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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.

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.

Kazurabashi Bridge 
Suspension bridges made of mountain vines (kazurabashi) were one of the only ways to easily move people and goods across the river of the of the Iya Valley in the past.
Their origins are unclear but legends say that they were either first raised by Kobo Daishi, who was founder of the Shingon Sect of Japanese Buddhism,
or built by Heike refugees hiding in the area after their defeat in the Gempei War or Genpei kassen (1180-1185) as a means of quickly cutting off access to the valley.

There are only three surviving bridge as though 13 bridges once spanned the valley.
Iya Kazurabashi (祖谷かずら橋), the largest and most popular of the remaining bridges, stretches 45 meters across the Iya River at the center of the valley,
and offers visitors an restless view of the water 14 meters below the open slats of the span.
The bridge is rebuilt every three years and is anchored to tall cedar trees at both ends and has steel cables hidden within the vines for safety.
The bridge a one way street

Hours: Sunrise to sunset (illuminated in the evenings from 19:00 to 21:00)
Closed: No closing days
Admission: 500 yen
The level of English: Good

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.

The Oboke Gorge (Ōboke) has unusual geological strata, including a rudaceous schist formation designated as a natural monument.
Oboke Gorge and neighboring Koboke Gorge a little ways downstream, are narrow, steep sided gorges near the entrance to the Iya Valley.
Their names mean "big dangerous steps" and "small dangerous steps" as their jagged, rocky walls can be dangerous to navigate.
Yoshino River has cut through the Shikoku Mountains over the ages, eroding crystalline schist into winding gorges with myriad shapes and forms,
which almost look like marble statues. 

The gorges are one of the leading outdoor destinations in Japan and are known for their beautiful natural scenery and for the variety of outdoor attractions.

Oboke Sightseeing Boat Cruise

Guides show interesting rocks, many of which resemble different animals, along the way on this gentle 30 minute boat ride down the Yoshino River.
Boats depart and return to a dock a short ways away from Lapis Oboke and Oboke Station.
Passenger requires taking off their shoes and sitting on the floor of the boat during the cruise.

Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 
Closed: No closing days 
Admission: 1080 yen

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

The Oboke Gorge (Ōboke) has unusual geological strata, including a rudaceous schist formation designated as a natural monument.
Oboke Gorge and neighboring Koboke Gorge a little ways downstream, are narrow, steep sided gorges near the entrance to the Iya Valley.
Their names mean "big dangerous steps" and "small dangerous steps" as their jagged, rocky walls can be dangerous to navigate.
Yoshino River has cut through the Shikoku Mountains over the ages, eroding crystalline schist into winding gorges with myriad shapes and forms,
which almost look like marble statues. 

The gorges are one of the leading outdoor destinations in Japan and are known for their beautiful natural scenery and for the variety of outdoor attractions.

Lapis Oboke
Lapis Oboke is a rest area (called Michi no Eki meaning, station on the road) close to Oboke Station with a tourist information center, restaurant and shop.
Inside is the funny little Yokai Museum featuring models and dioramas of the ghosts and monsters (yokai), such as Demon King.
The Museum was recognized by cartoonist, Mizuki Shigeru.  
A small gem museum resides on the floor above the Yokai Museum. 

Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 
Closed: Mondays from December to February 
Admission: 500 yen (both museums) 
The level of English: Moderate
 

The Oboke Gorge (Ōboke) has unusual geological strata, including a rudaceous schist formation designated as a natural monument.
Oboke Gorge and neighboring Koboke Gorge a little ways downstream, are narrow, steep sided gorges near the entrance to the Iya Valley.
Their names mean "big dangerous steps" and "small dangerous steps" as their jagged, rocky walls can be dangerous to navigate.
Yoshino River has cut through the Shikoku Mountains over the ages, eroding crystalline schist into winding gorges with myriad shapes and forms, which almost look like marble statues. 

The gorges are one of the leading outdoor destinations in Japan and are known for their beautiful natural scenery and for the variety of outdoor attractions.

River Rafting
The upstream of the Yoshino river, called Oboke and Koboke is famous for its torrent.
And the river  is one of Japan's most well known destinations for whitewater rafting.
There are several outdoor adventure companies which offer guided tours.
Full day and half day rafting tours are available, as well as a variety of other adventures sports such as hydrospeed and canyoning.

Hours: 8:00 to 20:00 
Season: April to November 
Admission: Half day tours start from 5200 yen
Some company has an English web site.

Japan southernmost group of islands, Okinawa, has many sights of interests for its visitors.
Iriomote Island(西表島) is Okinawa’s second largest island. Being undeveloped,
natural lovers will be happy to learn 90% of the island is a jungle with its own mangrove forest.

The best way to explore the island is by its rivers.
The two longest rivers of the island are the Urachigawa (Uchigawa River) and the Nakamagawa (Nakama River).
Boat cruises are available among these two rivers.
Other options include a guided Kayak tours along these two rivers as well as some of the smaller rivers.

Nakama River Cruise departs from Ohara, located in the southern part of the island.
The boat will travel inland to a large mangrove tree.
Here, the tour members have the option to disembark from the boat to walk around the island for a few minutes before the journey back.
 The cruise will take about 1 hour with a Japanese speaking guide providing Japanese explanations about the river and the mangrove trees.