Spot Name: Taya Caves (田屋の洞窟, Taya no Dōkutsu)
Date Visited: June 2, 2019
It was a cheesy konbini magazine with the title “Japan’s Mystery Zones” that first drew my attention to the Taya Caves. Located in Kanagawa Prefecture, the offbeat spot is around an hour away from Tokyo, tucked inside the premises of the Buddhist temple Josenji. The magazine promised mystery and thrill—baits any hidden gem hunter would fall prey to.
Inside Josenji
Walking from the bus stop, the temple comes into view with a short set of steps leading to the main area. At first glance, it looks like a normal temple. I visited in June, and Josenji’s hydrangeas were in full bloom.
The temple itself is free, but entry to the Taya Caves requires a JPY 400 fee. Once you go up to the temple staff and say you want to enter the caves, you’ll be given a pamphlet and thin candle.
Entering the Taya Caves
You’ll find the candle holders near the cavern’s entrance. It’s a long wooden plank, about an arm’s length, and you can stick the candle on one end. Once you’ve fixed your candle in place, you can make your way to the entrance. Photos are prohibited once you step inside, so make sure your cameras are turned off. (Who know what otherworldly thing you might capture?)
The temperature drops as soon as you make your way in. You will find a Bodhisattva statue to your right when you enter, lit with burning candles so that you can light your own.
The fact that very few people come to the Taya Caves adds to its appeal. The site is a place of worship and visitors are advised to be silent, which means you can hear your own footsteps and at times, the dripping of water from a nearby source. The cavern is dimly lit, but not too dark so as to endanger visitors. You can use your candle to examine the carvings on the walls, but mostly, it makes you feel like you’re an explorer with a torch, pumping your adrenaline as you probe the darkness.
With 3 layers, Taya Caves is mostly an easy walk that can be finished within 30 minutes. The Buddhist carvings you find along the way can either be spiritual or eerie, depending on your take of things. Personally, Japanese buddhist carvings give me the creeps, in the same manner Catholic statues haunted my dreams growing up. Okay, maybe I just don’t like the inanimate to resemble the living too much.
Overall, it was a fun 30-minute experience I’d recommend to anyone looking for an off-the-beaten path experience.
How to Get to the Taya Caves
Taya Caves (田谷の洞窟, たやのどうくつ, Taya no Dōkutsu)
09:00 to 16:00, open daily
Admission Fee: JPY 400
Taya Caves Official Website (Available partially in English)
The closest train station is Ofuna (JR Keihin Tohoku Line, Takasaki Line). Use the West Exit to get to Ofuna Eki Nishi Guchi bus stop. Depending on the bus you ride, you can either get off at Taya or Dokutsumae. Josenji is a 4-minute walk from the bus stop.
