Art, History and the Spectacular Iya Valley, Shikoku’s Hidden Gem

Deep within the mountains of central Shikoku, the Iya Valley is a far cry from Japan’s bustling cities. Its untouched natural beauty, lush green forests and deep ravines will take your breath away. Take in the fresh mountain air, sample authentic mountain cuisine, soak in hot springs and stay in luxurious accommodation. A trip to the Iya Valley will be an unforgettable experience.

Travel: Kotohira to Iya Valley

・Take a limited express train from Kotohira Station to Oboke Station (Approx 45 minutes)
・Rental car or chartered taxi is the best way to explore the Iya Valley.

Shikoku Mannaka Sennen Monogatari

This scenic train offers a more leisurely approach to seeing the beauty of the Shikoku countryside and majesty of the Oboke Gorge. Beautifully designed, the train runs from Tadotsu, calling at Kotohira. A fine selection of on-board meals with ingredients sourced from the region are available on board.

URL: https://www.jr-eki.com/global/en/travel/sennen_top/index.html?_gl=1*jsv3rr*_ga*MTg2NTgxMDYzNy4xNjQ0ODE4MzIx*_ga_K0B5H69NMS*MTcwNzM1NTE4MC4yMzIuMC4xNzA3MzU1MTgwLjAuMC4w

Exploring the Iya Valley

Explore Iya’s breathtaking landscapes as you hike through its winding trails and ancient footpaths. You will encounter awe-inspiring views, picturesque waterfalls, and charming villages that appear frozen in time. The Iya Valley is famous for the Kazurabashi bridge – a suspension woven bridge spanning 45 metres across the Iya River. It’s a long way down, so this is not for the faint hearted.

Accommodation: Tougenkyo-Iya (recommended if traveling by car)

Tougenkyo-Iya is a collection of eight pristine Japanese thatched roof farmhouses in the mountain village of Ochiai in Higashi-Iya. This is the quintessential Japanese “satoyama” landscape where village life and nature overlap and cohabit the same space. The houses, built on the mountain during the Edo period (1603-1868), have been beautifully renovated to allow guests to experience traditional Japanese country living in comfort.

All the houses look out at the beautiful valley below and you have the option of catered meals with local dishes prepared for you by locals. Tougenkyo-Iya goes beyond the usual vacation lodging. Staying here will give you a chance to discover the essence of Japanese life and culture.

URL: https://www.tougenkyo-iya.jp/reservation/

Accommodation: Iya Bijin (recommended if traveling by public transport)

A short distance away from the famous Kazurabashi vine bridge is Iya Bijin, a small boutique ryokan hotel with nine immaculate guest rooms. Each room comes with its own open-air bath (either a ceramic bath or a hinoki cypress bath) and unparalleled views of the surrounding Iya countryside. The restaurant at Iya Bijin is popular for its buckwheat soba noodles they make from scratch using the fresh spring water from Biwa Falls. Dinner includes local vegetables, handmade tofu and wild plants from the mountains. The meat dishes will vary according to the season and sometimes include wild game.

URL: https://iyabijin.jp (Japanese)