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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 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.

Higashi Iya History and Folk Museum
The Higashi Iya History and Folk Museum is a history museum at the entrance to Oku Iya.
You will find exhibits and display items like tools, clothes, household items, and other traditional items of the region inside of the facility.

Hours: 8:30 to 17:00 
Closed: Weekends and holidays (Dec to Feb), New Year holidays 
Admission: 410 yen

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.

Daishoin Temple (大照院), constructed in 1656, is the Mori Clan family temple. The Mori Clan governed Hagi during the Edo Period (1603-1868). Daishoin Temple belongs to the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism.  Visitors can see a small Zen garden behind the large wooden main hall.

In the woods behind the temple is an impressive burial site of the Mori lords. Half of the lords are buried here, at Daishoin Temple, with the other half buried at Tokoji Temple.  The first lord and odd numbered successors are laid to rest at Daishoin Temple.  Visitors are greeted by the hundreds of stone lanterns (donated) which line the pathway to the graveyard.  Led by the light from the stone lanterns and being surrounded by the woods, the atmosphere at the burial site is both peaceful and spiritual.

NOTE:   There is construction being done to renovate the main hall of Daishoin Temple. Renovation works are expected to continue until 2015. Visitors are still allowed in the temple and can observe the main hall from a makeshift corridor which surrounds the site.
The burial site is not affected by this construction

Access Information:
Daishoin Temple stands south of the city center in a somewhat rural environment.
**By bus:  take either the West Loop or East Loop of the "Maru Bus" and disembark at the Daishoin Iriguchi bus stop. From there, it is a five minute walk to the temple.
**By bicycle, it is a 5-10 minute from Hagi Station.
Hours: 8:00 to 17:00 (last entry until 16:30)
Closed: Opened all year round
Admission: 200 yen

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.

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Mount Kasayama (笠山) is a short mountain of height 112 meters, situated on a peninsula about six kilometers north of Hagi's city center. At its summit is a small crater of that measures just 30 meters in diameter and depth, which visitors can descend into via a flight of stairs or circle around via a short path. There is also an observation deck which affords good views over the Sea of Japan.

Camellia gregarious forest
In Toragasaki located the top of the Kasayama, there is a gregarious forest of 25,000 camellias. Many people come to see it when it is in their glory- between the end of February and the end of March.

At the foot of Mount Kasayama lies Myojinike Pond, which offers the setting for a nice stroll. In the woods near the pond are the Kazaana Holes, openings in the rocky forest floor, from which cool air constantly blows. This phenomenon is the result of the evaporation of sea and rain water which had penetrated the rocky surface, whereby lowering the temperature of the surrounding air. This natural air conditioner is especially popular during the hot summers, and meals and drinks are served around the holes (10:00 to 16:00, except Wednesdays).

By Bus
Mount Kasayama is located about six kilometers north of Hagi's city center.
Take a bus bound for Koshigahama (越ヶ浜) from Hagi Bus Center or Higashi-Hagi Station to its terminal stop Koshigahama which is just a few steps away from Myojinike Pond. The one way ride from the bus center takes 20 minutes (300 yen). There are buses every 1-2 hours. Walking from the pond up to Kasayama's summit takes about 30 minutes.

How to go Myojinike Pond
Myojinike Pond can be reached from the city center in about 15 minutes by car or in about 30-45 minutes by bicycle. A taxi ride from Higashi-Hagi Station will cost around 1800 yen. To the summit around 2200 yen.

The Kurokami Shrine Gate gives you a sense of the size of the 1914eruption.


The eruption that caused the land connection of Sakurajima to the Osumi Peninsula covered the shrine's torii

gate in volcanic ash only during a day and left only the very top still visible above ground.


 

About Sakurajima


Sakurajima, one of Japan's most active volcanoes and is the symbol of Kagoshima.


The volcano emits smoke constantly, and minor eruptions often occur many times per day.


Located in the middle of Kagoshima Bay,

Sakurajima is the area's most splendid geographic feature as it is located in the middle of Kagoshima Bay.



It has an elevation of 1117 meters and a circumference of about 50 kilometers.


A Powerful eruption happened and burned everything in 1914,

however, grasses and plants are growing these days.


 

Access information
 

In Sakurajima

Travelers visiting Sakurajima can find many attractions just around the Ferry Terminal,
 

including an onsen, foot baths, short hiking trails and an information center.


Those who would like to further explore the volcano should travel by rental car,


which can be taken across the water from Kagoshima by the ferries.


Sightseeing buses, regular buses and rental bicycles are other possible methods of travel.
 

The way up to Sakurajima

Kagoshima and Sakurajima are connected around the clock by frequent ferries.


The one way ride takes 15 minute and costs 160 yen.

The ferry terminal is a ten minute walk from JR Kagoshima Station or a five minute walk from the Suizokukan-guchi tram stop,

and is also served by the City View Buses.


There are also regular city buses that run infrequently from the ferry terminal along the northern coast (departures every 1-3 hours)

and along the southern coast (departures every 40-90 minutes) of Sakurajima.



 

Visitors from all over Japan and abroad come to Beppu, located in Oita Prefecture,
Kyushu, for the wonderful hot springs bath, or onsen.

This city is blessed by eight different springs: Beppu, Kannawa,
Myoban, Kankaiji, Hamawaki, Kamegawa, Horita and Shibaseki.

Visitors can enjoy these hot springs at ryokans (inns) or public baths.

 With these eight natural hot springs flowing in the city, it is no wonder that Beppu
produces more hot springs water than any other onsen (hot springs) resort in Japan.

In addition to the springs, Beppu offers its visitors a large of baths.
Conventional hot springs bath, indoor and outdoor, can be found here.

 In addition, sand baths, steam baths and mud baths can be experienced here.
Sand bathers are buried in naturally warm, almost blackish sand.

 Steam baths are baths that are heated from the hot springs’ steam.  
Mud baths are baths which use hot springs water which contain fine qualities of ore mud.

Within Beppu is the Suginoi Hotel, a very popular and famous hot springs ryokan (inn).
Tanayu is the main hot springs facility here.

Tanayu has gender separated baths on five different tiers, offering a varity of different baths.  
From the outdoors bath, bathers can enjoy the panoramic view of the Beppu Bay.

Nighttime bathers can enjoy the onsen under the starry Beppu sky.
In 2010, Aqua Garden, an onsen which can be enjoyed while in bathing suits opened next to Tanayu.
 

Daytime Hours: 9:00 to 23:00 (last entry at 21:30) 
Daytime Admission Fee: 1500 yen (weekdays), 2000 yen (weekends) 
Price of Overnight Stay including Two Meals: From 9,000 yen per person 



 

Takegawara Spa is Beppu’s most famous bath house.
Built in 1879, it is one of the oldest bathhouses.

 Though renovated a few times, its wooden roof is symbolic of a Beppu bathhouse.
Visitors can experience conventional baths as well as sand baths here.

 Note: the water is hot here, so please proceed with care. 

Daytime Hours: conventional hot springs bath 6:30 to 22:30
sand bath 8:00 to 22:30 (last entry at 21:30) 
Admission Fee: conventional hot springs bath 100 yen
sand bath 1030 yen 

 

Located within the hot springs prefecture of Oita in Kyushu is the world famous hot springs resort town of Beppu.

Visitors can experience eight different springs here:
Beppu, Kannawa, Myoban, Kankaiji, Hamawaki, Kamegawa, Horita and Shibaseki.

It has eight major geothermal hot spots, sometimes referred to as the "eight hells of Beppu.
They are presented to visitors in a rather touristy fashion, which might not appeal to everyone.
Six of them are located in the Kannawa district and two in the more remote Shibaseki district.

Shiraike Jigoku
Known from its name, the "white pond hell"has a pond of hot, milky water.
The pond is surrounded by a nice garden and a small, older side aquarium,
taking advantage of the heat of the earth.
 

Hours: 8:00 to 17:00
Closed: Opened All Year Round
Admission: 400 yen


 

Located within the hot springs prefecture of Oita in Kyushu is the world famous hot springs resort town of Beppu.

Visitors can experience eight different springs here:
Beppu, Kannawa, Myoban, Kankaiji, Hamawaki, Kamegawa, Horita and Shibaseki.

It has eight major geothermal hot spots, sometimes referred to as the "eight hells of Beppu.
They are presented to visitors in a rather touristy fashion, which might not appeal to everyone.
Six of them are located in the Kannawa district and two in the more remote Shibaseki district.

Chinoike Jigoku
The "blood pond hell" features a pond of hot, red water effected by ferrous Oxide, Magnesium Oxide and etc.
Aluminium Oxide and a large souvenir shop. It is one of the more photogenic of the eight hells.
People in Japan's past named the Onsen Chinoike-jigoku based on an image of hell found in Buddhism.

Hours: 8:00 to 17:00
Closed: Opened All Year Round
Admission: 400 yen


 

Located in western Saga Prefecture, Kyushu, Arita is a small town known for its local pottery, Arita-yaki.
Over 400 years ago, Toyotomi Hideyoshi brought several skilled Korean craftsmen to Japan.
One of these men found kaolin, the main ingredient needed to create porcelain in Arita’s Izumiyama Quarry.
This lead to Arita town being the first producers of porcelain in Japan, and Akita-yaki was born.

The Folk and History Museum in Arita town is a small museum which examines the local history through exhibitions of porcelain production.
There are also explanations about how porcelain has affected daily life, including documents relating to the porcelain business and local currencies.

The museum is located just beside the Izumiyama Quarry.  
Visitors will find a grand stone sign at the entrance of the museum.
Outside the museum, there is a mortar for hulling.  
There is a restaurant in the museum as well.

Access Information:
On Foot:
*a 15 minute walk from JR Kami-Arita Station
By Car:
*Eight minutes from JR Arita Station
*10 minutes from HasamiArita IC

Facility Information
Hours: 9:00 to 16:30 
Admission: 100 yen 
Closed: December 29th to January 3rd

 

The Hakata Gion Yamakasa is one of the most intriguing festivals in Japan.
It is held annually in early July and climaxes with a spectacular time trial race in the early morning hours of July 15.
In the race, seven neighborhoods of Fukuoka's Hakata district compete in pushing colorful festival floats along a five kilometer long course through the city.

The festival is famous for two different types of floats: 
The larger kazariyama floats stand over ten meters tall, weighing over two tons.
In the past they were raced through the streets, but, after power lines were introduced in the Meiji Period,this became problematic, and today they only serve as decorative floats.
14 of them stand spread out across the city from July 1 to 14, including two at Hakata Station and Canal City Hakata. 

For the race, smaller sized kakiyama floats, about five meters tall weighing one ton, are used today.
There are seven of them, one for each of the neighborhoods participating in the race.
Since the floats do not have wheels and are dragged through the streets, water is sprinkled in front of the float so that frictionbetween the float and the road surface can be reduced
(and the participants can be cooled down). 

From July 10 to 14, the seven teams hold several practice runs and parades in preparation for the main race.
You will get a good English festival booklet with detailed maps and time schedules for these events which are interesting to watch.

On July 15 just after 1am, all 7 teams are ready at the starting point,
which is located in front of Kushida Shrine, the festival's host shrine. 

On July 15 at 4:59am, just before sunrise, the first team starts into the race, followed by the other teams in five minute intervals.
In spite of the early time of the day, thousands of spectators gather along the five-kilometer long course,
which includes several tight turns and long stretches along both narrow lanes and broad streets.
It takes each team about 30 minutes of intense effort to finish the course. 

There are a lot of spots to see the race along its long course, except around some of the more spectacular sections,
for example, the start area, where people show up hours in advance to keep good spots to watch the race.
Paid seating is available in the small court yard of Kushida Shrine, where each team has to push its float around a pole,
but these seats are virtually impossible to get because of the high competition. 

How to get there 
The festival is held in the Hakata district of Fukuoka.
Kushida Shrine is located a 5- minute walk from Canal City Hakata or Gion Subway Station,
or a 15-20 minute walk from Hakata Station.