The Taya Caves

From roughly between the years 1200 to 1700, Shingon Buddhist monks excavated an underground maze of tunnels behind Josenji Temple near Kamakura as a site for spiritual training.

Dark, silent corridors lead to small, domed meditation chambers with walls and ceilings carved with fantastic creatures and Buddhist images, and on down to the spring room with a great turtle and birds carved on the walls.

Using your phone’s flashlight will be helpful to see those carvings that the light from the candle you are provided with does not reach.

The Taya Caves are most easily accessed by taking a taxi from Ofuna Station