Places to Stay

What the day-trippers shall miss

Unique Offerings Teeming with Local Charm

For many people, the nights spent in either the Iya Valley or the Oboke & Koboke area are a highlight of their trip to Japan. There is not only a very wide range of accommodation styles available which can suit any budget and interest, but all places allow visitors to connect with the natural surroundings, enjoy local traditions and tastes, and interact with the welcoming residents.

Possibly the only difficulty is deciding which type of place to stay in...

Open the Map and Listings for All Places to Stay

For best view of Map and Listings, hold device horizontally.

Hotels
Fabulous Meals, Top Class Service

The hotels in the region are sure to make anyone feel comfortable, with their attentive staff, great views, and various activities on hand. Meals are usually a bounty of local-style dishes and will blow you away with their exceptional flavors and presentation. Rooms are always well appointed, and most locations offer either western style beds or Japanese futon.

The majority of hotels also have their own hotspring onsen, where guests can spend hours indulging themselves in an array of bubbling tubs, water-jet jacuzzis, steamy saunas, and of course, large outdoor rotenburo. Some locations even offer tubs on their room balconies to enjoy privately.

Open the for Hotels.

Traditional Farmhouses
Rustic Beauty within a Hillside Hamlet

Known as kayabuki, the Iya Valley is famed for its collection of thatched roof farmhouses which fill the hamlets that crawl up the steep mountainsides. Being able to stay in one of these ancient homes is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Some have been refurbshed with modern furnishings, while others maintain more of a classic style. Each building is one of a kind and sure to enthrall all who stay.

The largest collection of farmhouses available for staying is in historic Ochiai Village, though there are several other locations throughout the valley. Many are not staffed, which means you have the whole house to yourself. Others are staffed, either as a guest house (see below) or with the owners living in adjacent buildings.

Open the for Traditional Farmhouses.

Guest Houses
Be Overwhelmed with Local Hospitality

Area guest houses come in a wide range of styles, including classic farmhouses, rustic lodges, old shop houses, and even refurbished former schools. Unlike the Cabins or other Traditional Farmhouse, these places are hosted by staff (usually the owner and family) and are a great way to interact with residents and meet other travelers.

Here one can have a chance to eat a home-made meal featuring local ingredients, get a bit of insight on the countryside lifestyle by the welcoming hosts, and maybe even have a bath within a traditional wood-heated tub.

Open the for Guest Houses.

Cabins
Secluded Lodging Engulfed by Nature

If looking to have your own cabin within the region's natural bounty, there are several places which are actually quite affordable. Many cabin sites are located within campgrounds, though some are also independent facilities.

Some are rustic log-style with simple furnishings, while others are suprisingly well set up, equip with living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms, as well as full bathrooms. Though staff is on site, most locations do not have their own restaurants, but aside from cooking for yourself in the cabin, many places have large separate barbecue areas, which are great for parties or for meeting other people.

Open the for Cabins.

Mountain Huts
Rise with the Sun atop a Mountain

Upon the peaks that surround Oku-Iya there are several large huts that allow for incedible views, spectacular sunsets and sunrises, and chances to see the mystical Sea of Clouds (unkai). Only accessible by hiking, there are both staffed and unstaffed huts.

On top of Mt. Tsurugi and nearby Mt. Ichinomori the huts are staffed and take reservations. For a fee one can have a bunk or room, as well as meals. On five other mountains the basic huts are unstaffed and require visitors to bring all of their own food as well as gear for sleeping and cooking. The unstaffed huts are open all year and have no fee or reservations.

Open the for Mountain Huts, or check the Hiking Portal page for more hut info.

Campgrounds
Connect with Nature

There are several campgrounds to choose from, with either high mountain views, along tranquil riversides, or even beside the vine bridges. Some locations offer facilities such as showers and cooking huts, some are within walking distance to a hot spring, and others not only offer rentable camping gear (including tents) but also have cabins available if looking for more sturdy shelter (see Cabins above).

Almost all places are not the standard Japanese "auto camp" where one pays a hefty fee for a small gravel plot next to their car. Instead, locations are spacious, natural tranquility prevails, and fees tend to quite affordable or even free.

Open the for Campgrounds, or check the Hiking Portal page for more camping info.

Open the Map and Listings for All Places to Stay

For best view of Map and Listings, hold device horizontally.

Hotel Kazurabashi

Hotel

ホテルかずら

Nishi-Iya & Iyakei

¥ ¥ ¥

Tel: 0883-87-2171

Places to Stay

What the day-trippers shall miss

Unique Offerings Teeming with Local Charm

Hotels Fabulous Meals, Top Class Service

Traditional FarmhousesRustic Beauty within a Hillside Hamlet

Guest Houses Be Overwhelmed with Local Hospitality

CabinsSecluded Lodging Engulfed by Nature

Mountain Huts Rise with the Sun atop a Mountain