The Rebuilding of the Kazurabashi is in Progress
January 27, 2021
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.
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.
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!