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 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.


 

Fukuoka's open air food stands (Yatai) are possibly the city's most famous symbol.
A yatai food stand can usually seat about seven or eight people and you will enjoy various foods that are generally simple and filling, in an outdoor setting.
There are over 150 yatai food stands scattered across Fukuoka but the best place to find them is on the southern end of Nakasu Island.
Located in the middle of the city, Nakasu Island has a long row of about 20 yatai food stands where you will feel you are just near water. 

Typical dishes enjoyed at yatai are grilled chicken skewers (yakitori), hot pot (oden) and most famously Hakata Ramen,a local noodle dish featuring relatively thin
ramen noodles in a pork bone based soup (tonkotsu).

Various alcoholic drinks are also available, and help make the yatai a great place to get in touch with the locals,although many of the "locals"
happen to be Japanese tourists visiting Fukuoka from other parts of Japan. 

Yatai are typically open from around 6pm to around 2am, except when the weather is very bad.
Many stands close one day of the week.
The closure day varies from stand to stand, but is often Sunday.
There can be waiting times for popular stands, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. 

How to get there  
Yatai are located throughout the city center, and visitors will likely come across some while walking through busy tourist areas in the evening. 
To reach the row of stalls on Nakasu Island travelers can take
the convenient 100 yen loop busfrom Hakata Station or Tenjin Station
(100 yen, departures every 5-10 minutes).
The closest subway stations are Nakasu Kawabata Station and Minami Tenjin Station, which are both about a 10 minute walk away. 


 

Canal City Hakata is a large shopping and entertainment complex,
calling itself a "city within the city".
Attractions include about 250 shops, cafes and restaurants, a theater, game center, cinemas, two hotels and a canal running through the complex. 

Visitors, who are planning on shopping, will likely be able to find something of interest in one of Canal City's many stores,
whether it be in a shop unique to Japan or a branch of an international company.
There is also a wide variety of restaurants, offering Japanese and international food, that generally have reasonably priced menus.
The fifth floor consists of the "Ramen Stadium", which has eight ramen shops with noodle dishes from across Japan, including the local specialty Hakata Ramen. 

Canal City has been designed to create a spacious and interesting atmosphere with creative and unique colors and shapes.
The artificial canal runs right through the middle of the five floored entertainment complex, creating a lot of open space.
At the center of the canal there is a fountain with water shows
every 30 minutes from 10:00 until 22:00. 

How to get there  

Canal City Hakata is a short ride by the 100 yen loop bus from Hakata Station or Tenjin Station (100 yen, departures every 5-10 minutes).
Alternatively, you can walk there in about 15 minutes from Hakata Station or in about 20 minutes from Tenjin Station.  


 

The ruins of Fukuoka Castle (福岡城跡, Fukuokajōato) are located in the middle of the city in Maizuru Park, named after the castle's alias, Maizuru Castle.

During the Edo Period (1603-1867), Fukuoka Castle used to be the largest castle on Kyushu,
but it was almost completely torn down after the Meiji Restoration as an unwanted symbol of the feudal past.
Nowadays only ruined walls and a few turrets remain, and the park attracts visitors with walking trails and a few lookout points. 

Fukuoka Castle was built in the beginning of the 17th century by Kuroda Nagamasa,
who was appointed lord of the surrounding Chikuzen feudal domain
(part of today's Fukuoka Prefecture) for his support of Tokugawa Ieyasu during the battle of Sekigahara.

The Kuroda clan ruled from the castle for more than two centuries until the abolition of the feudal system in 1870. 
The best time to visit the castle ruins is usually between late March and early April, when Maizuru Park turns into the city's most pleasant spot for cherry blossom viewing.
A number of walking paths are lined with cherry trees so that visitors can walk through a tunnel of flowers,and there are also plenty of lawned areas
for holding hanami parties under the blossoms. 

Among the few surviving or reconstructed castle buildings are some gates and guard towers, scattered across the castle grounds.
Parts of the moat system also remain, most noticeably on Maizuru Park's northern border and in form of the large lake at the center of the neighboring Ohori Park. 

How to get there  
The Fukuoka Castle Ruins can be reached in a 10-15 minute walk from Ohori Koen Subway Station.  


 

Seaside Momochi (シーサイドももち, Shīsaido Momochi) is Fukuoka's modern waterfront located on reclaimed land along Hakata Bay.
The area was originally developed as the site of the 1989 Asia Pacific Expo and was designed with attractive,
modern features such as wide, tree lined streets, futuristic buildings, public parks and no phone or electricity lines above ground. 

Seaside Momochi is home to several attractive amusements including beaches, museums and a variety of shopping and dining options.
The main attractions are centered around Fukuoka Tower and the Hawks Town entertainment complex,which are located about one kilometer apart:

Fukuoka Tower  
 Hours: 9:30 to 22:00 (until 21:00 from October to March) 
Closed: The last Monday and Tuesday of June 
Admission: 800 yen (20% off for foreigners who show passport identification)  

 Built in 1989 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Tower stands 234 meters tall and is far and away the city's highest building and Japan's tallest seaside tower.
The tower is adorned in over 8000 mirrors and sports a three-storied observation deck at 123 meters above ground with good views over the city.  

Robosquare  
 Hours: 9:30 to 18:00 
Closed: Second Wednesday of each month (except Jan, Jul, Aug, Dec), Dec 28-Jan 2 
Admission: Free
 
 Robosquare is a showroom where visitors can encounter robots and learn how they can be used in everyday life.
The facility has over 200 robots and offers hands-on experiences where both children and adults can play and interact with robots and learn about their technology and production.
Robot performances are held daily.
There is also a shop selling robot toys and souvenirs.
Robosquare is on the second floor of the TV Nishi Nippon building just next to Fukuoka Tower.
 
Fukuoka City Museum  
 Hours: 9:30 to 17:30 (until 19:30 from July to August except for Sundays and holidays) 
Admission ends 30 minutes before closing 
Closed: Mondays (or next day if Monday is a holiday), December 28 to January 4 
Admission: 200 yen (permanent exhibition)  

 This history museum displays the cultural development of the local region with an emphasis on Fukuoka's role as a gateway for trade and culture exchange between Japan and the Korean Peninsula.
The permanent exhibit is very well done with interactive exhibits and lots of English information.  

Fukuoka Yafuoku Dome  
 Fukuoka Yafuoku Dome is Japan’s first retractable roofed dome and multi-use arena.
The seaside stadium is home to the Softbank Hawks baseball team, which is the only professional baseball team on Kyushu.
The stadium hosts events and concerts in addition to games.  

Hawks Town Mall  
 Hours: Varies by store, typically 11:00 to 21:00 
Closed: No closing days  
 Hawks Town Mall is a shopping and entertainment zone just outside of Fukuoka Yafuoku Dome.
In addition to a selection of over 100 shops and restaurants, the mall features a diverse array of facilities including the Zepp Fukuoka performance hall, movie theater,
a Namco amusement center and a trick art museum. 

How to get there
The waterfront area can be reached in a 10-20 minute bus ride from Tenjin Station (230 yen one way),
in a 20-30 minute bus ride from Hakata Station (230 yen one way) or in a 15-20 minute walk from Nishijin or Tojinmachi Subway Stations. 
In addition, Seaside Momochi is a 20 minute, 1030 yen ferry ride from Uminonakamichi Seaside Park across Hakata Bay.
Ferries depart approximately every two hours (more frequent during busy seasons). 


 

Ohori Park (大濠公園, Ōhori-kōen) is a pleasant city park in central Fukuoka with a large pond at its center.
There is a walking path around the circumference of the pond that is just a little over two kilometers long and is popular for jogging, walking pets and leisurely strolls by the water. 

Ohori is Japanese for moat, and the pond at the center of the park once served as part of the moat system of the neighboring Fukuoka Castle.
The park was constructed between 1926 and 1929 and designed after the classical garden style of the West Lake in China.
There are three islands in the middle of the pond that are connected to the mainland and each other by elegant stone bridges. 

Directly adjacent to the pond at its southeastern corner is the Fukuoka Art Museum.
The museum was opened in 1979 and has a permanent collection that includes Buddhist statues dating back to the11th century and paintings and sculptures
by modern artists like Miro and Dali.
Besides the permanent collection, the museum also holds a variety of special temporary exhibitions. 

A few steps south of the museum visitors will come across the Ohori Park Japanese Garden which,in contrast to the rest of the park, charges a small entrance fee.
Here visitors can see typical features of Japanese gardens like dry landscapes and tea houses.
The Gokoku Shrine is located across the street about 150 meters to the southeast.
The path to the shrine leads under a massive torii gate and the main shrine building is a unique gold structure situated in front of a spacious yard. 

How to get there  
Ohori Park is a few steps from Ohori Koen Subway Station
(10 minutes, 260 yen from Hakata Station).  

Fukuoka Art Museum 
Hours: 9:30 to 17:30
(until 19:30 from July to August except for Sundays and national holidays)
Admission ends 30 minutes before closing time. 
Closed: Mondays (or following day if Monday is a national holiday),
December 28 to January 4 
Admission: 200 yen (a separate fee applies to special exhibitions) 

Ohori Park Japanese Garden 
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (until 18:00 from June to August)
Admission ends 15 minutes before closing time. 
Closed: Mondays (or following day if Monday is a national holiday),
December 29 to January 3 
Admission: 240 yen 


 

Shofukuji (聖福寺, Shōfukuji) has the distinction of being the first Zen temple constructed in Japan.
It was founded in 1195 by the priest Eisai, who introduced the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism from China into Japan.
Although the temple buildings cannot be entered, visitors can walk through Shofukuji's attractive temple grounds and observe the buildings from outside. 

Before Zen's introduction to Japan, Buddhism has already had a long history in Japan dating back to the 500s.
The new teachings of Zen, which Eisai amassed during his travels in China, promoted meditation and disciplineas the means to
enlightenment and became very popular with the samurai class,which was exerting political power through the shogunate government based in Kamakura. 

The temple grounds of Shofukuji have many of the features of a typical Zen temple, and its wooden buildings have been destroyed and rebuilt many times throughout the centuries.
There are a number of gates on the temple grounds, the most prominent of which is the Sanmon Gate.
The large gate stands in front of a small pond and bridge and was most recently rebuilt in 1911. 

Behind the Sanmon Gate a tree lined path leads to the Butsuden Hall, which holds a small wooden statue of the historical Buddha flanked by giant golden statues of other Buddhas on either side.
The building's ceiling is decorated by a painting of a cloud dragon.
Shofukuji has a number of other interesting buildings, such as a belfry and a hall dedicated to Eisai.
More Buddhist architecture can be seen at a few smaller temples in the surrounding neighborhood. 

How to get there  
Shofukuji Temple can be reached in a short walk from Gion Station, one station from Hakata Station by subway (100 yen one way).
Alternatively, from Hakata Station it is a 15-20 minute walk to the temple.  

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