Dinosaurs Cave Exploration! Katsuragi-town

by

In the summer of 2024, I found of a place that tickled my adventurous spirit and was excited to head there. It was called “Kyoryu Land” (Dinosaur Land) in Katsuragi Town, Wakayama Prefecture, a truly unusual and unique facility built in a cave.

Road Getting to the Facility

The actual route to the location is just like an adventure scene in a movie.

Following Google Maps on a flat road in Katsuragi Town (a country town with many houses around). The road gradually turns into a mountain road and the surrounding landscape turns into a dense cedar forest, creating a somewhat mysterious atmosphere.

As we continued up the slope, I felt that there would be nothing at the end of the road, and my uneasiness increased as I moved the steering wheel from side to side in small increments.

Just as my anxiety reached a climax, the mountain road suddenly ended and we came to a slightly open area. There, a huge dinosaur object suddenly appeared in the distance!

When we opened the window, we heard intermittent disturbing noises. Like the sound of human speech recorded in slow motion on the mobile phone. Apparently the sound of dinosaurs…?

However this mysterious sight was just the beginning.

Entering the Facility

Proceeding to the back of the cave with the dinosaur sculpture by our side, we came to a small bridge.

Underneath the bridge is a clear and beautiful puddle that seems to have been created by fresh water flowing out of the mountains. And if you look closely, you can see small fish swimming leisurely in the water.　

The contrast between the unusual sight of the dinosaurs rising in the background of the forest and this quiet, beautiful puddle is strangely harmonious, and time seems to be passing slowly.

Reception

After crossing the bridge, there was a small reception desk in brown building. There is a cave ahead, and it seems that visitors can enter the cave after paying a fee here.

Inside the reception area, men and women of advanced age were relaxing. When you tell them how many people entering, they tell you the price and you pay in cash; as of August 2024, one adult was 900 yen.

Inside the Cave

Helmets were placed in front of the cave, so those who need them can wear them. I did not use it because I am short and thought it would be unnecessary. (But as it turned out, taller people would probably want to wear one!)

Standing at the entrance of the cave, I could feel a cold wind coming from the back of the cave. Inside the dimly lit cave, the sound of falling water can be heard from nowhere.

Stepping inside and walking down the wet ground into the cave, you will see numerous illuminated dinosaur models and dioramas, making you feel as if you have wandered into a miniature Jurassic Park set.

The dinosaurs here are not free roaming like those at Universal Studios, nor do they come up close and personal.

But we quickly fell in love with this magical place, where we could step into the dark, damp, subterranean world and see dinosaurs lurking in the shadows of the rocks, and feel like we were exploring!

The pamphlet we received at the reception desk was in the form of a stamp rally. There were egg-shaped platforms everywhere with stamps to record the names of the dinosaurs we encountered along the way.

What is even more surprising is that inside the cave there are not only models of dinosaurs, but also mysterious exhibits on the theme of paradise and hell.

A chaotic situation that makes it impossible to even imagine how this combination of facilities was planned, which also tickles the sense of adventure. (This facility was built by the Katsuragi-town in 1960s. The former mine shaft is reused for it.)

After 30 minutes of exploration, as we stepped out of the cool darkness, the familiar humid Japanese summer heat with the chirping of cicadas clung to our body.

A little bewildered by the gap between the reality now unfolding in front of our eyes and the mysterious world behind us. It seemed to have wandered into that other dimension, we left the cave with a lingering sense of wonder.　

Souvenir shop

And of course the souvenir shop locates the perfect place to pass by as you head home in the afterglow of your adventure. It is inside the reception area, so it was nice to be able to purchase something memorable.

We got matching dinosaur key chains. (I really wanted a fossil, but it was way over our budget, so we moved on.)

Final Note

The entrance fee was reasonable and it was great place to take the kids during their summer vacation, but adult also can enjoy the experience.

Also it was cool inside the cave, perfect for a visit on a hot summer day. Walking around in the cave with its many ups and downs to avoid bumping your head. is also a good exercise!

I had no idea that such a fascinating world would unfold at the end of that mountain road. It is such a magical mysterious spot that you will surely want to visit again next summer. If you have a chance to visit Wakayama, please give it a try.

Official Website (Japanese)

https://www.katuragi.or.jp/kyoryu-land

Access

From JR Osaka station

2 Hours by Car

From JR Hashimoto station

1 Hour by Car

Tasty Tips

Katsuragi Town is famous for its persimmons!
Get persimmon at Rakuten’s Furusato Nozei 🎵


コメントする