Iyakei Valley
Iyakei Valley
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.0
197 reviews
Excellent
79
Very good
81
Average
31
Poor
5
Terrible
1
JunSa88
72 contributions
Nov 2022
Fantastic views. Our guide took us here in the morning, because they said that before noon is the best time to see it (apparently the sun is in your face if going in the afternoon). We were here the second week of November and the autumn leaves were looking beautiful!
Written 22 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tnbms162016
Tokyo, Japan305 contributions
Oct 2013 • Solo
I only had one full day there, and you need at least two days to do it justice. As other reviewers have pointed out, you need a car. I visited just 3 spots, which were:
1. Kazura-bashi: historical and fun too. This vine bridge (reinforced with steel ropes) is a faithful replica of the bridges that the people of Iya used to use. There's a grotesque souvenir shopping complex, out of all proportion to the attraction itself, but you can bypass that and go directly to the bridge. They charge 500 yen to walk across it.
2. Iya Onsen: the rotenburo (outdoor bath) is great, men and women separate, just the one bath each, right down by the Iya river. You get there from the hotel on the lip of the gorge by a home-made funicular tram. Bath fee is 1500 yen - not cheap, but worth it.
3. Oku-iya kazura-bashi: delightful setting, and nobody else there when I visited. Three river crossings for 500 yen - two vine bridges, and a yaen, a pull-yourself cable-car. Note that the drive here from the onsen takes a full hour (plus stopping time for scenery viewing).
Driving through the valley is a pleasure. The views along the old Route 32, the road to Oku-iya, and the pass on Route 438 offer gorgeous views, some of the best roadside views in Japan.
I also visited nearby Oboke (and Koboke), in the valley parallel to Iya. Sadly, this is not really worth a visit.This gorge would be beautiful if it hadn't been spoiled, but it's been given 'the treatment', and so there are tacky, tatty concrete souvenir developments, put up by people impervious to aesthetics. These cater to the tour buses (a quick photo in front of the gorge, then 20 minutes souvenir shopping), and utterly mar the view. What would be really nice is a walking path for a couple of kilometers down by the river between Oboke and Koboke, but they haven't thought of that. Your time is better spent in Iya valley itself.
1. Kazura-bashi: historical and fun too. This vine bridge (reinforced with steel ropes) is a faithful replica of the bridges that the people of Iya used to use. There's a grotesque souvenir shopping complex, out of all proportion to the attraction itself, but you can bypass that and go directly to the bridge. They charge 500 yen to walk across it.
2. Iya Onsen: the rotenburo (outdoor bath) is great, men and women separate, just the one bath each, right down by the Iya river. You get there from the hotel on the lip of the gorge by a home-made funicular tram. Bath fee is 1500 yen - not cheap, but worth it.
3. Oku-iya kazura-bashi: delightful setting, and nobody else there when I visited. Three river crossings for 500 yen - two vine bridges, and a yaen, a pull-yourself cable-car. Note that the drive here from the onsen takes a full hour (plus stopping time for scenery viewing).
Driving through the valley is a pleasure. The views along the old Route 32, the road to Oku-iya, and the pass on Route 438 offer gorgeous views, some of the best roadside views in Japan.
I also visited nearby Oboke (and Koboke), in the valley parallel to Iya. Sadly, this is not really worth a visit.This gorge would be beautiful if it hadn't been spoiled, but it's been given 'the treatment', and so there are tacky, tatty concrete souvenir developments, put up by people impervious to aesthetics. These cater to the tour buses (a quick photo in front of the gorge, then 20 minutes souvenir shopping), and utterly mar the view. What would be really nice is a walking path for a couple of kilometers down by the river between Oboke and Koboke, but they haven't thought of that. Your time is better spent in Iya valley itself.
Written 28 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wobbs1
Ascoli Piceno, Italy253 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
This is one of the least traveled places in Japan. You might think that you are instead in a remote Swiss mountaintop.
We arranged in advance for a 5 hour taxi tour of the Iya Valley (with Iyakei Taxi - info@iya-taxi.jp - 23000Y). Our driver, a neat young woman from the area dressed in the expected suit and white gloves, was there to greet us at Oboke Station. She had only a little English, but the taxi was fitted with written materials and she carried an audiotape meant to be played at specific points. We were, however, able to converse enough to get an idea of what it was like to grow up in the area.
I'm really glad we arranged for a driver this because driving in this area would not have been fun. The roads are very narrow (e.g., one lane for both directions), and it was often necessary to back up to negotiate passage with oncoming vehicles. Moreover, public transportation is hard to find, and taxis seem to be by reservation only.
There is a western and eastern Iya Valley. We had signed up for the latter trip which is to more remote locations, but the first stop (a monorail) was closed due to weather. Therefore, we toured both the western valley, where the peeing boy statue an the vine bridge is, and the eastern valley where the Ochoai Village and the scarecrow village site. We stopped for lunch in between.
The scenery was fantastic, of course. In November, the vine bridge was not busy - we pretty much had it to ourselves. The scarecrow village is a remote village where a woman, wishing to return after a life of living elsewhere, found the place deserted. So, she populated it with scarecrow people. Beautiful but a bit somber. Finally, the Ochiai Village is an ancient hillside settlement which really does look like Switzerland. The first snow was appearing on the peaks. It's hard to imagine life there in Winter.
We arranged in advance for a 5 hour taxi tour of the Iya Valley (with Iyakei Taxi - info@iya-taxi.jp - 23000Y). Our driver, a neat young woman from the area dressed in the expected suit and white gloves, was there to greet us at Oboke Station. She had only a little English, but the taxi was fitted with written materials and she carried an audiotape meant to be played at specific points. We were, however, able to converse enough to get an idea of what it was like to grow up in the area.
I'm really glad we arranged for a driver this because driving in this area would not have been fun. The roads are very narrow (e.g., one lane for both directions), and it was often necessary to back up to negotiate passage with oncoming vehicles. Moreover, public transportation is hard to find, and taxis seem to be by reservation only.
There is a western and eastern Iya Valley. We had signed up for the latter trip which is to more remote locations, but the first stop (a monorail) was closed due to weather. Therefore, we toured both the western valley, where the peeing boy statue an the vine bridge is, and the eastern valley where the Ochoai Village and the scarecrow village site. We stopped for lunch in between.
The scenery was fantastic, of course. In November, the vine bridge was not busy - we pretty much had it to ourselves. The scarecrow village is a remote village where a woman, wishing to return after a life of living elsewhere, found the place deserted. So, she populated it with scarecrow people. Beautiful but a bit somber. Finally, the Ochiai Village is an ancient hillside settlement which really does look like Switzerland. The first snow was appearing on the peaks. It's hard to imagine life there in Winter.
Written 8 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raquel A
Kaneohe, HI2 contributions
Dec 2018
All the reasons we love Iya Valley…
We arrived at the Oboke train station located at the bottom of Iya Valley. The train station is adorably small and incredibly charming, and after spending days in the hustle and bustle of the city it was a much needed change of pace. The instant we stepped off the train and into the quaint little station you immediately notice the quiet and tranquil atmosphere and crisp, cool air. Standing outside the train station looking up all you see is historic buildings and homes nestled into the lush green mountainside.
We were greeted by the extremely hospitable owner of the Hotel Iyaonsen who graciously offered to transport us from the station to the hotel. He came equipped with umbrellas and helped us with our luggage. We took a 20 minute ride up the steep mountainside, mainly on a single lane road. As we got higher and higher into the mountain on the single lane road I felt I should’ve been more anxious than I actually was. Our driver as well as the other passing drivers we very courteous to each other and took turns letting each other pass. I felt very safe and was able to enjoy the scenery.
We arrived at the hotel, which upon entering is clean and welcoming. It has a high class, cozy feel to it which adds to your sense of relaxation by eliminating the usual pretentiousness of other high end hotels. We waited in the dining area while our room was being prepared, and shared a glass of sake while taking in the breath taking mount view. Once in our room all I can say is that it exceeded all expectations, it was traditional and luxurious all at the same time. The grandest feature of the room has to have been the beautiful outdoor bath, situated on the balcony overlooking the mountain and river below. It was literally something out of a dream. The hotel offered both a public and private onsen accessible by a ride down the mountainside in a cable car. We opted for the private onsen which overlooks the beautiful river below. Our hotel stay was one of the best experiences I’ve ever head.
Iya is unique in that you are able to experience all the best things Japan has to offer, authentic ryokans, beautiful countryside, authentic, fresh local cuisine, amazing hospitality, and all the modern amenities and creature comforts. Iya will sweep you off your feet with its emerald mountains blanketed in misty clouds, carving rivers, historic buildings, hospitable people, and variety of activities like ancient bridge crossing and soba noodle making. I highly recommend Iya Valley, it is a must visit destination.
We arrived at the Oboke train station located at the bottom of Iya Valley. The train station is adorably small and incredibly charming, and after spending days in the hustle and bustle of the city it was a much needed change of pace. The instant we stepped off the train and into the quaint little station you immediately notice the quiet and tranquil atmosphere and crisp, cool air. Standing outside the train station looking up all you see is historic buildings and homes nestled into the lush green mountainside.
We were greeted by the extremely hospitable owner of the Hotel Iyaonsen who graciously offered to transport us from the station to the hotel. He came equipped with umbrellas and helped us with our luggage. We took a 20 minute ride up the steep mountainside, mainly on a single lane road. As we got higher and higher into the mountain on the single lane road I felt I should’ve been more anxious than I actually was. Our driver as well as the other passing drivers we very courteous to each other and took turns letting each other pass. I felt very safe and was able to enjoy the scenery.
We arrived at the hotel, which upon entering is clean and welcoming. It has a high class, cozy feel to it which adds to your sense of relaxation by eliminating the usual pretentiousness of other high end hotels. We waited in the dining area while our room was being prepared, and shared a glass of sake while taking in the breath taking mount view. Once in our room all I can say is that it exceeded all expectations, it was traditional and luxurious all at the same time. The grandest feature of the room has to have been the beautiful outdoor bath, situated on the balcony overlooking the mountain and river below. It was literally something out of a dream. The hotel offered both a public and private onsen accessible by a ride down the mountainside in a cable car. We opted for the private onsen which overlooks the beautiful river below. Our hotel stay was one of the best experiences I’ve ever head.
Iya is unique in that you are able to experience all the best things Japan has to offer, authentic ryokans, beautiful countryside, authentic, fresh local cuisine, amazing hospitality, and all the modern amenities and creature comforts. Iya will sweep you off your feet with its emerald mountains blanketed in misty clouds, carving rivers, historic buildings, hospitable people, and variety of activities like ancient bridge crossing and soba noodle making. I highly recommend Iya Valley, it is a must visit destination.
Written 23 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lxxxviii
Singapore, Singapore24 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
The drive to Iya Valley was nothing short of stunning. In fact, we were already very blown away at how beautiful the entire place was when we were at the Oboke and the Koboke Gorges. You may choose to ride a sightseeing ferry for more views. We then painstakingly drove up the harrowing winding roads to the Manneken Pis Statue, which was quite a letdown. The statue is very tiny, and the views from where the statue stands were not as impressive. Visit the Oboke, Koboke Gorges and head to the Katsurabashi Vine Bridges - which requires a crossing fee of 550 yen. You may view one of the bridges from a distance for free though. The onsen is quite amazing too! Iya Valley is definitely worth a night's stay.
Written 19 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David-AppomattoxVA
Appomattox, VA173 contributions
Jun 2013 • Family
If you want to see the Iya Valley you really need a car. That said, lets get our bearings...
If you are starting from the town of Miyoshi along the Tokushima Expressway...
Driving south on Highway 32 will take you along the Yoshino river to Oboke & Koboke. There are two ways to turn east into the Iya valley that leads to the rope bridges and such...
***Highway 45 (At Oboke, much farther south) is a scenic beautiful drive and much easier.
***Old Hwy 32 (At Iyaguchi a little south of Miyoshi) is where you will see the peeing boy statue and probably one of the scariest drives you will ever try. But it is wonderfully scenic. The road is one lane wide with steep drop offs, lots of blind hairpin curves that depend on large mirrors to see oncoming traffic. If you are a calm and careful driver...go for it. But give yourself lots of time.
Here's an idea (which we did because it was rainy and getting too late to drive the whole valley): You can make a loop drive down down Hwy 32 to Oboke, then Hwy 45 into the Iya Valley as far as you want, and back out Old Hwy 32 ...or the other way around... Go on the boats at Oboke, try out the rope bridges, and whatever else you like.
If you are starting from the town of Miyoshi along the Tokushima Expressway...
Driving south on Highway 32 will take you along the Yoshino river to Oboke & Koboke. There are two ways to turn east into the Iya valley that leads to the rope bridges and such...
***Highway 45 (At Oboke, much farther south) is a scenic beautiful drive and much easier.
***Old Hwy 32 (At Iyaguchi a little south of Miyoshi) is where you will see the peeing boy statue and probably one of the scariest drives you will ever try. But it is wonderfully scenic. The road is one lane wide with steep drop offs, lots of blind hairpin curves that depend on large mirrors to see oncoming traffic. If you are a calm and careful driver...go for it. But give yourself lots of time.
Here's an idea (which we did because it was rainy and getting too late to drive the whole valley): You can make a loop drive down down Hwy 32 to Oboke, then Hwy 45 into the Iya Valley as far as you want, and back out Old Hwy 32 ...or the other way around... Go on the boats at Oboke, try out the rope bridges, and whatever else you like.
Written 12 September 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul R
Brisbane, Australia123 contributions
Oct 2019 • Friends
This was a real surprise! The drive is interesting with the scenery beautiful. Take your time and be sure to stop at the various lookout. Numerous places to stop for a comfort break. Highly recommend.
Written 17 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TaliRavid
Israel75 contributions
Nov 2018
It was a very nice drive throughout the velley whith it's fall colors, winding
Roads, the bridges, and villages. One of the beautiful roads in japan
Roads, the bridges, and villages. One of the beautiful roads in japan
Written 18 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MiyoshiTourism
8 contributions
Nov 2015 • Business
Michelin guide ★★ spot.
"Hinoji shaped Valley" looks like the hiragana character "ひ(hi)", where a ridge is located in the middle of Iya valley. This is an example of a scenic beauty accepted by the world.
"Hinoji shaped Valley" looks like the hiragana character "ひ(hi)", where a ridge is located in the middle of Iya valley. This is an example of a scenic beauty accepted by the world.
Written 25 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Saldesalsal
Newcastle, Australia65 contributions
Jan 2012 • Couples
We were there in January and a reasonable amount of snow fell on that occasion. Although the rope bridges were closed, we were glad to see the Iya Valley in that beautiful state. You're best to hire a car to access the area. We hired one from Tokushima and returned it to the same location to save on high return costs. It was well worth it to take old route 33 (past the Mannikin Peeing Boy), but do not try to enter the Iya Valley from the other end in winter (route 428, I believe), as it's closed due to high snowfall and you'll waste a lot of time if you've taken Lonely Planet's guide at face value....
Written 30 December 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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