Saiko Kōmori-ana
| Saiko Komori-ana
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 Entrance to the bat cave |
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| Location: | Fujikawaguchiko , Minamitsuru-gun , Yamanashi Prefecture , Japan | |
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Geographic location: |
35 ° 29 '35 " N , 138 ° 40' 22" E | |
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The Saiko Kōmori-ana ( Japanese 西湖 コ ウ モ リ 穴 , dt. "West Sea Bat Cave ") is a natural volcanic cave on the north flank of Mount Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan .
The entrance to the cave is on the western edge of the infamous Aokigahara forest, near the village of Fujikawaguchiko . The cave system leads approx. 350 m into the mountain, is richly branched and offers visitors several sinuses to explore. There are also numerous, impressive stalactites in the chambers. In some corridors and chambers the ceilings are quite low, so protective helmets are recommended.
The Saiko Kōmori-ana was named after the nearby Saiko and the numerous bat species that make their winter quarters here. The main reason is the special nature of the cave, the walls of which give off heat, which means that the room temperatures remain mild even in winter. Therefore, the animals find a suitable wintering place here. This has not always been the case: because the caves were too often visited by curious and cave enthusiasts in the past, the bat population was severely threatened. Thanks to an extensive nature and species protection program, the population is growing again every year. The bat cave is called Saiko Kōmori-ana oyobi Kōmori ( 西湖 蝙蝠 穴 お よ び コ ウ モ リ Saiko Kōmori-ana oyobi Kōmori , German 'West Sea Bat Cave and Bats' ) since 1929 a protected natural monument part of the Fuahara part of the Fuahara since 1950 and since 1950 Izu National Park and includes the cave, the Saiko Kōmori-ana has been part of the national park since then. It has been open to the public for a fee since April 1998.
literature
- Kuniyasu Mokudai, Mahito Watanabe and others a .: Natural Heritage of Japan: Geological, Geomorphological, and Ecological Aspects . Springer International Publishing, Cham 2017, ISBN 3-319-61896-2 , page 170.
- Peter Robinson, Sine Heitmann, Peter Dieke: Research Themes for Tourism . CABI, Wallingford 2011, ISBN 1-84593-698-1 , p. 172.
Web links
- Yamanashi Kankou: Lake Sai Bat Cave . Internet article on yamanashi-kankou.jp (English); accessed on January 27, 2018
- Brief information about the bat cave on japan-guide.com (English); accessed on January 27, 2018