Donzurubō, Natural monument in Kashiba, Japan
Donzurubō is a natural monument in Kashiba featuring white tuff rock formations that stand at 150 meters in elevation. These formations developed from volcanic deposits around 15 million years ago and were shaped through uplift and natural erosion processes.
During World War II, the Japanese military built underground bunkers within the rock formations to establish a command center for air operations. After the war ended, these structures were eventually repurposed for different uses.
The name Donzurubō comes from white rocks that resemble a group of cranes gathering together on the mountainside.
The site offers free parking for about five vehicles, public restrooms, and clearly marked hiking trails accessible through stairs from the entrance. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes since the paths can become slippery depending on weather conditions.
The former military bunkers now serve as a seismic observation station operated by Kyoto University, showing how wartime structures have been given an entirely new purpose. This transformation makes the place where military history and modern science meet in an unexpected way.
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