Moopon

Kazura Bridge is the type of "bridges" that consists of a wooden cart suspend on a rope over the river, and were used to transport goods and people.
13 suspension bridges made of mountain vines, called kazurabashi, used to be found throughout the Iya Valley and provided a essential means of getting people and goods across the river in olden days.
Two of the surviving bridges still stand side by side deep in the ravine.
They are known as the Oku-Iya Kazurabashi or myoto-bashi(couples bridges).

The larger of the two bridges, Otto no Hashi (meaning:Husband Bridge), stretches 44 meters across the river next to a small waterfall, while the slightly lower Tsuma no Hashi (meaning: Wife Bridge) is a 22 meter span just a little ways upstream.
The bridges are constructed with steel cables covered within the vines for safety.
They are rebuilt every three years. The bridges are connected to each other by a network of paved hiking trails that also lead to camping facilities on the opposite side of the river.

Another popular attraction is a Yaen Bridge (meaning: Wild Monkey) placed next to the Wife Bridge.
It a human-power ropeway. Visitors can try out the wild monkey bridge and pull themselves across the river.

Access infomation
A rental car is recommended to visit the Oku-Iya Kazurabashi Bridges.

1. Nijukazurabashi bus stop.( The nearest bus stop to around the area)
*From Awa Ikeda Station to Kubo, take a bus and transfer to another bus bound for 
Nijukazurabashi or Mount Tsurugi. Get off at the Nijukazurabashi bus stop.
The one way journey will take 2 hours with a cost of 1790 yen. There are only 4 buses a day. Moreover buses from Kubo to the bridge operate only on weekends and holidays from April to November.

Schedule & Cost
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Closed: December to March
Admission: 550 yen
The level of English: Good

The Iya Valley (Iyakei) is a sheltered and private mountainous valley along the Iya River in western Tokushima Prefecture.
Its steep forested slopes are connected to the outside world by a zigzag,sometimes incredibly narrow mountain road that leads the valley.
Since the Iya valley located secluded regions, it is difficult to access, however, that is what attracts visitor to the area who want to experience a traditional, nature. 

Historically the Iya Valley has been difficult a place to enter, and used as a refuge for members of the defeated Taira or Heike Clan who escaped to the region toward the end of the 12th century after losing the Gempei War (1180 to1185).
Their descendants can still be found around the tiny mountain villages that dispersedly existing.

The Iya Valley is usually divided into two areas.
Nishi Iya (West Iya) located around the entrance to the valley and is slightly more developed and more accessible as there are relatively frequent buses to some of the major attractions.
Oku Iya (Inner Iya, also called Higashi Iya or East Iya) lies further back into the valley so is difficult to reach without a rental car or other means of private transportation. 

This region is famous for Iya soba

Access infomation
A rental car is recommended to visit the area.

1. To Nishi Iya (West Iya)
 *From Awa Ikeda Station to Kubo, take a bus and transfer to another bus bound for Nijukazurabashi or Mount Tsurugi.
Get off at the Nijukazurabashi bus stop.
The one way journey will take 2 hours with a cost of 1790 yen.
There are only 4 buses a day.
Moreover buses from Kubo to the bridge operate only on weekends and holidays from April to November.
2. To Oku Iya (Inner Iya)
Rental car stores are available around Oboke and Awa Ikeda Stations.
A rental car is recommended, particularly for visiting the less traveled Oku Iya area.
Note: The roads are very narrow and have frequent blind curves, which make driving both hazardous and slow.

The Iya Valley (祖谷渓谷 Iya Keikoku) region in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan is a scenic area known for its dramatic mountain valleys and old vine bridges.
The Iya Valley and the inner parts of Shikoku have historically been remote and difficult to enter,
making them a favorite retreat for refugees and defeated Heike warriors although access has improved in recent years.

Manikin Peeing Boy Statue
At the edge of this dizzying, 200 meter high cliff stands the boy statue posed as if he were peeing off the ledge down to the valley bellow.
This statue is placed at a beautiful scenic spot a few steps from The Iya ONSEN HOTEL, where local folklore says travelers would climb out to pee off in order to try to act strong or play chicken. 

The Iya Valley is usually divided into two areas.
Nishi Iya (West Iya) located around the entrance to the valley and is slightly more developed and more accessible as there are relatively frequent buses to some of the major attractions.
Oku Iya (Inner Iya, also called Higashi Iya or East Iya) lies further back into the valley so is difficult to reach without a rental car or other means of private transportation. 

The image is Sobamai zosui (buckwheat porridge), which is the local specialties of the Iya region made from dechaffed buckwheat berries in place of rice. 

Access Information
A rental car is recommended to visit the area.

1. To Nishi Iya (West Iya)
 *From Awa Ikeda Station to Kubo, take a bus and transfer to another bus bound for Nijukazurabashi or Mount Tsurugi.
Get off at the Nijukazurabashi bus stop.
The one way journey will take 2 hours with a cost of 1790 yen.
There are only 4 buses a day.
Moreover buses from Kubo to the bridge operate only on weekends and holidays from April to November.
2. To Oku Iya (Inner Iya)
Rental car stores are available around Oboke and Awa Ikeda Stations.
A rental car is recommended, particularly for visiting the less traveled Oku Iya area.
Note: The roads are very narrow and have frequent blind curves, which make driving both hazardous and slow.

The Iya Valley (祖谷渓谷 Iya Keikoku) region in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan is a scenic area known for its dramatic mountain valleys and old vine bridges.
The Iya Valley and the inner parts of Shikoku have historically been remote and difficult to enter, making them a favorite retreat for refugees and defeated Heike warriors although access has improved in recent years.

Shin-Iya Onsen Hotel Kazurabashi 
This hotel is located one of Japan's three major least visited regions.
The sky-high open-air bath is accessed by a cable car. It provides local dishes which are popular amongst guests.
The hotel has three outdoor baths, one for each gender as well as a mixed gender bath in which you can watch nice views out over the Iya Valley.
The baths are found high up on the mountainside above the hotel.
The can be accessed by a short cable car from the main building.

Daytime Hours: 10:00 to 16:00 
Daytime Admission: 1200 yen 
Overnight Stay: from 14,000 yen per person including 2 meals

Food
The image is Local dishes 

The Iya Valley is usually divided into two areas.
Nishi Iya (West Iya) located around the entrance to the valley and is slightly more developed and more accessible as there are relatively frequent buses to some of the major attractions.
Oku Iya (Inner Iya, also called Higashi Iya or East Iya) lies further back into the valley so is difficult to reach without a rental car or other means of private transportation. 

Access Information
A rental car is recommended to visit the area.

1. To Nishi Iya (West Iya)
 *From Awa Ikeda Station to Kubo, take a bus and transfer to another bus bound for Nijukazurabashi or Mount Tsurugi.
Get off at the Nijukazurabashi bus stop.
The one way journey will take 2 hours with a cost of 1790 yen. There are only 4 buses a day.
Moreover buses from Kubo to the bridge operate only on weekends and holidays from April to November.
2. To Oku Iya (Inner Iya)
Rental car stores are available around Oboke and Awa Ikeda Stations.
A rental car is recommended, particularly for visiting the less traveled Oku Iya area.
Note: The roads are very narrow and have frequent blind curves, which make driving both hazardous and slow.

The Iya Valley (祖谷渓谷 Iya Keikoku) region in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan is a scenic area known for its dramatic mountain valleys and old vine bridges.
The Iya Valley and the inner parts of Shikoku have historically been remote and difficult to enter, making them a favorite retreat for refugees and defeated Heike warriors although access has improved in recent years.

Iya Onsen Hotel
The Iya Onsen Hotel is located high up on the steep slope overlooking the Iya Valley.
A notable point in the hotel is that its outdoor hot baths located along the river and you have to take a cable car some 170 meters below the hotel itself. 
The bath water is a lukewarm 39 degrees Celsius.

Daytime Hours: 7:00 to 18:00 (Last entry at 17:00) 
Daytime Admission: 1500 yen (including outdoor bath, indoor bath, and cable car) 
Overnight Stay: from 12,000 yen per person including 2 meals
Level of English: Good English website is available.

Food
The image is Kaiseki ryori (Traditional multi-course Japanese meal), which is used Local products.

The Iya Valley is usually divided into two areas.
Nishi Iya (West Iya) located around the entrance to the valley and is slightly more developed and more accessible as there are relatively frequent buses to some of the major attractions. Oku Iya (Inner Iya, also called Higashi Iya or East Iya) lies further back into the valley so is difficult to reach without a rental car or other means of private transportation. 

Access Information
A rental car is recommended to visit the area.

1. To Nishi Iya (West Iya)
 *From Awa Ikeda Station to Kubo, take a bus and transfer to another bus bound for Nijukazurabashi or Mount Tsurugi.
Get off at the Nijukazurabashi bus stop.
The one way journey will take 2 hours with a cost of 1790 yen. There are only 4 buses a day.
Moreover buses from Kubo to the bridge operate only on weekends and holidays from April to November.
2. To Oku Iya (Inner Iya)
Rental car stores are available around Oboke and Awa Ikeda Stations.
A rental car is recommended, particularly for visiting the less traveled Oku Iya area.
Note: The roads are very narrow and have frequent blind curves, which make driving both hazardous and slow.

The museum displays a collection of works by Katsushika Hokusai, one of Japan's most famous painters from the Edo Period.
The museum ranges from ukiyo-e (Japanese woodblock prints) to illustrated books by the artist and some of his pupils.

Hokusai himself did not have a special relation to Tsuwano.
Rather, the museum was opened here owing to the discovery of one of his works by a local researcher.
 

Facility Information
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry at 16:30) 
Closed: Tuesdays and New Year holidays 
Admission: 500 yen

 

This church was built in 1931 by a Catholic priest from Germany. The best thing to watch is its unique style of building; Outside-Western, Inside-Japanese featuring tatami mats inseted of pews, Next to the church stands a small museum with exhibits related to the story of the Christians who were persecuted in Tsuwano during the early Meiji Period.
The church itself is dedicated to Saint Francis Xavier, who visited Japan as a missionary in 1549–50, and is located on its mainstreet. The Santa Maria Church at Otome Pass was dedicated in 1951 and is part of a memorial for Japanese Christians persecuted and tortured in Tsuwano by the government during the Edo and Meiji periods.

Hours: 8:00 to 17:30 (until 17:00 from November to March)
Closed: No closing days
Admission: Free
English information: No

Within the hills which surround Tsuwano Town in Shimane Prefecture, is the Taikodani Inari Shrine (太皷谷稲荷神社). The red shrine structures along the green mountains, makes this shrine hard to miss.

Originally built in the 18th century near the Tsuwano Castle, the shrine’s primary function was to protect the castle. However, currently people visit Taikodani Inari Shrine to pray for good health and fortune. Being one of the five greatest Inari Shrines in Japan, many traditional ceremonies are also performed here.

There are a large number of red torii gates over the steps leading up to the shrine.

Visitors will feel they are passing a torii tunnel as they approach the main shrine grounds.

Within the main shrine grounds lies a beautiful main hall.

The former main hall can also be seen here.  

As seen in other shrines in Shimane Prefecture, sacred straw ropes are strung across the front of the halls at Taikodani Inari Shrine.
 

Hours: never closed
Closed: opened all year round
Admission: Free

Access Information:
**From Tsuwano Station, about 15-20 minutes on foot to the bottom of the stairway leading up to the shrine. It takes about 15 minutes to walk up the stairs to the main shrine grounds. 




 

The Tottori Sand Dunes (鳥取砂丘, Tottori Sakyu) is Tottori’s most famous tourist attraction.  The sand dunes are located outside the center of the city; they are a part of the Sanin Kaigan National Park.

Being the largest in Japan, the Tottori Sand Dunes span 16 kilometers along the Sea of Japan coast.  Being along the coast, the tides and winds constantly reshape the sand dunes to a new design.

Between the visitor center and the sea is the main sightseeing area. Visitors will find many of the largest sand dunes here.  Walking to the top of the tall dune will enable visitors to experience breathtaking sea views. From this location, visitors can see the trails of never-ending sand in almost every direction.

Beside the sand dune, there are other tourist attractions in this areas. There are camel rides as well as horse drawn carts to travel through the dunes.  Adventurous visitors have the option to try paragliding or sandboarding (similar to snowboarding) here as well.


Next to the dunes is The Sand Museum, a unique museum which displays large sand sculptures by artists from around the world. In the past, the exhibits were held outdoors or in temporary structures but since 2012, the sculptors are displayed in their permanent home.

The span of an exhibit is from mid April to early January of the following year. Each exhibit has its own theme which is usually a country or a region.  For 2014, the theme is Russia.  The current show started on April 19, 2014 and will close on January 4, 2015.

**Camel Ride Information:
Hours: 9:30 to 16:30 (March to November)
10:00 to 16:00 (December to February)
Closed: No closing days
Admission: 1300 yen (one person), 2500 yen (two persons)

**Sand Museum:
Hours: 9:00 to 20:00 (entry until 19:30)
Closed: Between exhibitions (early January to mid April)
Admission: 600 yen
English Level: Good

**Access Information:
By Bus:
*from Tottori Station, board the regular city bus bound for Tottori Sakyu (鳥取砂丘). Visitors can board the bus from bus stop #0 in front of Tottori Station.  Visitors will disembark at the final stop. The ride to the dunes takes about 20 minutes. The fare is 370 yen.  There 1 bus per hour.
*from Tottori Station, board the Kirin Jishi Loop Bus.  The A-Course takes about 25 minutes to the dunes whereas the B-Course takes about one hour. The frequency is one bus every 1-2 hours. The cost is 300yen per ride or 600 yen for a 1-day pass.
NOTE:  the Kirin Jishi Loop bus to Sand Dunes operates only on the weekends, national holidays and summer vacation (July 20th to August 31st). For other dates, please use the regular city bus.
By taxi:
*from Tottori Station, it is a 20 minute ride with a fare of about 2200 yen.