The Genbudo Park, Museums, and Caves 玄武洞公園 are located in Toyooka, Hyogo, Japan. The Genbudo Museum houses a collection of rare minerals, precious stones, and newly added fossils, including a t-rex, pterosaur, and Asian elephant. The museum is located at the entrance of Genbudo Park, a designated national natural treasure.
The park is home to the Genbudo Caves, a natural national monument and part of the San’in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark. The caves consist of five beautiful basalt caves with over 1.6 million years of geological history. They played a significant role in the discovery of reverse magnetization and are named after four Chinese mythological creatures: Genbu (Black Tortoise), Seiryu (Azure Dragon), Byakko (White Tiger), and Suzaku (Phoenix).
Genbudo Park is the site of a lava flow from a volcanic eruption that happened 1.6 million years ago, forming hexagonal rock columns. It is designated as a Natural Monument of Japan. The park offers guided tours, and the admission to the park is free, but there is a fee for the guided tours.
Visitors can access the museum and park by train, taxi, rental car, or bicycle. It is only a 10 minute drive (5km) from Kinosaki Onsen.
The museum has a cafe and restaurant, a souvenir shop, and offers luggage storage. The park is open year-round, but it is recommended to check the Genbudo Museum homepage for updated information on the museum’s holidays.
Overall, the Genbudo Museum, Park, and Caves offer a unique opportunity to explore the natural beauty and geological history of the region. It is a perfect educational outdoor trip for visitors to the area.
