Bat Hole and Hermit Cave

Komori Ana, or Bat Hole, lies off the main trail through Yodo no Matsubara. About three meters tall and eight meters wide, this cave was carved over time by ocean waves. Despite its name, bats no longer nest here. Taking the steep trail leading away from the walking path leads to another cave that overlooks the coast, with a torii gate within. This is Sennin Kutsu, or Hermit Cave, named for the ascetic monk said to have made his home here because he loved the view. Surrounded by seasonal plants and near fresh water, the cave was likely favored by practitioners of Shugendo, an ascetic tradition that incorporates tenets of both Shintoism and Buddhism.