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Cherry Blossoms Fill the Iya Valley with Color!

Mar 26, 2023

Spring flowers brighten up the Iya Valley!

After a cold and snowy winter, the sakura (cherry blossoms) have welcomingly come a bit early this year to the Iya Valley and Oboke area, and they are just about reaching their peak in the lower parts of the valley around Iyakei Gorge and the main Kazurabashi Vine Bridge.

Over the next couple weeks into the middle of April the sakura will continue to bloom deeper in the valley within Oku-Iya out near Ochiai Village, Nagoro Scarecrow Village, and the Double Vine Bridges (which will re-open for the year on April 1st.)


But for anyone coming in through Oboke Station, the cherry blossoms are currently looking beautiful around the station area along Yoshino River, and in the evenings special spot lights illuminate the pink trees, creating a magical atmosphere.

But as the blossoms fall it only means that the warmer days of spring have finally arrived, and the bright new leaves of the forest will give an fresh verdant glow to the Iya Valley. Enjoy!!

06 Dec, 2023
From January 9, 2024 until February 15 the Iya-no-Kazurabashi in Nishi-Iya will be closed in order to replace the vines.
30 Nov, 2023
Several sights and places to stay either fully close or have limited schedules in the winter season from December 1 until March 31, particularly in the Oku-Iya area.
25 Sep, 2023
On Saturday morning November 4th the annual Oku-Iya Harvest Festival will be held in the 'downtown' area of Kyojo where lots of Iya foods will be on offer!
19 Jul, 2023
Join the fun with the local people this summer at a variety of events that are happening all across the Iya Valley and Miyoshi City area!
22 Apr, 2023
As of April 22, 2023 the main road into Oku-Iya (Higashi-Iya) has been patched up and is now passable again, and local bus service is now back to normal.
05 Apr, 2023
On April 6th bus service will begin again to and from Oku-Iya, but the necessary road detour will create delays for the entire bus route.
Iya Valley road collapse detour
28 Mar, 2023
A driving route detour is now necessary for reaching Oku-Iya. Bus access is now possible again, but delays are necessary.
Shikoku Sake Festival Ikeda Miyoshi
15 Feb, 2023
On Feb 25, 2023 the 24th Annual Shikoku Sake Festival returns to Miyoshi's Ikeda town, with lots of regional brewers serving their finest sake!
Iya Valley Kazurabashi winter snow
18 Dec, 2022
The Iya Valley is having its first significant snowfall of the season this weekend, making the landscape wonderfully tranquil and beautiful!
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