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 Shimanami Kaido (しまなみ海道, Shimanami Kaidō) is a 60 kilometer long toll road. It connects Japan's main island of Honshu(Hiroshima) to the island of Shikoku(Ehime), passing over six small islands on the Seto Inland Sea. There are two other land connections between Shikoku and Honshu, but the Shimanami Kaido is the only one traversable by foot or bicycle.

The Shimanami Kaido begins on Honshu in Onomichi City. It then leads across the six islands of Mukaishima, Innoshima, Ikuchijima, Omishima, Hakatajima and Oshima, before terminating on Shikoku in Imabari City. The route was opened in 1999, so the bridges are modern and attractive. Along the way, travelers can enjoy the wonderful scenery of the islands' small towns and the Seto Inland Sea.

Cycling is a very popular means of experiencing the Shimanami Kaido. The bicycle route is well marked and maintained, and diverges from the expressway on the islands. The ramps leading up to the bridges were built at little inclines with cyclists in mind. At about 70 kilometers, the bike route is a bit longer than the toll road. Since there are no large inclines, it can be comfortably completed in a day by intermediate cyclists.
 

The Shimanami Kaido Bridge, the world’s longest suspension bridge, is the toll road which connects Honshu (Japan’s main island) with Shikoku. Visitors on the Honshu side can access this bridge from Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture while Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture is the access point from Shikoku. The bridge spans across the Seto Inland Sea which ramps on 6 Seto Inland Islands (Mukaishima, Innoshima, Ikuchijima, Omishima, Hakatajima and Oshima) allowing its users to visit these islands on their way to their destination.

With automobile lanes as well as separate bicycle and pedestrian paths, cycling and driving are popular options to access this 60 kilometer long toll road with its beautiful Seto Inland Sea scenery. However, there are bus services for those who wish to sit back and let someone else steer them along this bridge.

There are few direct buses between Onomichi and Imabari. There is one bus every three hours. The one-way journey takes about an hour and a half with a cost of 2250 yen. Visitors who do not mind transferring from the highway bus to the local bus at the Innoshima Ohashi bus stop will find the buses are more frequent. In case, please estimate the one-way journey to be an hour and a half to two hours with a cost of 2500 yen.

There are highway buses from Imabari Station to Fukuyama (in Hiroshima Prefecture). The one-way journey is about an hour and a half with a cost of 2400 yen. There is one bus every hour. For visitors to Hiroshima City, there is a highway bus from Imabari Station as well. In this case, the one-way journey will take about two and a half hours with a cost of 3700 yen. There are three buses per day.

There are local bus lines from Onomichi City which can take visitors to:
** Innoshima Island (Ohashi Bus Stop and Habu Port)
**Ikuchijima Island (Kosanji Temple and Setoda Port)

There are many ways to explore Shimanami Kaido Bridge. Whether by bus, ferry, cycle or private automobile, enjoy the islands and discover all Japan has to offer!

Hiroshima Oysters are famous throughout Japan and the world.  Being close to the sea, oyster-contained foods are common throughout the prefecture.  Popular oyster dining establishments are located in Hiroshima city and Miyajima Island.  Among the facilities are restaurants, food stalls and ryokans (Japanese style Inn).

Oysters
Hiroshima Prefecture accounts for approximately 60-70% of Japan's oyster production. Hiroshima Oysters are consumed domestically as well as exported overseas.
Oysters are served in a variety of different ways.  For example, they can be served raw, to be eaten with soy sauce or ponzo.  They can also be deep-fried, baked, grilled or served on top of rice (donburi). They can be a topping in okonomiyaki as well. Hiroshima oysters are versatile and can be found in various foods.

Nunakuma Shrine(鞆祇園宮)

Nunakuma Shrine consists of two shrines which are respectively dedicated to deities of the sea; marine safety was obviously very important to Tomonoura's success as a port town. Nunakuma Shrine features an old noh(Japan’s oldest art) stage.

Hours: Always open
Closed: No closing days
Admission: Free

Taga Shrine (多賀神社, Taga Jinja) is located north of Uwajima's city center. People pray at the shrine for longevity, good health and in particular, fertility. The shrine's claims to popularity among foreign tourists are its fertility related objects of worship, including about two meter long wooden phallus displayed alongside the main shrine building. Such explicit fertility objects were more common at shrines across Japan in the past until puritanical values from the West led to their removal around the Meiji Period (1868-1912).

There is a museum next to the shrine hall. It displays the priest's collection of international and domestic pornographic materials. Items on exhibit include adult oriented illustrations, ukiyoe and objects from various regions of the world and eras of history. Minors under the age of 20 are not allowed entry.    

Schedule & cost
Taga Shrine Grounds
Hours: Always open
Closed: No closing days
Admission: Free
Sex Museum
Hours: 8:00 to 17:00
Closed: No closing days
Admission: 800 yen

Access info                                                                                                     
Taga Shrine is a 15 minute walk northwest of Uwajima Station.  
                   

The Shiki Memorial Museum displays information on one of Matsuyama's most well-known sons, Masaoka Shiki, who introduced modern haiku poetry. This museum is located near Dogo Onsen area (see below). Shiki's works of poems and paintings, as well as materials documenting his life are presented.
There are valuable materials for the study of modern Japanese literature. Moreover the museum holds works related to Natsume Soseki, who was best friend of Shiki.

Shiki Memorial Museum
Hours: 9:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 from November to April)
Admission ends 30 minutes before closing
Admission: 400 yen
Closed: Mondays (or following day if Monday is a national holiday), Dec 29 to 31

Access info
It takes 4minutes walk from Dogo Onsen station.
Dogo Onsen (道後温泉, Dōgo Onsen) is one of Japan's oldest and most famous hot springs, located to the east of central Matsuyama. The area is popular with tourists for its beautiful bath house and many ryokan. Dogo Onsen has also been a frequent destination for Japan's most prestigious guests, the Imperial Family.

The main attraction in Dogo Onsen is the Dogo Onsen Honkan, a Meiji Period wooden public bathhouse, dating from 1894. The interior of the Honkan is a maze of stairways, passages and rooms, all of which bustle with bathers and staff. It is said to have served as inspiration for Miyazaki's popular animated film "Spirited Away".

Hagi Town, located on the Sea of Japan coast of Yamaguchi Prefecture is a small town with a rich history.

Visitors to this well preserved town have a chance to glimpse a nostalgic Japan with their own eyes.

Among the well preserved buildings in Hagi, is the Kubota Residence. Shoshichi Kubota was originally a kimono merchant.

Later generations of the Kubota family ventured into the sake brewing industry.

This 200 year old residence is a very house.  There are tatami mat rooms which can be divided sliding doors to provide privacy.  

At social events, the doors are opened so the rooms can join to create a large space. 

The residence boasts a traditional Japanese garden as well an excellent collection of Hina Dolls, typically displayed in Japan in March for Girl’s Day.

 Visitors can also view exhibits of tools and lamps from the late Edo Period to the Meiji Period here.
 

Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 
Closed: Opened All Year Round 
Admission: 100 yen (Kubota Residence only) 
310 yen (combination ticket including eight other residences

Hagiyaki Pottery (萩焼), the local pottery style of Hagi City, located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, is very well-known both in Japan and overseas. Hagiyaki’s techniques were brought to Japan from Korea in the early 1600’s.  During the Edo Period, Hagiyaki was very popular with its tea wares being highly praised at tea ceremonies.

One unique characteristic of Hagiyaki is the color of the items change over time.  It is said tea residuals enter the microscopic openings within the items causing the color change. Tea enthusiasts are particularly delighted by this.

Hagiyaki is popular even today.  Visitors to Hagi will find more stores around this old-fashioned town selling tea ware, cups and bowls of Hagiyaki.  There are museums here as well where visitors can learn more about Hagiyaki as well as places offering visitors a chance to try their hand to create their own Hagiyaki.

【The Best Savings--Ultimate Japan Coupon Site Moopon】

Nestled in historic Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is the Shoin Shrine (松陰神社,)  dedicated to Yoshida Shoin. 

A true patriot, Shoin promoted forward thinking and was thought of as a rebel by the shogunate.

Being sentenced to death for his part in an assignation plot, his followers believe Shoin sacrificed his life for the good of Japan.

The present shrine building completed in 1955 to remember Shoin is located east of Hagi's former castle town, near from Tokoji Temple.

The shrine ground houses the Shokason Juku School, and Shoin’s Former Residence.

Yunotsu, of the coast of the Sea of Japan, used to be known as a port town. Until the beginning of the 17th century, it played an important role  in shipping silver which was mined at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ‘Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine’. In 2007, Yunotsu was designated as a part of the “World Heritage Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape”. Ryokans, Japanese style inns, and shops line the streets and visitors can soak up the the tranquil atmosphere of a town with such a long history.

The nearby ports of Okidomari and Tomogaura were used to ship away the silver from the Iwami Ginzan Mines. The ports feature Hanaguri-Iwa, special rocks that were used to moor boats to. These can be seen at Okidomari by taking a five minute hike around the bay. The narrow nature trail to the rocks starts at a little bridge that crosses the small creek on the right side of the dock.

The former roads, used to transport the silver from the the mining area to the ports, are now hiking trails. The trail to Okidomari and Yunotsu is 12 kilometers long and passes nearby two castle ruins, while the trail to Tomogaura is 7 kilometers long. There is a possibility of doing a loop hike as Yunotsu and Tomogaura (near Maji Station) are connected by the JR Sanin train line.

Yunotsu is a station along the JR Sanin Line, one hour by limited express train (approx. 3000 yen) or two hour by local train (1490 yen) from Matsue. The town center is a 10-15 minute walk or short bus ride (140 yen) from Yunotsu Station. Okidomari is another 15 minute walk northwest of the town center.
If coming from Omori Town, take a bus to Nima or Oda-shi Station and transfer to the JR Sanin Line to Yunotsu. With a good connection, the journey takes about 45 minutes via Nima Station or about one hour via Oda-shi Station, but note that the train and bus service in the region is rather infrequent.