iyatime

Winter 2024 Kazurabashi Bridge Vine Repair Closure

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 08:12:44 GMT

The Kazurabashi Vine Bridge will be closed for part of this winter

The vines for the Iya-no-Kazurabashi Bridge are replaced by local craftsmen every 3 years, using about 6 tons of fresh vines that are taken from the surrounding mountains. This winter will be the next repair period, which means the bridge will be closed for about six weeks from January 9, 2024 until February 15.

During this time visitors will not be able to cross the bridge, but you can go to watch the re-construction from the adjacent vehicle bridge a bit further down the river as well as from the exit side of the bridge near Biwa Waterfall. On either end of the bridge the workers burn away the old vines while the also steaming the new vines in order to make them soft enough to twist into place.

Alternately, if you are not planning to visit Iya during this time but you are still curious to see the repair progress, you can instead see a free Live Camera of the Kazurabashi and follow the re-construction for yourself !! The button link below is for the government website that hosts the video but it may look black if checking at night (please note that daylight hours during winter in Japan would be about 10PM to 8AM GMT London, or about 5:00PM to 3:00AM EST New York):

Also note that the Oku-Iya Niju Kazurabashi (Double Vine Bridges) are not open in the winter from December 1 to March 31. For a full list of winter season closures, please check here:

Winter 2023-24 Seasonal Closings

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 07:34:16 GMT

Some locations in the Iya Valley and Oboke areas close every year for the winter, particularly places in Oku-Iya.

Below is a list of locations closed in winter.

Usually the seasonal closings are from December 1st to March 31st , but a few places may be slightly different.

Also, some locations that remain open may operate at reduced hours.

Tip : To see which things to See & Do that are open in winter , on our See & Do page open the "Map & Listings" and there within the "Option" filter tab above the listings, select "Open in Winter", and this will filter the listings to only show locations and sights which are open all year.

** This winter the Iya-no-Kazurabashi will be closed from January 9 until February 15 in order to replace the vines.

More info >>

Closed Places to Stay

Oku-Iya Area

La Foret Tsurugi Hotel

Minshuku Matsuura

Oku-Iya Niju Kazurabashi Campground

Iya Hakkei farmhouse

Ryugugake Cottages

Tsurugisan Chojo Hutte (re-opens in late April)

Ichino-Mori Hut (re-opens in late April)

unstaffed mountain huts are open all year, including Miune Hut, Okameiwa Hut, and Shiraga Hut... but all are cold!

Nishi-Iya & Iyakei Area

Iya Kazurabashi Camp Village

Iya Valley (Iyakei) Camp Village

Iya Fureai Park Campground

Oboke & Koboke

Shiozuka Highlands Camp & Cabins

Closed See & Do

Oku-Iya

Oku-Iya Niju Kazurabashi (Double Vine Bridges)

Ochiai Pass (road usually closed in winter)

Bukeyashiki Kita-ke Historic House

Asa-ke Historic House

Kimura-ke Cafe

Kyobashira Pass (road usually closed in winter)

Mt Tsurugi Chairlift (re-opens mid-April)

Oboke & Koboke

All river rafting and water-sports

Amici Adventure

Shiozuka Highlands

Ikeda & North

Oboke - Iya Bus Tour

Locations with Reduced Winter Schedules (partial list*)

Please contact each location to find their open hours or days. *Other places not listed may also have reduced schedules.

Oku-Iya

Soba Dojo restaurant

Nagaoka-ke Historic House (closed Dec 27 - Feb 29)

Iya Valley Tours (closed Dec 1 - Feb 29)

Yama Yoga (private lessons only)

Oku-Iya Museum of History & Folklore (closed on Wed, Sat, Sun, & Holidays Dec 1 - Feb 29)

Nishi-Iya & Iyakei

Kazurabashi Vine Bridge (Jan 9 - Feb 15)

Kazurabashi Arcade restaurants

Senkichi restaurant

Forest Adventure (closed if snowy or icy)

Oboke Michi-no-Eki (shop and cafe here closed most days mid-Dec to Feb 29)

Oboke & Koboke

Kenmi Onsen Hotsprings

Heike Yashiki Museum (Dec-March closes at 5pm instead of 6pm)

Oboke Michi-no-Eki, including YOKAI House and Cafe & Jibie restaurant (closed on Tuesdays during Dec 1 - March 31, as well as Wed if the Tues is a holiday)

Also please note that the Local Miyoshi Municipal Buses in all areas do not operate for the New Years holiday of January 1st to 3rd (but the regular Shikoku Kotsu buses do operate normally during this time).

A Taste of Iya at the Annual Harvest Festival!

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 03:07:03 GMT

Experience the food culture of Iya!

Not only is autumn is one of the most beautiful times of the year in the Iya Valley, but a great way to enjoy the colorful landscape is while also sampling the variety of foods that are unique to the valley together with the local residents!

This year the annual Harvest Festival (奥祖谷収穫祭マルシェ) will be held on Saturday November 4, 2022 in the central "downtown" area of Kyojo within Oku-Iya (Higashi-Iya).

The event begins about 9:00am and goes until about 1pm and many things often sell out before noon, so don't come too late!

Perfect if you're curious and hungry!
Several local vendors from within the Iya Valley will be here serving up the variety of foods that are unique to Iya. Many of these delicious foods are usually only cooked at homes or for special events (and not usually served in restaurants). However, at the Harvest Festival many of these wonderful dishes are on offer, allowing a unique chance to not just try things that are hard to find, but also try several dishes all at once!

Some of the foods available include Hirara-Yaki (local vegetables and river trout stewed in miso), Soba-gome (whole buckwheat grain porridge), and dishes made with wild game (including venison and boar). Foods which include various types of millet will also be on hand, including bread and cookies. And of course, hand-made Iya Soba by master chef Ms Tsuzuki will also be available.

The Oku-Iya Harvest Festival takes place on November 4th in the central Kyojo area just in front of the Higashi-Iya Museum of History and Folklore , which is right on Rt 439. It is easy to access by car or bus (the closest bus stop is Kyojo Bus Stop).

There is no admission fee, but each dish is paid per serving. Things start about 9am and go to about 1pm, but be sure to come early since most vendors sell out at this increasingly popular event!

Find out more about Iya's local foods here:

The Oku-Iya Harvest Festival happens in front of the Higashi-Iya Museum of History and Folklore.

Enjoying the Summer at Local Festivals!

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 02:08:31 GMT

Join the fun at a variety of summer events!

For the first time in 3 years the full range of Summer Festivals will be happening in the Iya Valley and Miyoshi City area!

Below is a list of what's in store, but for specific details including access info, check our Festivals and Events page

Main Road Re-opens. Buses back to normal.

Sat, 22 Apr 2023 05:01:15 GMT

Road patched up and now passable

As of April 22, 2023 the main road (Rt 32) into the deeper part of the Iya Valley for Oku-Iya (Higashi-Iya) has now re-opened and vehicles can now pass through this section without needing to take the narrow, one-way detour that went up into the mountainside village.

Also, the public bus schedule to/from the Oku-Iya Area (destined for Kubo bus stop) has also resumed normal operation.

Many thanks to the efforts of the crew from Inoshita Construction Company of Higashi-Iya who worked in an expedited way to get a solid patch on the collapsed road to make this essential route once again passable in time for the Golden Week holiday period! Bravo!

Oku-Iya Bus Service Re-Starts... but with delays.

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 12:18:08 GMT

Road collapse creates delay with bus service

Update:

As of April 22, 2023 the road has been patched and is now re-open for regular driving (the detour is no longer needed), and the buses have once again resumed normal schedules without delays. More info >>

----------

On March 24th, 2023 the main road collapsed on the way into Oku-Iya (Higashi Iya), at a points about 10 minutes after the main Kazurabashi Vine Bridge in Nishi-Iya. For more info about driving around this collapse, see here:

Oku-Iya Road Collapse

For about 2 weeks the public bus service into the Oku-Iya area was suspended, but on April 6th bus service will re-start via the detour route through a mountains village road.

The regular schedule will still be followed for the buses into and out of the Oku-Iya area that go to/from Kubo bus stop, however due to the extra time needed for taking the detour, buses will be delayed by about 10 or 20 minutes.

This delay only affects the 4 buses per day that go on the route between Awa-Ikeda Bus Terminal and Kubo bus stop.

So for travel starting from places like Awa-Ikeda or Oboke Station, if just going to the Kazurabashi Vine Bridge area or other points in Nishi-Iya, then there would be no delay with going to here, but if continuing into Oku-Iya (for Kyojo, Ochiai Village, Kubo, and/or the bus link to Nagoro Scarecrow Village, Double Vine Bridges, etc) then the bus will arrive to these places 10-20 minutes later than the normal schedule time.

**However , if taking the bus in the opposite direction from points in Oku-Iya, the buses from Kubo will depart on time as scheduled, but due to the detour the buses will be 10-20 minutes late with reaching all points after the detour including the Kazurabashi Vine Bridge, points in Nishi-Iya, Oboke Station, and Awa-Ikeda. So if trying to catch a train out of Oboke Station, please take this into consideration or else you're gonna be SOL !!

Oku-Iya Road Collapse! Driving Detour, Buses Delayed

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 01:32:24 GMT

Road collapse makes Oku-Iya access even more difficult

Update:

On March 24, 2023 a section of the main RT 32 road into Oku-Iya (Higashi Iya) collapsed. This section is not passable, but a detour is possible for cars, taxis, and bicycles through a small village road and will add about 10-20 minutes to the drive.

However the public buses into Oku-Iya are currently suspended through here and it is unknown when they may restart.

For Driving:

Signs for the detour route are on Rt 32 as you approach. If coming from Nishi-Iya, the detour begins about 10 minutes after the Kazurabashi Vine Bridge area. Other signs at this turn are for Kimurake Historic House and for Chiiori.

The detour route is via a small village road and adds about 10-20 minutes compared to driving on the main road. Due to this detour road being mostly one-lane, only one direction of traffic is allowed through at a time.

So if you are lucky, you will arrive at the detour right at the moment traffic is being let through in your direction. But if unlucky, you may need to wait until all traffic has come through from the opposite direction before you can go. Call it the Oku-Iya Gamble!

For Bus Access:

As of late-March 2023, all public buses into Oku-Iya are currently suspended

As of April 6th, 2023 bus service has resumed but the detour is causing a delay in the schedule . See here for details:

Oku-Iya Bus Service Restarts >>

Cherry Blossoms Fill the Iya Valley with Color!

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 00:09:19 GMT

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!!

Kanpai! The Shikoku Sake Festival Returns to Ikeda!

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 01:43:37 GMT

Enjoy the range of Shikoku sake!

Teetotalers lookout!! After a 3 year break due to the coronavirus, the 24th Annual Shikoku Sake Festival is ready to make you dizzy with enjoyment!

This yea r's event will be held on the streets of downtown Ikeda in northern Miyoshi City on Saturday February 25, 2023. Festivities should be especially vibrant this year since the event has not been properly held for so long (only a mini version was held last summer).

Aside from the three sake producers that are based in Ikeda, several other sake and alcohol producers from all around Shikoku will converge for this celebration of inebriation. Sampling the wide range of offerings can be enjoyed by both people unfamiliar with Japan's national spirt, as well as the most discerning of sake connoisseurs.

A variety of food vendors will also be here serving up a range of treats, and the local sake brewers also offer tours inside their factories.

Advance tickets for ¥2500 are available until Feb 22, or same-day tickets can be had for ¥3000.

For more information, check their website here:

http://www.shikoku-sakematuri.com/

Iya's First Snow of Winter 2022-23

Sun, 18 Dec 2022 06:01:52 GMT

A Winter Wonderland in the Iya Valley !!

Though the mountain tops around the Iya Valley have been covered in snow for the past week or two, the main part of the valley along the road is getting its first significant snowfall for the season this weekend.

As of Sunday afternoon Dec 18 the snow is still lightly falling and the accumulation so far has been anywhere from 10 to 15 cm in Nishi-Iya near the Kazurabashi, about 20 to 25cm in Kyojo and lower Ochiai in Oku-Iya, and 35+cm out in Nagoro Scarecrow Village.

And the higher you go up in elevation in any hillside village will mean an increased snow depth.

The roads are slowly getting plowed and salted, but if driving into the Iya Valley for the next several days, be extra cautious and take your time , especially in Oku-Iya. And be sure to have snow tires and/or 4WD and/or chains.

And though the main road may be cleared in the coming days, the small roads up into the hillside villages will still be snowy and/or icy for the next week or more. And there may be more snow coming this week (as well as during the rest of the winter...), so again, be careful as you enjoy the beautiful landscape!!

Nishi-Iya "Rain Dance" Added to UNESCO Heritage List

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 01:03:14 GMT

The Nishi-Iya Jindai Odori awarded UNESCO status!

On November 30, 2022 at their annual meeting, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced that a group of 41 different traditional Japanese "furyu-odori" folk dances would be included in their Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Among the 41 ritual dances from across the country that were chosen, only one from the entire Shikoku region was in the group, and this is the ancient Jindai Odori "Rain Dance" of the Nishi-Iya part of the Iya Valley , which is within Tokushima Prefecture's Miyoshi City.

The Jindai Odori dance has been performed for over 1100 years in the Iya Valley with its roots stretching back to an era of severe drought. At that time, all across the Shikoku region a special ritual dance was created and then performed in hopes of creating rain.

Though an important part of local culture at the time for many areas, over the several centuries since being created the original dance either merged into a different dance in many places or just simply faded into oblivion. But it is understood that the Jindai Odori dance performed in Nishi-Iya is still the original dance and this is the only place the dance has been continuously performed since its inception in the 9th century. (a bit of a testament to how cut off from the rest of the world the Iya Valley has been.)

For the dance, local children and adults wear bright and colorful costumes, and are led by masked performers to the thunderous rhythm of giant drums and blowing conch shells. Surrounded by massive old-growth cedar trees, watching this spectacular ritual feels like stepping back in time.

How to see the Nishi-Iya Jindai Odori

The Jindai Odori dance is held annually each summer at the mountain top Zentoku Tenmangu Shrine , which is enclosed in the dense forest of central Nishi-Iya. The exact date of the event changes each year because it is based on the traditional Lunar Calendar.

On the Lunar Calendar (aka Chinese Calendar) the date is the 25th day of the 6th Lunar Month, which in 2023 is August 11, and in 2024 is July 30.

(*note: if interested in coming Aug 11, understand that this is coincidently a National Holiday called Mountain Day, and marks the start of the traditional O-Bon holiday period, so it is a popular and busy time to travel for Japanese people).

The event usually starts at about 9:00am for an initial performance down at the mountain in a small parking area along the main road, about a half kilometer from the Iya-no-Kazurabashi Vine Bridge in Nishi-Iya. If arriving early, you can see the performers put on their colorful costumes to prepare for the dance.

After this first shortened performance at the roadside, the dancers all head up to the Zentoku Tenmangu Shrine on the mountain top, which is about a 15 minute drive up a steep and curvy narrow road. Then after a ritual blessing at the shrine, the dance is performed in its entirety starting about 10:00 or 10:30am.

However, in light of the dance's new UNESCO status, there may be a possibility that the exact starting time may change, as well as the location of the initial performance. As the date becomes closer we will update the details for the event on our Event Calendar page . Check the Jindai Odori listing there for maps, access, and other information about the dance.

2022-23 Winter Season Closings

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 01:02:03 GMT

Some locations in the Iya Valley and Oboke areas close every year for the winter, particularly places in Oku-Iya.

Below is a list of locations closed in winter.

Usually the seasonal closings are from December 1st to March 31st, but a few places may be slightly different.

Also, some locations that remain open may operate at reduced hours.

Closed Places to Stay

Oku-Iya Area

La Foret Tsurugi Hotel

Minshuku Matsuura

Oku-Iya Niju Kazurabashi Campground

Iya Hakkei farmhouse

Ryugugake Cottages

Tsurugisan Chojo Hutte (re-opens in late April)

Ichino-Mori Hut (re-opens in late April)

unstaffed mountain huts are open all year, including Miune Hut, Okameiwa Hut, and Shiraga Hut... but all are cold!

Nishi-Iya & Iyakei Area

Iya Kazurabashi Camp Village

Iya Valley (Iyakei) Camp Village

Iya Fureai Park Campground

Oboke & Koboke

Shiozuka Highlands Camp & Cabins

Closed See & Do

Oku-Iya

Oku-Iya Niju Kazurabashi (Double Vine Bridges)

Ochiai Pass (road usually closed in winter)

Nagaoka-ke Historic House

Bukeyashiki Kita-ke Historic House

Asa-ke Historic House

Kyobashira Pass (road usually closed in winter)

Mt Tsurugi Chairlift (re-opens mid-April)

Oboke & Koboke

All river rafting and water-sports

Amici Adventure

Shiozuka Highlands

Ikeda & North

Oboke - Iya Bus Tour

Locations with Reduced Winter Schedules (partial list*)

Please contact each location to find their open hours or days. *Other places not listed may also have reduced schedules.

Oku-Iya

Soba Dojo restaurant

Iya Valley Tours (closed Jan & Feb)

Kimura-ke Cafe

Yama Yoga (private lessons only)

Oku-Iya Museum of History & Folklore (closed on Wed, Sat, Sun, & Holidays Dec 1 - Feb 28)

Nishi-Iya & Iyakei

Kazurabashi Arcade restaurants

Senkichi restaurant

Forest Adventure (closed if snowy or icy)

Oboke Michi-no-Eki (shop and cafe here closed most days mid-Dec to Feb 28)

Oboke & Koboke

Kenmi Onsen Hotsprings

Heike Yashiki Museum (Dec-March closes at 5pm instead of 6pm)

Oboke Michi-no-Eki, including YOKAI House and Cafe & Jibie restaurant (closed on Tuesdays during Dec 1 - March 31, as well as Wed if the Tues is a holiday)

Enjoy the Tastes of Iya at the Oku-Iya Harvest Festival!

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 23:55:38 GMT

A great way to experience Iya!

Autumn is one of the most beautiful times of the year in the Iya Valley, and an even better way to enjoy the colorful landscape is while sampling the tastes of the area together with many of the local residents!

On Saturday November 5, 2022 the Oku-Iya area will hold its annual Harvest Festival (奥祖谷収穫祭マルシェ) in the central "downtown" area of Kyojo.

The event begins about 9:00am and goes until about 1pm . Several local vendors from within the Iya Valley will be here serving up the variety of foods that are unique to Iya.

So much to try !
Many of the delicious foods inherent to the Iya Valley are usually only found at homes or special events, and not usually served in restaurants. However at the Harvest Festival many of these wonderful dishes are on offer, allowing a unique chance to not just try things that are hard to find, but also try several dishes all at once!

The Oku-Iya Harvest Festival takes place on November 5th in the central Kyojo area just in front of the Higashi-Iya Museum of History and Folklore , which is right on Rt 439. It is easy to access by car or bus (the closest bus stop is Kyojo Bus Stop).

There is no admission fee, but each dish is paid per serving. Things start about 9am and go to about 1pm, but be sure to come early since most vendors sell out at this increasingly popular event!

Find out more about Iya's local foods here:

The Oku-Iya Harvest Festival happens in front of the Higashi-Iya Museum of History and Folklore.

New Iya Valley to Kobe Direct Bus!

Sat, 17 Sep 2022 03:33:23 GMT

A new bus route links Iya & Oboke to Kobe & Naruto!

Starting October 8th, the Shikoku Kotsu Bus Company , which provides the local buses of Miyoshi City and the Iya Valley, will begin a new long-distance bus route that connects the Iya Valley and Oboke Gorge directly with Kobe City!

The Kobe - Iya bus will operate on Saturdays, Sundays and National Holidays, and will be the first regularly scheduled bus to ever link the remote Iya Valley with Honshu and the Kansai area. No need to transfer!

The bus will stop in the Iya Valley at the Kazurabashi Yumebutai (Vine Bridge Parking Area) and in Oboke Gorge at the Mannaka Service Area (for the Oboke Gorge Pleasure Boats). It is possible to connect to other local buses from either location (check out Local Bus Timetables for schedules).

In Kobe, the bus stops in the city center at Sannomiya Bus Terminal 神戸三宮 (next to JR Sannomiya Station) and at the Maiko Expressway Bus Stop 高速舞子 (next to JR Maiko Station)

This new route will also go via Naruto City with a stop at the Otsuka Museum of Art which houses an amazing collection of full-scale and finely detailed replicas of over 1000 world famous art pieces.

This bus also stops at several other places along the way in Tokushima Prefecture (including Awa-Ikeda Bus Terminal), but a basic timetable for the Iya Valley and Oboke stops is as follows:

*if traveling to Iya or Oboke, you can only get on this bus at the two Kobe stops and at the Otsuka Art Museum in Naruto. You can not get on the bus at Awa-Ikeda or any other stop between Awa-Ikeda and Naruto for travel to Oboke or Iya. Use the local buses instead.

**In the reverse direction, if boarding this bus from Iya or Oboke, tickets are sold only for going to Naruto or Kobe. If you get off the bus at an earlier stop, there is no refund.

For bus travel between Oboke or Iya going to Awa-Ikeda, use a regular local bus. Check our Local Bus Timetables for schedules.

For a full timetable of the Kobe - Iya bus, check the Shikoku Kotsu website (Japanese only) here:

https://yonkoh.co.jp/archives/info/highway20220913

The Shikoku Kotsu Bus Company also has other long-distance buses to/from the Awa-Ikeda Bus Terminal which travel at other times and operate every day of the week, including other buses for Kobe (which don't go to Iya) and buses for Osaka . Check their website for details about these buses and how to buy tickets here:

https://yonkoh.co.jp/highwaybus

Summer Events Return to Iya and Miyoshi!

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 03:30:16 GMT

After 3 years of cancellations, it's finally time to celebrate!

The years of waiting are ending, and this summer some events will finally be returning to the Iya Valley and Miyoshi City. Though most events will not be as big as usual, hopefully the recent up-tick in new cases doesn't mess up ( again ) any of these plans. Here a schedule for what will be happening:

Jindai Odori Dance - July 23, 2022

This ancient "rain dance" at a mountain-top shrine in Nishi-Iya has been held for over 1100 years and is registered as National Heritage Asset. The costumed performers dance continuously to roaring taiko drums and blowing conch shells. Free admission. Starting from about 10am at the Zentoku Tenmangu Shrine (see below to find on the MAP).

Iya Summer Festival - July 23, 2022

Held in the evening from about 5pm at the Iya Fureai Park in central Nishi-Iya (see location on MAP below), there will be lots of food, drink, events, and merriment going on. At about 8:30pm there will also be a big fireworks display . Free admission.

Shikoku Sake Festival - Aug 13, 2022

Usually held in the winter (but cancelled this past winter, as well as the 2 years prior), a smaller version will be held this summer instead in central Ikeda along the main arcade (see below for location MAP). Held from 1pm to 5pm , various sake brewers from all across Shikoku will be offering their creations. The 1000yen admission includes 5 sample drinks (additional drinks available for purchase). For more details, see here: http://www.shikoku-sakematuri.com/

Ikeda Awa-Odori - Aug 13 & 14, 2022

The streets of downtown Ikeda come alive for two nights this year with several dance troupes eager to finally strut their stuff for all to enjoy. Lots of food and drink vendors will be on hand. Things get going about 6 or 7 pm each night. Held in the arcade area around JR Awa-Ikeda Station (see MAP below).

Yamashiro Summer Festival - Aug 27, 2022

The main summer festival of the Oboke and Koboke area will be held this year from 5pm at the large parking area across the main road (RT 32) from JR Awa-Kawaguchi Station (the central part of town). Lots of vendors and events, as well as a big fireworks display starting about 8:30pm.

Check the MAP below to see where each event is being held:

Find other events for the rest of the year on our main Festival & Events Page .

Iya - Oboke Bus Schedule Change

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 01:15:04 GMT

A New Bus Schedule & Route Change is Starting April 1st, 2022

Starting April 1st, 2022 there will be a change to the schedule and the route for 3 of the daily buses which go between the Oboke Area and the Iya Valley.

*Our Bus Timetables have now been updated to show the new schedules and route explained below.

Go here to see the Bus Timetables

The 3 buses affected are for the route which go between Oboke-kyo Bus Stop and the Kazurabashi Yumebutai Bus Stop in Nishi-Iya. These buses also go via Iyakei Gorge .

Note: The 4 daily main buses for the Iya Valley which go between Awa-Ikeda Bust Terminal and Kubo are not affected , and these times will remain the same (for now...?).

For the affected buses, the OLD ROUTE went from the Oboke area, then into Iyakei Gorge, and then ended at Kazurabashi Yumebutai (Vine Bridge parking area). It did the opposite route in reverse.

For the NEW ROUTE, it now goes from the Oboke area, then to Kazurabashi Yumebutai, and then back-tracks a bit to end in the Iyakei Gorge at Hotel Iya Onsen. It does the opposite in reverse.

**But do note that the 3rd bus of the day does not go via Kazurabashi Yumebutai, and just goes directly between Oboke and Iyakei Gorge (Hotel Iya Onsen).

Also, in Iyakei Gorge, the bus stop called "Kunigadake" has changed to "Hi-no-Ji Keikoku". A fitting name since this stop is for the Hi-no-Ji Ben d Viewpoint.

Please see the new times and routes below:

(not all stops are shown here, this is just a basic schedule)

New Bus Times and Route (from April 1, 2022)

for going UP Iya

for going DOWN IYA

For the full bus schedule for the Iya Valley and Oboke areas, please go here: Bus Timetable page

(the Bus Timetable page now shows the new times and routes)

2021/22 Winter Season Closings

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 03:34:25 GMT

Many places in the Iya Valley and Oboke areas close every year for the winter, particularly places in Oku-Iya.

Usually the seasonal closings are from December 1st to March 31st, but a few places may be slightly different.

Also, some locations that remain open may operate at reduced hours.

Closed Places to Stay

Oku-Iya

Iyashi-no-Onsenkyo Hotel

La Foret Tsurugi

Minshuku Matsuura

Oku-Iya Niju Kazurabashi Campground

Iya Hakkei

Ryugugake Cottages

Tsurugisan Chojo Hutte (re-opens in late April)

Ichino-Mori Hut (re-opens in late April)

unstaffed mountain huts are open all year, including Miune Hut, Okameiwa Hut, and Shiraga Hut

Nishi-Iya & Iyakei

Iya Kazurabashi Camp Village

Iya Valley (Iyakei) Camp Village

Iya Fureai Park Campground

Oboke & Koboke

Shiozuka Highlands Camp & Cabins

Closed See & Do

Oku-Iya

Oku-Iya Niju Kazurabashi (Double Vine Bridges)

Oku-Iya Mountain Monorail

Iyashi-no-Onsenkyo Hotsprings

Ochiai Pass (road usually closed in winter)

Nagaoka-ke Historic House

Bukeyashiki Kita-ke Historic House

Asa-ke Historic House

Kyobashira Pass (road usually closed in winter)

Mt Tsurugi Chairlift (re-opens mid-April)

Oboke & Koboke

All river rafting and watersports

Amici Adventure

Shiozuka Highlands

Ikeda & North

Oboke - Iya Bus Tour (service ended permanently from Dec 2021)

Locations with Reduced Winter Schedules (partial list*)

Please contact each location to find their open hours or days.

*Other places not listed may also have reduced schedules.

Oku-Iya

Soba Dojo restaurant

Iya Valley Tours

Kimura-ke Cafe

Yama Yoga

Oku-Iya Museum of History & Folklore (closed on Wed, Sat, Sun, & Holidays Dec 1 - Feb 28)

Nishi-Iya & Iyakei

Kazurabashi Arcade restaurants

Senkichi restaurant

Forest Adventure

Oboke Michi-no-Eki (shop and cafe here closed most days mid-Dec to Feb 28)

Oboke & Koboke

Kenmi Onsen Hotsprings

Heike Yashiki Museum (Dec-March closes at 5pm instead of 6pm)

Oboke Michi-no-Eki, including YOKAI House and Cafe & Jibie restaurant (closed on Tuesdays during Dec 1 - March 31, as well as Wed if the Tues is a holiday)

Autumn explodes with color in the Iya Valley!

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 05:52:43 GMT

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-Iy a 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 .

Rainy season arrives early to Iya and all of Shikoku

Sun, 16 May 2021 00:11:10 GMT

A warm spring makes an extra early start to the rainy season

The rains have started way early this year, with the Japan Meteorological Association announcing that as of May 15th the rainy season has now officially begun for Shikoku and all of western Japan.

This is about 3 or 4 weeks earlier than normal , and supposedly the earliest start to the rainy season in the history of officially taking statistics! But this spring has also been quite warm so far, so hopefully the early start means it will be finished all that much sooner, allowing the later half of June and July (which would normally be wet) to therefore be clear. Yet this may also mean a particularly hot and humid summer in Japan, but luckily up here in the mountains of Iya it usually feels much more comfortable than down in sultry Ikeda or any other Japanese city.

But one nice thing about the rainy season is that it allows for some beautiful fog formations throughout the Iya Valley, so if you do visit at this time, its always wonderful to see the drifting clouds upon the lush green landscape!

Please stay healthy and safe this spring if visiting the Iya Valley!

Spring Arrives in Iya and Everywhere Re-Opens

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 23:47:15 GMT

Spring has Sprung in the Iya Valley!

After a fairly cold winter, spring has arrived in full force to Iya. The recent weather has been a bit warmer than usual, making the cherry blossoms now at full bloom about a week or two earlier than last year, and various other flowers are popping out everywhere. And with fresh new leaves sprouting on the trees, the Iya Valley is looking beautiful!

Also, as of April 1st, all locations in Iya have re-opened to their usual seasonal schedules, including all points in Oku-Iya such as the Double Vine Bridges, the historic houses, and campgrounds.

However, places in Minokoshi and Mt. Tsurugi including the chairlift and mountain-top Tsurugi Chojo Hut will re-open on the weekend starting April 16th. This also includes the local bus which goes to Minokoshi (Tsurugisan Bus Stop). Weekend service to here re-starts on April 17th. Until then, this bus will only go as far as the Double Vine Bridges (Niju Kazurabashi) on weekends. Check the Local Bus Timetables for full schedule info.

Enjoy the wonderful views and weather!

"Chasing the Mountain" - On the Hunt in the Rugged Iya Valley

Sun, 07 Mar 2021 10:47:27 GMT

Perseverance, power, and skill are key for hunting wild boar and deer in Miyoshi’s mountainous Iya Valley

“First are legs. Second are dogs. And third is the gun.” I was at the deep Iya Valley home of old-school hunter Eiji Domai and he was explaining the traditional methods “oi-yama” , which is a somewhat peculiar sounding term in Japanese used by outdoorsmen for “hunting” , yet is more directly translated as “chasing the mountain” .

The walls of Domai-san’s den were stacked high with wood and a mid-winter fire was ablaze in his large stove. All about the place were the markings of his craft: a slew of knives, a variety of antlers and taxidermy, and a hefty winch bolted into the ceiling that he uses to suspend his catch for butchering.

“When on the hunt, having the best rifle in the world means nothing if you don’t have good legs for the chase and trained dogs that know what to do,” according to Domai-san. “ That’s why the gun is only third in importance.”

Indeed, the hunt for wild boar and deer in the steep mountains of central Shikoku is a task for neither the meek nor the mild.

Man vs Wild

Winter is the season for wild boar, when hunters like Domai-san take their packs of 4 or 5 dogs into the forest to scout the snow for fresh boar prints. Years of practice have taught him how to judge the prints, from the size of the animal to how long before it was there.

Once good prints are found, the hounds are released and the chase begins. Often covering well over a dozen kilometers and a full day of running, if the dogs are successful they are trained to encircle the boar and bark incessantly to keep it from escaping. When the hunter finally catches up, he finishes the job with his gun, and then begins the arduous task of hauling out the animal.

“Once we got a 150kg boar at the bottom of the valley,” Domai-san explained. “It took me and five other guys 9 hours to pull it up to the road!”

But times are changing and hunting has become much less common today. On the one hand this can be good for someone like Domai-san, who nowadays usually hunts alone, since there are a lot more animals around.

“As a kid, I used to catch rabbits and mountain pheasants on my own, but wild boar and deer were pretty scarce. There were still lots of hunters around as I grew older and began hunting for real, but if we ever caught a boar we’d have to split the meat between everyone in the group.” He laughed as he detailed what this sharing meant as a younger member. “If we got a 50 or 60 kilo boar, there were so many guys involved I’d be lucky if I could get just a handful of meat!”

The traditions of hunting in Iya go back centuries, with most hunters here being engaged in the activity since they were children.

Further up the Iya Valley I met with Takaaki Nakaoka and his hunting partner Noboru Hiura at their rustic hunter’s hut. Nakaoka-san is the head of the Iya Valley Hunter’s Association , which currently has about 25 members, though only a few members still use dogs like Domai-san.

“When I was a child 50 or 60 years ago, there were hundreds of hunters in Iya and we used to go out with our dads to learn how to hunt,” explained Nakaoka-san. “Every man I knew had a gun and hunting was a way of life. And in my dad’s generation, boar was so rare that they would sell the meat outside the valley for extra income since it was so valuable.”

“And getting a hunting license back then was pretty simple. You could just go over to the local school and sign up. But today it’s a lot more strict, and it requires special training and tests. Now, very few people have a gun in Iya anymore.”

But as the population of Iya has been decreasing and regulations are increasing, it doesn’t only mean fewer hunters are still active. As it goes, boar are much more prevalent and the deer are multiplying at an uncontrollable rate.

Maintaining the Balance of Life

Until about 30 years ago only a limited number of male deer were allowed to be hunted per year in Iya being that they were so uncommon. However, for the past few decades the number of deer has been increasing substantially, to the point that the ever-growing deer population is now harming the ecosystem.

Today its common to spot deer in the forests of Iya, and Nakaoka-san talked of how not only are the deer invading the local farm fields and destroying unprotected crops, but the deer have also developed a taste for fresh tree bark, which they chew off the base of old-growth trees and this leads to the death of the tree. For sure, on the hiking trails throughout the Iya Valley its easy to find bark-less trees within large swaths of withering forest.

Since the nimble deer are usually too quick for dogs, Nakaoka-san and Hiura-san prefer hunting deer as a pair, and they go out in the early mornings on the remote forestry roads with their outfitted trucks. When they spot a deer they pull over and one man will begin the chase while the other man goes further ahead to quietly encircle the animal. But even with the use of their trucks, it is neither a simple or guaranteed task.

They also spoke of how the government has realized a need for the hunters to maintain a natural balance, and therefore support has been established to attract more interest. Nakaoka-san and Hiura-san also wish hunting would become revived with the younger generations to keep the traditions alive as well as to help tame the herds, and perhaps it will since there is certainly a growing interest across Japan in eating wild-game meat.

Iya Gibier: The Wild Taste of Shikoku’s Mountains

Known throughout Japan as “gibier” (pronounced “ji-bi-e” in Japanese), this general Japanese word for any wild-game meat is derived from the French language word of the same meaning, and in the past few years “Iya Gibier” has developed an increasing reputation among carnivore enthusiasts seeking authentic tastes.

In the center of the valley within a now-defunct kindergarten building is the Iya Hunter’s Butchery . Established in 2014 by the Iya Valley Hunter’s Association and the Miyoshi City Government, the orderly place is operated by master butcher Keishiro Takahashi. Literally a local jack-of-all-trades and ever cheerful, Takahashi-san has been a cook for much of his life and studied in a variety of places for how to butcher wild game before taking the helm of the butchery.

In an effort to support local hunters, the butchery was created as a place for them to sell their fresh catches as they help control the increasing animal populations while also making available to everyone the wonderful tastes of Iya’s wild game. Takahashi-san and his small crew of staff hygienically process the boar and deer meat they receive into a variety of packaged Iya Gibier cuts that are sold to hotels and restaurants across Japan, and also available for anyone to purchase either in person or online.

And in this meticulously clean establishment, maintaining quality is very important. “The hardest part is getting the meat in fresh,” explained Takahashi-san. “We have a rule that we only take animals within one hour of being killed.” In fact, the place is so well kept that it was the country’s second location to ever receive Japan’s prestigious “Domestic Gibier Certification” for meatpacking facilities.

Always looking for new ways to offer his craft, steaks and roasts are produced along with ham, jerky, and minced meat. One of his other specialties is sausage, which Takahashi-san had been making for years previously with more common types of meat, well before getting involved with wild-game.

A Hearty Back-Country Flavor

Back over at Domai-san’s mountain-side man-cave, the barbecue was flaming with meat. A half dozen of Takahashi-san’s thick gibier sausages sizzled on the grill as they filled the air with a tempting aroma which made Domai-san’s dogs yap with desire in the background. His slightly more docile dog Maru sat beside us attentively, hoping in vain for a handout.

As he sat by the grill and recounted more grizzled stories of “chasing the mountain”, Domai-san bit approvingly into one of the boar sausages. “This tastes like a nice salami. More people should try it.”

And in case you also want to experience this taste of the chase, there are several places throughout Miyoshi which have Iya Gibier on offer.

So when visiting Miyoshi, be sure to “Chase the Mountain” with Iya Gibier. Bon appetit !!

The Kazurabashi Vine Bridge has Re-Opened!

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 06:04:08 GMT

The re-openeing ceremony was held on February 22, 2021

Since mid-January the Iya-no-Kazurabashi in Nishi-Iya had been undergoing its once-every-3-year re-furbishment when all the vines are replaced with new ones and the support beams are strengthened. ( see here for details on this construction process)

It took about 6 weeks to complete all the work, and on February 22, 2021 a special re-opening ceremony was held to inaugurate the first crossing.

At the ceremony it was a who's-who of Miyoshi leadership, including the city mayor, the heads of the tourism and education departments, the council chief for the Kazurabashi Vine Bridge, as well as the honorary citizens who were to be the first people to walk across the freshly re-built bridge.

The local Shinto priest was also here to give blessings to the new span as well as to all the people present for this auspicious event.

As is the tradition across Japan which has been taking place for hundreds of years, whenever a new bridge is built, the first people to honorarily cross are a family composed of three generations of married couples.

The purpose of this tradition is from the concept that a married couple represents a link between two entities (as does a bridge), and three generations of the same family signify longevity and prosperity, and this good fortune is thereby bestowed to any new bridge.

For this event, the honorary three generations were of the Tani family of Higashi-Iya (Oku-Iya) who are well known throughout the valley as being active contributors to the local community.

Mr. Tani and his wife (the eldest couple) operate the Tani Shoten grocery and cafe in Oku-Iya, which has been in operation for over 80 years and always a great place to stop for a coffee or some snacks. The middle couple is comprised of their son Tani Satoshi, who runs his own IT company in Ikeda, and his wife who is a nurse at a local hospital. And the youngest couple includes grandson Tani Hiroki who works for the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority and helps maintain the Seto Ohashi Bridge which connects Shikoku to the rest of Japan (how perfectly fitting!).

Many thanks go out to all those who helped re-build the Iya-no-Kazurabashi , and may it continue to enchant and excite everyone who visits!

The Rebuilding of the Kazurabashi is in Progress

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 06:35:24 GMT

The vines are steadily being replaced on the Kazurabashi

Since the middle of January 2021, the Iya-no-Kazurabashi Vine Bridge in Nishi-Iya has been closed for its regular rebuilding. This rebuilding takes place once every three years (always in winter) in order to replace all the vines, as well as to restrengthen any support beams or to repair any footboards.

This year, despite the colder than usual weather and the decent amount of snow that occurred, the rebuilding progress has been been going along smoothly. Fortunately for the workers, the snow has now all melted in the area and it was a balmy 6°C when we recently visited.

A massive 6 tons of vines are used for the bridge, and they are harvested from the forests of the surrounding mountains. In order to make the stiff vines flexible enough to twist into place, they are first steamed in a giant vat to soften them up.

The steaming and the forming of the vines into place is a slow and tedious process. The entire rebuilding work takes about 6 weeks to complete.

And in case you were wondering what happens to the 6 tons of old vines, well, they are also put to use. Being that its mid-winter and pretty chilly, the old vines are steadily burned up in a drum can as a heat source for the workers to stay warm.

The newly rebuilt Kazurabashi bridge will ceremoniously re-open at the end of February 2021.

A Deep Freeze Has Come to the Iya Valley

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 01:32:22 GMT

Wow, its cold!

For anyone coming to the Iya Valley in the next few days, be sure to bring your thermal underwear!

Last night the temperature in central Oku-Iya got down to -11C and daytime temperatures did not get above -4C. That may be normal for places like Hokkaido or the Japanese Alps, but down here in Shikoku its pretty frigid!

The cold also brought quite a bit of snow, about 20cm more on top of the 15cm that Iya got a week ago around New Years. It was the third snowstorm of the winter so far, and as of Saturday Jan 9th its still lightly snowing. And possible heavier snow is probably going to come a few days from now on Jan 11th and/or 12th.

Be careful when enjoying the beauty!

If planning to visit the Iya Valley by car in the coming week, please have snow tires , and/or tire chains , and/or 4WD and please be very careful with ice on roads . Also, be sure to contact where you are staying to ask about any concerns or precautions. And please understand that due to the very low temperatures there have been several issues of pipes freezing, and many roads going up into the mountainside villages have not yet been cleared of the snow, so some accommodations, restaurants, and sights which may usually stay open for the winter may be temporarily closed for now.

Please check our Q&A details about driving in winter on the FAQs page for more info.

And for a full list of all locations that are scheduled to be closed in winter, please see here .

Winter 2021 Kazurabashi Bridge Vine Repair Closure

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 08:57:33 GMT

The Kazurabashi Vine Bridge will be closed for part of this winter

Every 3 years the vines for the Iya-no-Kazurabashi Bridge are replaced by local craftsmen, using about 6 tons of fresh vines that are taken from the surrounding mountains. This winter will be the next repair period, which means the bidge will be closed for about six weeks from Tuesday January 12, 2021 until the end of February.

During this time visitors will not be able to cross the bridge, but you can go to watch the re-construction from the adjacent vehicle bridge a bit further down the river.

Alternately, if you are not planning to visit Iya during this time but you are still curious to see the repair progress, you can instead see a free Live Camera of the Kazurabashi and follow the re-construction for yourself !! The button link below is for the government website that hosts the video but it may look black if checking at night (please note that daylight hours during winter in Japan would be about 10PM to 8AM GMT London, or about 5:00PM to 3:00AM EST New York):

Also, please note that the Oku-Iya Niju Kazurabashi (Double Vine Bridges) are not open in the winter from December 1 to March 31. For a full list of winter season closures, please check here:

Ikawa Ski Resort "Kainayama" is now open for winter 2020/21

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 23:20:19 GMT

Thanks to the recent snow in the area, starting on December 18 the Ikawa Ski Resort "Kainayama" 井川スキー場腕山 has opened for the 2020-2021 winter season !

Winter Fun !

Located in the mountains between Ikeda Town and the Iya Valley, this is one of the few places available for skiing in Shikoku. Several levels of trails, two lifts, and a lodge are here, as well as the possibility for ski and equiptment rental in case you don't have your own.

Prices for half/full day lift tickets are 3200/3800 yen for adults, but several discount options are available including for kids, seniors, and multiple Ladies Days (every Tues, Thurs, and every 3rd Sat of the month). For full information, check out their website here:

They also offer funky night skiing every Saturday evening in January and February where the slopes are lit up with special lights from 5:30pm to 10pm! And for those wanting to spend the night, check out the nearby Ikawa Finland Cottages .

Iya's First Snow of the 2020/21 Winter Season !

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 23:20:20 GMT

First Snow 初雪！ Winter is now fully here and the Iya Valley is having its first snow of the season. There is about 7 or 8cm on the ground now (at the elevation of 650m in the middle of Oku-Iya), and its still slowly falling.

The temperature has been between -5C and 0C all day, so if you are driving, please be careful of ice, especially on bridges.

And for anybody planning to come this season, you can find out more about winter weather in the Iya Valley Iya here:

Please enjoy the winter wonderland of Iya!

New Inohana Tunnel give faster access to Miyoshi!

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 06:01:06 GMT

Travel to/from northern Shikoku is now much quicker and smoother!

Opening on December 13, 2020 the New Inohana Tunnel gives a much better access option for those who are driving to/from points in northern Shikoku such as Kotohira , Zentsuji , and Takamatsu City .

Previously, when going to/from these northern points in Kagawa Prefecture, there were two main road options: either take the Expressway which not only costs money in tolls but is not a direct route so it doesn't really save any time; or take RT 32 south from Kotohira up and over the Inohana Pass (413m) which was full of steep climbs and hairpin turns, and not so fun especially if the weather was bad or if you were stuck behind a large truck.

But after years of construction, RT 32 now offers the "New Inohana Tunnel" (the old "Inohana Tunnel" is up on the mountain pass). This series of four tunnels is about 8km long, reduces driving time by about 10 minutes, and cuts the travel distance by almost 5km. The smooth ride has few turns and a gentle slope, so no worries about being stuck behind any huge vehicle moving slowly up the mountain. And you'll have no problems with weather or the road freezing either. The longest of the four tunnels is over 4km long and there is no toll fee needed.

Of course, it is still possible to take the old route over the Inohana mountain pass which also goes past the entrance to Hashikura-ji Temple MAP . Even though the old route takes an extra 10 minutes to go between central Ikeda MAP and northern Shikoku places like Kotohira MAP , this route has lots of awesome views of the mountains that are particularly beautiful in mid-April to early May when the verdant first leaves start appearing, or in mid-late November when the autumn leaves are changing. And now that most of the trucks will be taking the tunnel, there's no need to worry about getting stuck behind one (however local construction may still be happening so some trucks may still use this route). But, if the weather is bad or you are driving at night (or you just have a need for speed), do yourself a favor and be sure to take the New Inohana Tunnel!

Find out more about driving to/from points in northern Shikoku such as Kotohira, Takamatsu, and beyond on our Transport Page.

2020/21 Winter Season Closings

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 06:46:22 GMT

Many places in the Iya Valley and Oboke areas close every year for the winter, particularly places in Oku-Iya.

Usually the seasonal closings are from December 1st to March 31st, but a few places may be slightly different.

Also, some locations that remain open may operate at reduced hours.

Closed Places to Stay

Oku-Iya

Iyashi-no-Onsenkyo Hotel

La Foret Tsurugi

Tsurugisan Chojo Hutte

Ichino-Mori Hut

Minshuku Matsuura

Oku-Iya Niju Kazurabashi Campground

Iya Hakkei

Ryugugake Cottages

unstaffed mountain huts are open all year, including Miune Hut, Okameiwa Hut, and Shiraga Hut

Nishi-Iya & Iyakei

Iya Kazurabashi Camp Village

Iya Valley (Iyakei) Camp Village

Iya Fureai Park Campground

Oboke & Koboke

Shiozuka Highlands Camp & Cabins

Closed See & Do

Oku-Iya

Mt Tsurugi Chairlit

Oku-Iya Niju Kazurabashi (Double Vine Bridges)

Oku-Iya Mountain Monorail

Iyashi-no-Onsenkyo Hotsprings

Ochiai Pass (road usually closed)

Nagaoka-ke Historic House

Bukeyashiki Kita-ke Historic House

Asa-ke Historic House

Kyobashira Pass (road usually closed)

Oboke & Koboke

All river rafting and watersports

Amici Adventure

Shiozuka Highlands

Ikeda & North

Oboke - Iya Bus Tour

Locations with Reduced Winter Schedules (partial list*)

Please check each location to find their open hours or days.

*Other places not listed may also have reduced schedules.

Oku-Iya

Oku-Iya Museum of History & Folklore

Yama Yoga

Soba Dojo restaurant

Iya Valley Tours

Kimura-ke Cafe

Nishi-Iya & Iyakei

Iya-no-Kazurabashi Vine Bridge ( now open )**

Kazurabashi Arcade restaurants

Senkichi restaurant

Oboke Michi-no-Eki

Forest Adventure

Oboke & Koboke

YOKAI House

Heike Yashiki Museum

Kenmi Onsen

**As of February 22, 2021 the Iya-no-Kazurabashi Vine Bridge has re-opened. The refurbishment of the bridge and replacement of the vines are now complete, and the bridge will be open as usual.