TheNarusawa Ice Cave (Japanese:鳴沢氷穴,Narusawa Hyōketsu) is alava tube located in theAokigahara forest, in the part that belongs toNarusawa Village, Yamanashi Prefecture,Japan. It is one of the three larger lava tubes at the northern foot ofMount Fuji, the other two caves beingFugaku Wind Cave andLake Sai Bat Cave. All three were designated asNatural Monuments of Japan in 1929.
The Narusawa Ice Cave is 156 meters long measured along the visitor route with two lobes, with the width of 1.5 to eleven meters and the height of one to 3.6 meters. The average temperature inside the cave is about 3°C.[1]
The cave was long used as a natural refrigerator. During theEdo period, ice cut in this cave was sent to theshōgun and his entourage inEdo. During the early 1900s, ice made here had been used in the refrigerator before the electric refrigerator arrived.
The Narusawa Cave is onJapan National Route 139, Public bus transportation is available fromKawaguchiko Station ofFujikyūkō railway. By car, about 30 minutes fromLake Kawaguchi exit ofChūō Expressway.
35°28′29″N138°39′59″E / 35.47472°N 138.66639°E /35.47472; 138.66639