Areas
Orient yourself with Iya and Oboke
A Hidden Corner of Japan...
...Still Lost in Time
For centuries, the regions of Iya and Oboke have been a refuge for those looking to escape from the rest of the world. This rugged, isolated area, tucked deep inside steep valleys and surrounded by high mountains, has not only developed its own culture and traditions, but unlike the rest of ultra-modern Japan, many of its old ways continue to live on.
Today, visitors can enjoy a wonderful mix of old and new. Blast down the rapids of Oboke Gorge in the morning, then in the afternoon learn to hand-grind soba (buckwheat) with a stone mill. Cross the Iya River by a creeking bridge made of vines, or opt instead to zip-line your way across the river's famed emerald waters. Have a yoga lesson inside a traditional kominka
mountain house, or walk through an artist's mind-bending way to re-populate a remote village.
Whether you choose to stay in one of the many top-class hotels as you disolve yourself in their onsen hotsprings, or opt to sleep in a thatched-roof farmhouse within one of the tranquil hillside hamlets; indulge on the finest kaiseki meal made with locally grown ingredients, or feast on freshly hunted game grilled over a traditional iirori floor hearth, a wealth of experiences await all who come.
Located in the center of Shikoku Island, the administrative name for the Iya Valley and Oboke Gorge regions is Miyoshi City. To allow for ease of understanding and orientation, we at IyaTime have divided Miyoshi into four separate areas, based on geography and traditional boundaries.
*Please note, every area has sub-sections and villages that use various other names.
Each area page has information for local access.
For complete info on access, see our Transport
page.
Nishi-Iya & Iyakei
Lower & Central Iya Valley
The lower reaches of the Iya Valley are a pristine, mostly undeveloped gorge, known locally as Iyakei. The old one-lane "Iya Highway" begins its way into the valley along the steep mountainsides here, passing by many viewpoints high above the river below.
Further along, the central Iya Valley area is known as Nishi-Iya
("West Iya") and is Iya's most developed section (though still rather small). Home to several hot spring spas, it is also the location of the famed Iya-no-Kazurabashi
vine bridge.
Oku-IyaThe Deep Iya Valley
The vast upper half of the Iya Valley is known locally as Oku-Iya
("Deep Iya") but also referred to as Higashi-Iya
("East Iya"). This is not only the most remote part of Iya, but also one of the most rugged inhabited areas of Japan.
Historically known as a place of isolation, old-world traditions still continue here within the thatched roof farmhouses
of the charming mountainside hamlets. Also known for its hidden double vine bridges, and enclosed by tall mountains full of lofty hiking trails, it is truly a place to get away from it all.
Oboke & Koboke The Gorges of the Yoshino River
Making up the area of Miyoshi known as Yamashiro, the steep gorges formed by the untamed Yoshino River are world-renowned for their excellent rafting.
The southern gorge is known as Oboke, and just north of it is the gorge of Koboke, with names which mean "Big Danger Walking" and "Small Danger Walking" respectively, probably due to the historic risk of moving through such harsh terrain. Accordingly, many folk-tales of mysterious Yokai
monsters also emerge from this wild place.
Ikeda & NorthThe Crossroads of Shikoko
Nestled between lush mountains, the main part of Miyoshi's northern area is known as Ikeda, though it is also referred to by its traditional name of Awa-Ikeda. Rich with history, this area has been a trading center and travelers' way-point for centuries due to its central Shikoku Island location.
Though its "downtown" section is small compared to other cities in Japan, it houses most of Miyoshi's public facilities and shopping options. Offering many of its own highlights, Ikeda also serves as the gateway to the Iya Valley and Oboke Gorge.
Understand
Travel times between and within the different areas may take longer than expected. Roads are often narrow and curvy, with hills that can be long and steep. So if you're looking for off-the-beaten-path Japan, then you're certainly gonna find it here.
Please check the Transport section for information regarding driving, biking, or using the somewhat infrequent public transportation.
But as they say, the best things in life are hard to come by.
The old "Iya Highway"
Iyaguchi to Mt. Tsurugi
59
Kilometers
826
Curves
1
Stop Sign
Starting at the valley entrance of Iyaguchi
(literally: "Mouth of Iya") in the Oboke & Koboke area, the still mostly one-laned original road into Iya was built in the early/mid 20th century. It follows the Iya River in its entirety, twisting itself on the steep faces of the
Iyakei Gorge, through central Nishi-Iya
past the
Kazurabashi Vine Bridge, and then into Oku-Iya, where it first passes through
Manpu Gorge
(meaning
"Ten Thousand Men",
which is apparently what it took to build the road through this cliff-filled stretch) and then continuing past the lower reaches of the various hillside hamlets such as Ochiai Village
before finally arriving at the mountain pass settlement of
Minokoshi
at the far end of the valley on the slopes of
Mt. Tsurugi.
One can literally not travel in Iya without utilizing this road at various stages, and driving the entire 2.5 hour length with its 1300 meter total elevation gain is a breath-taking (and sometimes hair-raising) experience.
More Info about Miyoshi
Marugoto Miyoshi
This continually updated website is mainly a collection of social media posts (Faceboook, Instagram, etc) from the accounts of local Miyoshi residents and businesses. It also has original articles about life and travel in Miyoshi written by the people who live here. Most of the content is in Japanese, however some articles have also been translated into English. Certainly worth checking for getting a nice insight to local life and any new things happening in Miyoshi.
Go to Marugoto Miyoshi >>
Miyoshi City Tourism Oboke Iya Navi
The "official" tourism website produced by the local government looks pretty snazzy, but be careful since much of the content isn't up-to-date and therefore may no longer be valid. Also, many things on their English version are still only in Japanese, and several great sights and key information aren't included no matter what the language. Be particularly cautious regarding their mountain hiking info (unless you want to get seriously lost). But it could be worth checking it out for basic ideas of the area.
Go to Miyoshi City Tourism >>
Miyoshi City Municipal Website
The city government's website is only in Japanese and probably only helpful if you are a resident of Miyoshi. Here you can find info on government services such as schools, trash pick-up, welfare assistance, tax collection, health care, etc.