Facts & Services

Facts & Services

Basic Info for a Smooth Trip 

Page Directory

Frequently Asked Questions

Got a specific question? Find detailed answers to some of the most common questions on our FAQs page.

Weather & Climate

Many people wonder what is the "best season" to visit the Iya Valley, or when would have the least chance of rain. Like anywhere, every season has its own pros and cons, each with its own unique natural splendor, food offerings, and annual events. But as far as pleasant weather, then the mid/late spring is often reliably good (but not guarenteed). The "Golden Week" holiday period in the first week of May can be very busy for traveling both here or anywhere in Japan, but the weeks after this up to the start of "rainy season" of mid/late June are quite wonderful (see the description of Spring below).

Otherwise, as detailed below, summer is vibrant, where in the Iya Valley and the surrounding mountains the heat and humidity are not nearly as uncomfortable as the rest of Japan. And the autumn often has nice weather (though there is a risk of a typhoon, as like anywhere in much of Japan) and the colors of the leaves from late October onwards is a wonderful (and popular) treat. And for several reasons, you may wish to avoid winter if possible, though it does have its own unique offerings.
Spring
For most parts of Miyoshi, the spring begins to arrive in late March, though as one increases in elevation this will be later by a week or more. The upper mountain areas of Oku-Iya will continue to be fairly cold, especially at night, into mid-April (on mountains, even though days may be warm, overnight temps can reach below freezing into May). The cherry blossom season is usually the final week or so of March and into the beginning of April, and soon after this the verdant green leaves will welcomingly begin in abundance along with lots of azelea flowers. (On mountain tops, leaves don't usually begin appearing till early May). The post-Golden Week time from mid-May into June is one of the best times of year, with long days, few mosquitos, little humidity, and less likely rain (but do realize, rain is unpredictable. See about the "rainy season" below").

Summer
The "rainy season" of early summer begins around mid/late June like most of Japan (but in 2021 it began a month earlier than usual in mid-May, the earliest in recorded history). The more-often-than-usual rain at this time usually lasts about a month, and despite the wetness, this is a great time to see the plentiful hydrangea flowers as well as kiryu fog formations in the valleys. Also like much of coastal Japan, the heat and humidity of July, August, and early September in Ikeda and the northern parts of Oboke & Koboke can be uncomfortably sultry. The air can be thick and oppressive at these lower elevations, and this difficult-to-understate heaviness often continues into the evenings. However, for those wise enough to go into the mountains and/or the Iya Valley, the temperature and humidity noticeably drops, particularly in the evenings. In Central Nishi-Iya it is usually more comfortable than elsewhere in Miyoshi during the summer, and out in Oku-Iya the air is so fresh and enjoyable that you won't want to return to the rest of steamy Japan (and you'll wish you booked yourself to stay out here instead).
Central Iya Valley WEATHER
Today's Sun
in Miyoshi:
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Please check the individual area pages to see that area's specific weather forecast.
Nishi-Iya & Iyakei Oku-Iya Okobe & Koboke Ikeda & North
Also by mid/late summer the typhoon season begins and Shikoku will usually be fairly affected by at least two or three each year. Due to the huge amounts of rain from these storms, small landslides often occur, sometimes affecting roadways and may inhibit travel (closure signs and/or detours will be posted if so). Rafting may also be affected for a couple days after a typhoon if the rivers swell too much (conversely, there can sometimes be drought conditions, particularly in August, which makes rafting impossible due to a lack of water). If a typhoon is forecast, DO NOT GO HIKING. Hiking trails can become like streams, branches and trees will fall, and winds on peaks can literally blow you away. (See Danger & Trouble below for more typhoon and road closure info)
Autumn
The humidity usually begins to fade away by mid-September, making autumn a very pleasant time to visit anywhere in Miyoshi. The clearer air allows for longer views from the mountains, but do note that the chance of typhoons does continue up to November. Leaves begin to change color in the upper mountains in early October, with most of the Iya Valley seeing colors from late-October into early November. Oboke & Koboke and the lower Iyakei Gorge will see color in early/mid November, while the hills around Ikeda will see the change around mid-November (for a better breakdown of leaf changing times and locations, please check the Events page). By early November the upper mountain peaks will have had overnight temperatures well below freezing and maybe even some snow.
Manpu Gorge Footbridge at Ryugugake Park in Oku-Iya
Winter
During the winter it is usually rather cold, and the grey, leaf-less landscape isn't the most appealing time to visit. At lower elevations like central Ikeda and lower Oboke & Koboke, the temperature usually does not go below freezing all that often, meaning there usually isn't much snow (though it does occur sometimes). As one rises in elevation into the mountain areas the temperature correspondingly begins to drop. In Nishi-Iya, snow can be more common, but usually it is just on the edge of freezing, so what snow that occurs will often melt in a couple days. As one enters deeper into Oku-Iya snow will be more common and temperatures will be several degress colder than Ikeda. 
Many places in Oku-Iya close for this season (Dec 1 to March 31), including several main sights and places to stay. Mountain tops can be snow covered as early as mid-November, and many mountain passes can be un-drivable through much of the winter. Snow-tires, chains, or four-wheel drive probably won't be necessary for driving on the main roads in the vast majority of Miyoshi, but having them could be reassuring since snow is unpredictable, especially if going well into Oku-Iya (maybe ask your rental car company about getting tire chains if planning to venture deep... and do be sure to know how to install them!)
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Money & Communication

Many places in Miyoshi only take cash, so having some Yen is essential for local travel. For larger fees (such as for hotels and tours) one should be sure to ask beforehand if credit cards are accepted if looking to pay with such.


Getting Yen cash can be a slight inconvenience for some people. Firstly, the only foreign money exchange service is at Awa Bank in central Ikeda, though results have been mixed, especially with anything other than US dollars. There is no other exchange for foreign cash in Miyoshi, so one must go to larger Shikoku cities for this.


ATM machines that accept foreign cards are also somewhat limited here. The place to go would be a JP Post Office to use their ATM, which has English service and takes many foreign cards. Do note that not all post offices have ATMs, but there are several throughout Miyoshi including Oboke, Koboke, central Nishi-Iya, and two in Oku-Iya (Kyojo and Ochiai). Also, postal ATMs have limited and mixed hours (especially weekends), and are usually closed in evenings. In Oboke and in Ikeda there are a few convience stores (7/11, Lawsons) which have foreign card ATMs in English and other languages, and available 24 hours. (There are no convenience stores with ATMs within the Iya Valley, only Postal ATMs).
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Cell phone service throughout Miyoshi is generally strong and reliable. However, on mountain tops and remote roads the signal strength can be weak or not available. There are also some coin and card operated pay phones here and there if one does not have a cell phone. Aside from other locations, pay phones are almost always located next to a post office.

Wi-Fi is often available at hotels and most places to stay. Free Wi-Fi Hotspots are also becoming increasingly common, including at the JR train stations, convenience stores, Michi-no-Eki rest areas, restaurants, and even some tourist sites including both sets of vine bridges and at Minokoshi (Mt Tsurugi base), though there can be large swaths of areas which have no Wi-Fi available. 

Hospitals & Clinics

If ever having a medical issue, probably the best thing to do first would be to ask for assistance from a local person. Even though there may be a language barrier, people will go out of their way to help, even if it is to just call for additional support (* for many of Japan's emergency and toll free numbers, foreign based cell phones that dial internationally may not connect).

The main hospital is located in central Ikeda and called simply Miyoshi Hospital ("Miyoshi Byo-in"). Emergencies and ambulances from throughout all of the Iya Valley and Oboke/Koboke are sent to here. For severe emergencies, helicopter ambulances serve the Iya Valley and go to Miyoshi Hospital. In Ikeda, there are also several clinics and small hospitals around, but many of these tend to be specialists, so it would be best to first go to the main Miyoshi Hospital if needing medical help.

For all other areas, there are several day clinics available, including one near Iyaguchi (in north Oboke & Koboke Area), one in Oboke , one in central Nishi-Iya , and one in Oku-Iya (at Kyojo). However, these clinics have hours of about 9am to 5pm Monday - Friday (in Oku-Iya only Mon, Wed, & Fri 9:30-4pm). For nights and weekends there is supposedly an on-call doctor available for emergencies (it may be particularly troublesome to arrange), and info on this can be found here (Japanese only). The Nishi-Iya clinic is the largest and offers the most procedures outside of Ikeda. All areas have pharmacies located very near or next to every clinic. There are also dental clinics throughout Miyoshi, including one in Nishi-Iya (right next to the main Nishi-Iya health clinic), and Oku-Iya also has its own dentist in the village of Kyojo  .

Generally, doctors have a basic (or sometimes better) ability with English. If needing translation assistance to find medical help, one can contact either Japan Helpline (0120-46-1997) or the Miyoshi Tourist Information Center (0120-404-344). If calling the 119 for emergencies they can usually connect to an English speaking operator. If not, then use Japan Helpline. 
EMERGENCY
Call 119
Fire & Ambulance
Japan HelpLine
Call Toll Free
(within Japan only)
0120-46-1997
English Available
Miyoshi City
Tourism Info
Call Toll Free
(within Japan only)
0120-404-344
English Available
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Shopping

For information on supermarkets and buying food, see the Grocery Store section on the Eat & Drink page. 
 Ikeda & North
The main shopping area for Miyoshi is central Ikeda. The largest concentration of shops would be in and around the Frespo Shopping Center which includes a supermarket, hardware store (home center), clothes shop, drug store, and 100 yen shop. The quiet shopping arcade extending from the JR Awa-Ikeda train station has a spread of stores and restaurants, though don't expect Shibuya-like excitement. Up on Rt 192, there are a couple larger stores, including the Shinonome farmer's market and butcher (also called Ueno ). Out near the hospital are a few other shops including a general electronics store. There are also several other smaller shops, food markets, and convenience stores all across Ikeda. 
Heading east on Rt 192 will lead to a somewhat larger variety stores over in Higashi-Miyoshi Town, about a 15 minutes drive from Ikeda. But for the largest selection of shopping closest to Ikeda, head west on Rt 192 for 30 minutes (or west on the Expressway for 15 minutes) to Shikoku-chuo City. 

 Oboke & Koboke
The area around Kawaguchi Train Station in Oboke & Koboke Area has a few shops scattered on the main street and across the bridge, though not all that much. There are a couple Rest Areas along Rt 32 that sell various souvenirs, including Mannaka Service Area and the Oboke Michi-no-Eki rest area. At the West-West service area there is also a large MontBell outdoors store which would have any gear or clothing needed for camping, hiking, or river sports, as well as a Lawsons convenience store, and a gift shop (which is ingeniously called "Gift"). The Oboke Station area only has a handful of shops on either side of the river, of which Boke Mart is probably the biggest shop. We list additional grocery stores of the area on the Eat & Drink page.

 Nishi-Iya
In central Nishi-Iya there are a couple shops, but little on offer. The Nishi-Iya Michi-no-Eki rest area has a variety of locally produced souvenirs. Most larger hotels in Nishi-Iya also have souvenirs shops of their own. At the Kazurabashi Parking Area there is a large souvenir shop selling a wide range of things, and up around the Kazurabashi bus stop are a couple small shops. There are also a few grocery stores in Nishi-Iya (check Eat & Drink for listings)

 Oku-Iya
Pretty much the only thing to shop for in Oku-Iya would be food & drinks at one of the few grocery stores (see Eat & Drink for info on that), though if one is needing cigarettes you can get your nicotine fix from the Eneos gas station in Kyojo (also selling alcohol here).
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Info & Rest Areas

Michi-no-Eki locations ("Road Station") are a nationwide system of over 1100 local rest areas. There are three of these in Miyoshi (see below). Usually open daily, travel maps, tourism info, and road condition updates are available, as well as locally produced products and vending machines. Some locations have restaurants or other features, including free WiFi or being near hotsprings. Toilets are 24 hrs. Parking is 24 hrs. Sleeping in one's car is considered OK, but camping with a tent is NOT permitted at any of the Miyoshi locations. 
 Ikeda & North
Outside the JR Awa-Ikeda Station is the main Tourist Information Center for Miyoshi (go to the right when exiting the station). Various travel info is available and an English speaking clerk may be present. Staff can be a little clueless if asking for specific information (even in Japanese), especially with things like hiking, current road conditions, or smaller sights. One can also call the Information Center at 0120-404-344 (Toll free. Calls from within Japan only) and you can usually be connected with an English speaking operator (who may actually be of little help).

The Michi-no-Eki Mino is located on Rt 12 in Mino. Locally grown produce and a small restaurant/cafe can be found here, as well as a broad view of the Yoshino River (very nice at sunset).
Miyoshi Tourist Information Center
The Highway Oasis service area (also called Yoshinogawa SA) is located nearby in Higashi-Miyoshi Town. This large place has a farmer's market, a couple restaurants, various souvenirs, tourism info, an onsen hotspring, a campground, and a performance stage where events often take place, especially on summer weekends and holidays. Entering or exiting the Tokushima Expressway here is only possible with an ETC reader, however all facilities can be accessed without using the expressway by using the local roads.

 Oboke & Koboke
The Michi-no-Eki Oboke is located on Rt 32, about 800m north of the Rt 45 turn off (for Oboke Station and/or Iya Valley). Aside from tourist info and souvenirs, this is also the site of the Yokai House museum, with displays of the legendary monsters that this part of Japan is known for.  The Lapis Oboke stone museum is also here.
West-West "RiverStation" Service Area
The dated-looking Showa-era Mannaka Rest Area is located a couple hundred meters north of the Michi-no-Eki Oboke, and has lots of souvenirs available as well as a large cafeteria style restaurant. This is from where the Oboke Gorge Pleasure Boats launch. Across the street is Hotel Mannaka and their small-ish onsen hotspring.

A few kilometers north of Mannaka Rest Area between Oboke Gorge and Koboke Gorge is the West-West RiverStation service area , which has a couple restaurants, souviner shop, a Lawsons convenience store, and a MontBel Outtdoor Store. The tree-top rope course of Amici Adventure and their bungee-like "Quick Jump" are also based here.
 Nishi-Iya
The Michi-no-Eki Nishi-Iya is located on Rt 45 (when coming from Oboke, its on the right, just before the entrance to Hotel Hikyo-no-Yu and their onsen hotspring, and about 200m before Iya Fureai Park). Tourist info as well as a big variety of handmade souvenirs can be found here, as well as a small restaurant serving Iya soba and more.

The gargantuan Kazurabashi Parking Area and Visitors Center (also called "Yumebutai") looks a bit out of place in the tranquil Iya Valley, but it has a large tourist center with local info, an Iya soba restaurant, and a huge array of souvenirs (the staff at the Tourist Counter here try to be helpful, but they speak little if any English). There are several other restaurants and stalls along the arcade between here and the vine bridge. Parking here is 510 yen (or park in a private lot literally across the street for 300 yen).
Kazurabashi "Yumebutai" Parking and Visitors Center
Oku-Iya Tourist Information Center
 Oku-Iya
On Rt 32, when coming from Nishi-Iya, the small Oku-Iya Tourist Information Center is located on the left side (40m up from the turn off, look for the large sign on the right) at the start of Ryugugake Park (also called Manpu Gorge). Mainly just some tourism info and toilets are available, though its only open during the day. Overnight parking and/or camping not permitted. The road immediately past the Info Center bypasses the Ryugugake Tunnel below, and is the old road through Manpu Gorge. The Ryugugake Wire Footbridge can be found along here, leading to the park and the cabins at Ryugugake Cottage, as well as some awesome cliffside views.  

And for those looking to do some mountain hiking, at the end of the valley out in Minokoshi at the trailhead for Mt Tsurugi, you can find the Tsurugi Kanko Center which has lots of trail info, free maps, a small gear shop, and a cafe. It is located within the dame building (downstairs) as the lower chairlift station.

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Dangers & Trouble

 Crime
The crime rate for Miyoshi, like most of the Japanese countryside, is very low. If there is any incident, it usually involves someone who is not from the area. Therefore, one should be on their guard (if at all) with other tourists rather than the residents. Local people will actually go out of their way to aid any visitor.

If one does need the authorities, there are police officers stationed in each area of Miyoshi. Call 110 for police.
EMERGENCY
Call 110
for Police
 Typhoons and Landslides:
The typhoon season lasts from July to November, and these massive storms come from the south, usually via Okinawa. Shikoku is usually affected by at least two or three each year, sometimes more (in 2005 over a dozen hit the area). If a big one is approaching, it will be all over the news several days beforehand. 
ROAD CLOSURES: At the height of the storm (usually an 8 - 24hr period) one should avoid travel if possible, particularly with driving on any narrow road. In recent years the government has become increasingly uptight with the potential danger of landslides from heavy rain, and now often close the main roads within Iya and Oboke whenever any big storm hits. Detours and/or closure signs will be posted on the road, though as long as the road hasn't actually collapsed, one can still probably drive through if need be (see below about driving and road closure info).
(**Note: if a road is temporarily closed due to weather, any public bus that was scheduled to go through there will be cancelled. Also, some taxis may also suspend service along that road. So do understand that if roads close, you may be either unable to reach your destination in Iya and Oboke, or you may be stuck here until the roads re-open). 

DO NOT HIKE OR CAMP during a typhoon. Your tent will be blown away or risk having a branch/tree fall on it. Flooding of trails is common. Emergency shelter from such storms are the main purpose for the many mountain huts, though it'd be best to simply not hike if you know a typhoon is coming (the previous Mt. Miune Hut was destroyed a few years ago by a typhoon).  

For typhoon forecast info, see the Japan Meteorological Agency's typhoon webpage (in Engish, but do note that hourly times given for typhoon forecasts are Universal Time (UTC) and not Japan Time (JST), which would mean adding 9 hours to the UTC).
Real-Time Road Closure Info
If you can figure it out, here is the Tokushima Government's Disaster Management Page (in Japanese) showing real-time emergency road closures and any scheduled time-delays due to repair work. (click on the map section of Miyoshi  三好 for a road map showing any current closures, with an "X" icon for full closure, and a clock icon for repair work time delays).

You can also attempt to call the Miyoshi Tourist Information Center (0120-404-344) which should have an English speaking operator to ask about any road closure, but unless asking about the road directly in front of their office in Ikeda, then they'll probably be of limited help.

Also, any Michi-no-Eki Service Area (see above) will have current road closure information, including real-time maps and weather reports.

And if the weather is currently pretty bad and you are needing to take a public bus, you can contact Awa-Ikeda Bus Terminal at 0883-72-1231 (Japanese only) to see if any of the Shikoku Kotsu Buses are cancelled.
 Driving on Local Roads

Having a car is probably the best way to get around the majority of Miyoshi, and renting a vehicle can also be much more economical and time saving than using public transportation. However, for many people (both foreigner and non-local Japanese alike), the roads can be a bit scary.


Even though main access roads to some of the major sights are two laned, there are always lots of curves, and the lanes can seem quite narrow when encountering a large truck coming from the other direction. Also, there is usually little or no shoulder, and often no sidewalks, so care should be given to cyclists and pedestrians. 


However, there are many one-laned roads throughout every area, particularly in Oku-Iya, and all have lots of seemingly blind curves. (Don't worry about flying off a cliff, as there are guard rails wherever it gets perilous... usually) Local people tend to drive rather quickly, but you should drive at your own pace with caution and just let someone pass you if they wish (pull to the side if need be). Most blind curves have mirrors you can check to see if another vehicle is coming.  Always be ready to break on one-lane curves. If you come head-to-head with someone at a point where two vehicles can not pass, it is usually best for one vehicle to reverse to a wider point instead of trying to squeeze past eachother (locals know to do this, visitors from elsewhere in Japan usually do not). Trying to squeeze past may take longer and can easily result in vehicle damage, so use reverse.


(**Note: if driving, do read the "Typhoon and Landslide" section just above to understand about the potential for road closures).
Gas Stations are fairly infrequent in the Iya Valley and some parts of Oboke & Koboke. In particular, if going deep into Oku-Iya do be sure to have enough gas before setting off. Also, the gas stations in these areas are usually not open on Sundays and/or holidays and often close by 6:00 or 7:00pm (gas stations in Ikeda and heading towards Tokushima City, or Takamatsu are usually open later and every day of the week). And do note that many gas stations do not take credit cards, only cash.
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 Wild Animals
**For the vast majority of visitors to the area, being harmed by a wild animal usually never happens. So while keeping aware of the possible dangers is indeed helpful, do not let the following info stop you from enjoying your stay!

Snakes: One of the greatest concerns someone may have with the wildlife would be with snakes, particularly the poisonous mamushi. These snakes have brown bodies with black and grey patterns, and are about 1 meter long. When moving through mountain trails be sure observe the ground instead of only looking at the great views. If bitten, get help immediately. Anti-venom is available at the hospital and Nishi-Iya clinic, and be sure to notice what the snake looked like. (fun fact: the macho men of Iya often capture these snakes live by hand, and put them in bottles full of strong alcohol to ferment. A shot of this supposedly gives them "man power")


There are other venomous snakes around as well (but many are not venomous), so it'd probably be best to just avoid any snake. They are not arressive unless stepped on, so if you do see one, give it a minute and it'll probably go away fast enough.

Hornets: Japanese hornets ("suzume-bachi") have a very powerful sting. The larger varieties of these black and yellow buggers can grow to be finger-sized, and though they may slowly fly around you (they hunt for bees), they will generally not attack unless you disturb their nests (nest building season is mid-summer/early autumn). They sting fast, so if getting attacked, run far away quickly. A single sting will be extremely painful and will swell up, but it is probably not dangerous unless you are allergic (similar to a bee allergy, check for face swelling or an overall ill feeling). However, anyone should seek medical help if bitten more than 2 or 3 times since their venom is potent in high doses. 

Centipedes: Evil looking centipedes ("mukade") sometimes make a sudden unwelcomed appearance, both outdoors and inside. Often with black bodies and red legs and up to 10cm long, either stay clear or smash it with a hard object. Do not touch them because they bite as bad as they look. Not deadly, but certainly very painful (allergic reactions are possible, check for swelling in face, seek help if concerned).


Mosquitos: The mosquito season usually lasts from mid-June to mid-autumn. Most common at sunset time or in the shade, they are more of a nuisance than any danger. Generally, there are no mosquito-carrying diseases in Japan which anyone should be concerned with (some may worry about Japanese Encephalitis, but it is "Japanese" mainly because a Japanese scientist discovered it. More common in Southern Asia, one can count on their fingers the number of cases in Japan since 2000).
Horse Flies: There are a few species of horse-fly ("abu") in this part of Japan, some bigger, some smaller, some with stripes, some just black. All look like large houseflies, and wow, they do love to bite! Most active during the daylight hours in the summer (in sun or shade), they will circle around people like a shark, and upon landing on someone, they will bite within 2 or 3 seconds. It hurts, but it is not a sting (no venom). No diseases to worry about or allergies, just a bit of pain and a small welt.

Ticks: If hiking, its advisable to avoid wearing shorts when moving through the thick sasa grass that covers the mountains around Iya. For one, this grass will cause scratches and your legs will be raw after a couple hours. Also, it'd be easy to pick up a tick ("dani") with exposed skin. They can carry diseases, but usually won't transmit it within the first 12-24hrs. So if in the woods, check yourself afterwards for one of these guys sucking on you. Remove completely with tweezers or burn off with a lighter.

Bears and Other Animals: The forests of Miyoshi are full of many larger animals, from rabbits and tanuki (raccoons), to deer, monkeys, serows, and boars. None usually ever attack unless provoked and one should feel lucky to spot any (they usually run away fast). More dangerous would be accidentally hitting one while driving.

There have been very occassional "sightings" of bears out by Mt. Tsurugi, but within the mountains of Shikoku there are only a handfull of them at best, and no attacks have occured in decades here. (More bothersome would be hearing the jingling from the Japanese hikers who still insist on having the obligatory "bear bells" hanging from their packs).

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