The entrance to the caves is down a steep path to a small shrine and a ticket booth (run by adorable old people, because JAPAN) and it will only set you back a few hundred yen per person (more for non-students). Once you're kitted out in your not-so-special cave sandals it's time to head in!

Going into the caves was honestly one of the most amazing experiences I've had, and I was shocked at how whole families with kids were there having fun and not being covered in health and safety red tape as they would be in England! Squeezing through small gaps with water between your toes, going through natural tunnels thousands of years old and feeling the air grow colder as you go deeper into the earth - it's an experience not to be missed! Saying that, the rocks inside are slippery and some sections you can only get to by crouching down so I don't recommend it for anyone who feels less than 100% , but everyone else should definitely give it a go! I mean look how happy I was!

To get to this stone sheep, wet cave, natural wonderland...it’s a bit of a pain I won't lie. But you can get a train from JR Kokura Station on the Hita-Hikosan Line and get off at JR Ishihara-machi Station, or get a bus from Yamagasako bound for Hiraodai. Coming from further afield it might be best to go by car but lots of info and maps can be found on the tourism website which are linked below! The journey is most certainly worth it and if you love spending some quality time out in nature it's a great escape from the big city life!