Autumn explodes with color in the Iya Valley!
November 5, 2021
The hills are alive with beautiful fall views!
The autumn colors are reaching their peak in the deeper part of the Iya Valley (the Oku-Iya area) and they are currently increasing in color within NIshi-Iya and Iyakei Gorge.
But it will still be a week or two until the leaves reach their peak color down in Oboke Gorge along the Yoshino River, or up north in the Ikeda.
For a full breakdown of where and when to find the best places to enjoy the autumn colors, check the listing for "Autumn Leaf Viewing" (and open the "Show More" tab) on our Fesitval & Events Page here.
From January 9, 2024 until February 15 the Iya-no-Kazurabashi in Nishi-Iya will be closed in order to replace the vines.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
A driving route detour is now necessary for reaching Oku-Iya. Bus access is now possible again, but delays are necessary.
Spring has arrived a little earlier than usually to the Iya Valley, and the dazzling cherry blossoms are starting to paint the valley pink!
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!