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.

Kadoya  one of the art house project

Kadoya was the first art house completed. This nearly 200-year old house was restored using Japanese plaster, smoked cedar board, and traditional tiles. Artworks on display include a LED display set in a pool of water, a window turned into a digital display and an unconventional Japanese scroll painting.

Works:Tatsuo Miyajima
Closed : Mondays  Open on Mondays for national holidays but closed the next day
Hours: 10a.m-4:30p.m
Admission: 410yen

Minamidera 
Architecture by Ando Tadao, Artwork by James Turrell
Minamidera, built on the former site of a temple, is a new structure designed by Ando Tadao, the star architect who also designed the art museums on Naoshima. Inside is James Turrell's "Backside of the Moon", an intriguing art piece that plays with your perception of light.

Go'o Shrine (護王神社)

Designed by Sugimoto Hiroshi
Go'o Shrine is an old Shinto shrine enshrined from the Edo period that has been restored with a modern makeover by Artist Hiroshi Sugimoto. An optical glass staircase leads from the worship hall to an underground chamber that represents the unity of heaven and earth. Visitors may enter the underground chamber from a narrow side entrance.

Hiroshi Sugimoto
He was born in Japan in 1948. A photographer since the 1970s, his work deals with history and temporal existence by investigating themes of time, empiricism, and metaphysics.

Closed: Mondays  Open on Mondays for national holidays but closed the next day
Hours: 10a.m - 4:30p.m
Admission: 410 yen

Gokaisho 【碁会所】
Artwork by Suda Yoshihiro

Gokaisho (literally "a meeting place to play go") was built on the site of a gathering place where people came to play go, a type of Japanese chess. A traditionally designed building holds hand carved wooden camellia flowers arranged on the tatami mat floors. The rooms overlook a small garden with real camellia flowers to contrast with the wooden creations.
There is an intriguing contrast between this sculpture and the real camellia outside in the garden.

Yoshihiro Suda
Born in Yamanashi, Japan, Suda lives and works in Tokyo. In 1992, he received his BA in Graphic Design and has exhibited internationally in numerous solo and group shows. Recent museum shows include the Chiba City Museum of Art in 2012, The Manghha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology, Krakow, in 2011, Asia Society Museum, New York, and the Contemporary Museum, Honolulu. In 2008 his work was included in Out of the Ordinary at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. His work has been exhibited extensively in group shows in the USA, Japan, Germany, Australia and Quebec

Closed: Mondays  Open on Mondays for national holidays but closed the next day
Hours: 10a.m-4:30p.m
Admission: 410yen

 Haisha【はいしゃ】
Architecture and Artwork by Otake Shinro
Haisha (literally "dentist"), once the home and office of a local dentist, has been completely transformed by artist Shinro Ohtake into a sculptural or graphic artwork some of which can be viewed from different floors of the two storied house. The artworks include a replica of the Statue of Liberty. Otake also designed the I Love You bath house. Dreaming Tongue, the title of the artwork, represents the process of calling to mind a dream from the tastes and aromas of a morsel in one's mouth.

Shinro Ohtake
He is a Japanese artist who was born in Tokyo and lives in Uwajima, Japan. He paints, creates installations and designs record covers and book covers. He has published dozens of books, such as a dream diary, a picture book, essays and art books.

Closed: Mondays  Open on Mondays for national holidays but closed the next day
Hours: 10a.m-4:30p.m
Admission: 410yen

I Love Yu is a combination of public bath and art installation house (sento), where visitors can experience bathing in the artwork. The facility was built to give communication place for islander and visitors. The facility was designed by Japanese artist Otake Shinro whose scrapbook like style incorporates recycled objects from all over Japan. Otake also created the Haisha art house, which is part of the Art House Project on Naoshima.

Bathing at the I Love Yu bath house is a intersting experience. The baths are designed and finished mostly in plain white tiles surrounding a collage of erotica on the floor of the bath. While soaking in the hot waters, visitors can view the brightly painted glass ceiling, large tile murals depicting ama (female abalone divers) on the walls and an elephant statue at the center of the room.

The art is ever present throughout the rest of the bath house as well with video displays, painted ceramic paintings, posters, and collages decorating the changing rooms, toilets, entranceway and the entire exterior of the building. The bath sells lovely I Love Yu goods and toiletries such as towels, shampoo and body soap. Like the admission tickets, they are purchased through a ticket machine next to the entrance.  

Schedule & cost
Hours: 14:00 to 21:00 (from 10:00 on weekends and holidays)
Closed: Mondays (or following Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday)
Admission: 510 yen

Access info                                                                
The I Love Yu bath house is a few steps from the ferry terminal at Miyanoura Port.   

Known for the bridges at the Hiroshima Peace Park, garden at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris and many others, Isamu Noguchi is an important Japanese American artists, sculptor and landscape artist.  The Isamu Noguchi Museum in Mure Town near central Takamatsu is Noguchi’s former Japanese residence and workshop.  Though this museum features his art, work and living space, it can only be entered through a guided tour with advance reservation.

Within the grounds is a storehouse from the Edo Period.  Outside the storehouse are about 150 stone sculptures, the majority of which are unfinished. The finished sculptures are stored in a warehouse from the Meiji Period.  Visitors can see the 3.6 meter tall black Swedish granite sculptor named “Energy Void” on the premises.

From his work area, tour members are taken across the street to Noguchi’s former residence.  Noguchi redesigned his Edo Period merchant residence to accommodate his preferences while maintaining Japanese traditional aesthetic elements. Visitors are also able to see the garden Noguchi designed for his 80th birthday. The garden is located on the hill behind his house.
 
Tours are conducted on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 10am 1pm and 3pm. There are no tours during New Years and Japanese Obon Holidays (mid August).

To make a reservation:
Outside of Japan:
Please fax the following information to  (+81 87 845 0505) at least 2 weeks before the intended visit. Visitors will receive confirmation of their tour date.

Please fax:
*number of people in group
*names of people in group
*ages of people in group
*contact address
*preferred tour time and two alternative tour time

Within Japan:
Please write the same information on a self-addressed , stamped return postcard ("ofuku hagaki"). The request must arrive at the museum (Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum, 3519 Mure, Mure-cho, Takamatsu-shi, Kagawa-ken, 761-0121) at least two weeks before the date of your intended visit.  Visitors will receive a reply with the tour time written on the return envelope.

The cost of admission 2160 yen per person.

Access Information:
Via Kotoden train
From Takamatsu-Chikko Station board a train to Kawaramachi Station (5 minutes) and change to the Kotoden Shido Line to Yakuri Station (20 minutes). The cost is 340 yen. 
From Yakuri Station, visitors can walk (25 minutes) or take a taxi (5 minutes).

Via JR train
From Takamatsu Station board a local train to Furutakamatsu Minami Station (20 minutes). The cost is 260 yen.
From the station, visitors can walk (30-40 minutes) or take a taxi (10 minutes). 

Via bus
From Takamatsu Station board the number 73 Kotoden Bus bound for Aji Onsen (庵治温泉) and disembark at Inori Iwa Yoichi Koen-mae (祈り岩与一公園前). The one way journey takes about 30 minutes and the cost is 490 yen. 
From Inori Iwa Yoichi Koen-mae bus stop, the museum is a 5-10 minute walk.

aLocated outside Takamatsu city, Kagawa Prefecture, is Yashima (屋島), a flat topped mountain.  The Kanji characters for Yashima literally translates to “roof island”, but there is more to this mountain than its shape.  Historically Yashima played an important role as the site for the battle between Taira and Minamoto Clans during the Gempei War.  In addition, Yashima Temple and the New Yashima Aquarium are sites of interest for visitors.

Visitors can find many areas on Yashima displaying its historic heritage.  As mentioned before, in the 12th century, the Taira Clan and Minamoto clan fought here during the Gempei War. The Taira Clan was defeated here and it is said that this battle was the last battle before the Taira Clan’s final destruction. Visitors can find the Chinoike, which literally translates to “blood pond” on Yashima’s summit.  It is said that Minamoto Clan members washed their swords here after the victory, turning the lake red with blood. Other monuments and historical displays can be found on the summit.

Also on the summit, visitors can enjoy the breathtaking views of Takamatsu and the Seto Inland Sea. Special souvenirs can be purchased here.  Small clay discs are purchased and thrown off the mountain for good luck.  The clay discs symbolize the headpieces the Minamoto warriors threw off after defeating the Taira Clan.

Visitors can also visit the Yashima Temple located near the summit’s parking area.  Yashima Temple is number 84 in the 88 temples on the Shikoku Pilgrimage. There are quite a few temple buildings, each reflecting a different era.  There is a modern museum here as well, featuring artifacts from Yashima’s history.
Yashima Temple Museum
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00
Closed: Opened All Year Round
Admission: Temple Grounds: Free
Temple Museum: 500 yen

Visitors may wish to visit the New Yashima Aquarium, which is located about 5 minutes on foot away from the summit.  Though small, the aquarium does have dolphin and seal shows.
New Yashima Aquarium
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry is 16:30)
Closed: Opened All Year Round
Admission: 1200 yen

And near the base of the mountain is Shikoku Mura. Shikoku Mura is an open air museum. Traditional indoor artwork is displayed in addition to the outdoor displays of farmhouses, bridges and so on. Pieces are collected from throughout Shikoku to be featured here.

Access Information:
Via Kotoden:
From Takamatsu-Chikko Station, board a train to Kawaramachi Station. The journey should take 5 minutes and there are many trains from Takamatsu-Chikko to Kawaramachi.
At Kawaramachi Station, transfer to the Shido Line and disembark at Kotoden Yashima Station. The journey should take 15 minutes and there are 3 trains every hour from Kawaramachi to Yashima. The cost of the entire train journey is 320 yen.
From Yashima Station, board the Yashima Sanjo Shuttle bus. There is a bus every hour to the summit. The cost of the Shuttle is 100 yen.

Via JR:
From JR Takamatsu Station, board the local train to Yashima Station. The journey should take 15 minutes and the cost is 220 yen.  There are 1 or 2 trains every hour.
From Yashima Station, board the Yashima Sanjo Shuttle bus. There is a bus every hour to the summit. The cost of the Shuttle is 100 yen.

By Car:
There is a toll road (Yashima Driveway) from Shikoku Mura to the summit. The cost for passenger cars is 630 yen.

Lying along the coast of the Seto Inland Sea in Kagawa Prefecture is the Takamatsu Castle. This castle, also known as the Tamomo Castle, is one of the few castles built along the water.  The moat of the Takamatsu Castle actually draws directly from the sea.

Built in 1590 by Ikoma Chikamasa, the Ikoma Clan were the original rulers of this castle. Relatives of the Tokugawa Shogun, the Matsudaira Clan overtook the castle 54 years later. The Matsudaira Clan ruled for the rest of the Edo Period.  During the Meiji Period, the castle main keep was torn down.  Currently, there is a strong movement to reconstruct this castle, known as one of the three Great Waterfront Castles in Japan.

Within the castle grounds, there are only a few of the castle’s original buildings.  Originally twenty, only two turrets, the Ushitora Yagura and the Tsukimi Yagura, remain today. Visitors can also see the Asahimon Gate as well as the moats and walls to imagine how glorious Takamatsu castle was in its heyday. The castle garden is well maintained and visitors can appreciate the beauty of Japanese gardens here.

Hiunkaku building lies in the center of the castle park.  With its large tatami mat rooms, this building is used as an exhibition space/community hall.  Tea ceremony and flower arrangement classes are held here.

The hours of entry to the castle vary according to the month.
April to May: 5:50 to 18:30
June to August: 5:30 to 19:00
September: 5:30 to 18:30
October: 6:00 to 17:30
November: 6:30 to 17:00
December to January: 7:00 to 17:00
February: 7:00 to 17:30
March: 6:30 to 18:00
Closed: December 29th to 31st
Admission: 200 yen

Access Information:
Takamatsu Castle is located next to Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station.
It is also a short walk from the JR Takamatsu Station.

There are so many things to do and enjoy in Shodoshima Island, located in the Seto Inland Sea of the coast of Kagawa Prefecture in Shikoku.  From driving along the Shodoshima Skyline to view the gorge near the Monkey Park and Kankakei Gorge to the paying homage to the temples on the Pilgrim Road, visitors could relax, explore, and find themselves.  In addition, visitors may be interested in the Osaka Castle Stones or Angel Road.

Osaka Castle Stones/Michi No Eki
Shodoshima is well known for its quality stones. As a result, stones from the destruction of the Osaka Castle were shipped to Shodoshima to be restored and re-cut for the reconstruction of the Castle. Some of the stones still remain on the island and can be seen on the northeastern tip of the island. 

Visitors interested in stone cutting may wish to visit the former site of a stone cutting workshop.  Though closed now, there are still many unfinished stone pieces remaining for visitors to view. The Osaka Castle Stones Michi no Eki is another site for people interested in the castle stones to stop by. Michi no Eki literally means a station on the road, and this is a rest area for drivers and passengers.  At the Osaka Castle Stones Michi no Eki, visitors can visit the museum featuring tools used in the past.  Castle stones are also displayed here as well.

Osaka Castle Stones Michi no Eki
Hours: 9:00 to 16:30
Closed: December 29th to January 3rd
Admission: Free      
                       
Angel Road
This heavenly named road is truly a thing of wonder. This sandbar located near the Tonosho Port can only be crossed during low tide. Many couples come to this island, hoping to cross the Angel Road as it is said if a couple crosses the sandbar hand-in-hand, they can find true happiness together.  There are people who write their wishes for love on wooden boards (ema) to be hung on a tree here, in hopes their wish will come true.

Senmaida
Literally translated to mean one thousand rice fields, visitors will find hundreds of rice fields embedded into to the hillside on Shodoshima. These rice fields create the illusion of being steps of along a staircase of rice fields ascending to the top of the mountain.  There is an outdoors kabuki stage, as well, in a village nearby. Since the Edo Period, local kabuki plays have been performed here. 

Access Information

Osaka Castle Stone Cutting Workshop
Board the bus from Fukuda Port, Kusakabe Port or Tonosho Port. The workshop ruins are located along the Minamimawari Fukuda bus line (南廻り福田線). Disembark at Iwagatani (岩ケ谷) bus stop.
From Fukuda port, the journey will take 10 minutes with a cost of 380 yen.
From Kusakabe Port, the journey will take 20 minutes with a cost of 390 yen.
From Tonosho Port, the journey will take 50 minutes and 940 yen.
There is one bus every two hours.

Osaka Castle Stones Michi no Eki
Board the bus from Tonosho Port or Fukuda Port. The Osaka Castle Stones Michi no Eki is located along the Kitamawari Fukuda bus line (北廻り福田線) and disembark at Omi (小海) bus stop.
From Tonosho Port, the journey will take 25 minutes with a cost of 550 yen.
From Fukuda Port, the journey will take 30 minutes with a cost of 810 yen.
There is one bus every 90 minutes.