012-040-4344

The Statue of a Peeing Boy is located in an area with a of dizzying succession of sheer cliffs lining the steep gorge carved out of the mountains by the Iya River. This majestic and beautiful valley stretches out for 20 km/12 mi and cliffs at the height of several dozen to hundreds of meters will be covered by fresh vegetation in spring and beautiful foliage in autumn. When looking down at the winding emerald green river from the cliff top, you may feel dizzy as it looks far below, but offers you the beautiful view of river curves along its rim. As a symbol of innocent courage, a statue of a peeing boy stands at the edge of a 200 m/656 ft precipice, which is noted as the most dangerous spot in the Iya River Valley. In the old days, local children and travelers stood up here and urinated to show their bravado.

Open daily 24/7

The Iya River Bend Observation Point is marked by a sign indicating the location and providing a little background information about the Iya River. "The Iya River runs out of Mt. Tsurugi, forming a deep valley among the Shikoku Mountains and creates a majestic and beautiful valley for 20 km/12.5 mi. Cliffs at the height of several dozen to hundreds of meters will be covered by fresh vegetation in spring and beautiful foliage in autumn. This spot offers the un-obstructed view of the Iya River winding through the valley in a "V" shape which looks like a Japanese letter "Hi", so it is sometimes called "Hi-no-Ji Valley affectionately."

Open daily 24/7

088-376-0877

The Oku-Iya Niju Kazura Bashi (meaning "Inner Iya Double Vine Bridge") has two vine bridges. The Heike clan built this double vine bridges to access their riding ground in Mt.Tsurugi (for training) about 800 years ago. It is also the access bridge to the camping ground in Oku-Iya. Since double vine bridges are suspended in parallel, they are sometimes called “Male and Female Bridges”or “the Wedded Bridge” affectionately.

The larger of the two bridges, Husband Bridge (Otto no Hashi), stretches 44 m/144 ft across the river next to a small waterfall, while the slightly lower Wife Bridge (Tsuma no Hashi) is a 22 m/72 ft span just a little ways upstream. The bridges are constructed with steel cables hidden within the vines for safety and 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 far side of the river.

Another popular attraction is a "Wild Monkey Bridge" found next to the Wife Bridge. This type of "bridge" consists of a wooden cart suspended on a rope over the river. They were used to transport goods and people. Visitors can try out the Wild Monkey Bridge by pulling themselves across the river.

Courtesy of japan-guide.com

Open daily 90:00 – 17:00

012-040-4344

The Iya no Kazura Bashi (meaning "vine bridge" of Iya) over the canyon in this secluded mountain area is associated with the legend of the fleeing Heike clan, once the most powerful rulers in Japan (see Genpei War, 1180-1185). This bridge is made of Actinidia auguta (a kind of kiwi vine) and is 45 m/148 ft long, 2 m/6 ft wide. It weighs approx. 6 tons and is suspended 14 m/46 ft above the stream. The bridge is one of an original 13 vine bridges across the valley that once were the only access over the deep canyon into the mountainous area. Today only 3 vine bridges survive (the other two, Oku-Iya Kazura Bashi, are close together further east the valley). This is the largest/longest. The bridge vines are changed every three years for safety (there are also steel cables wrapped inside the vines). It is designated as a National and Prefectural Significant Folk Cultural Asset.

Notes:
A) The bridge is only "one-way, i.e., visitors must cross the bridge in the north to the south direction only.
B) A short walk past the bridge on the south side of the stream is the Biwa Waterfall. Legend holds that the Heike played their biwa, a Japanese lute, by this waterfall feeling nostalgic for their old city, Kyoto, and comforted each other. The elegant name for this waterfall with the height of 50 m/164 ft originated from this legend.
C) Every night from 19:00 till 21:30, the bridge is lighted up, creating a magical atmosphere throughout the evening.
D) Just west of the bridge on the south side of the river and up on Highway #32 is the large Kazurabashi Yumebutai (MapCode: 357 130 430*58). It is a combination restaurant, and shopping mall for local souvenirs and food specialties, but it also has a Visitor Information Center at the west end, and a modest museum display at the east end.

Open daily 07:00 – 18:30

907-148-7401

Note: This house is off the main road on a narrow local farm road so if you don't have time or interest you may/should skip it.

The 300-year old Kimura House dates from the Gengoku Period (1699-1720). The house is typical of old Iya construction: with wooden floors, irori 囲炉裏 (floor hearths), and massive beams and rafters － all smoked black from centuries of fires burning in the floor hearths. It is an Important Cultural Property.

It is still a private house run by an old couple so you must pay to enter or purchase something to drink. They serve three types of coffee, matcha and wild grass tea, each come with their own homemade mugwort dumplings. Please be patient and courteous!

Please hit the drum and call to get their attention. There are no fixed hours of service.

088-388-5757

The Ryugu Cliff Park - Tourist Information Center is a small, sometimes unmanned, tourist information center with diagrams of the area and other useful information.

088-388-2040

The Old Kita Clan Samurai Residence is the largest home in the Iya area, built in 1763 by the samurai headman of Oeda, a descendant of the feudal lord Kita Rokurosaburo. The area of Oheda in Higashi-Iya is the place renowned for the legend of the fleeting Heike Clan after losing the battle at Yashima. The residence of the Kita Clan is that of the historical family who held high offices in Iya. The house, including “Irazu-no-ma”(room of no entry) for committing ritual suicide, tells the story of the ancient way of life of samurais in the mountain. An 800-year-old cedar “Hokosugi” still grows in the garden and is worth seeing it.

Open daily: 09:00 – 17:00. Closed Tuesdays.

088-388-2286

The Higashi Iya Museum of History and Folklore exhibits many items documenting the old way of life of the fallen Heike Clan and also of the local village people.

Open daily 10:00 – 16:00. Closed Wednesdays.

The Ochiai Village Observatory is an excellent viewpoint to observe the various historic traditional buildings in the Ochiai Village National Important Traditional Buildings Preservation Area.

907-781-5828

The Oku-Iya Valley Sightseeing Monorail is an enjoyable, slow monorail ride in the forest and that gives the feeling of trekking the mountain. Fun for adults and children. One can appreciate the benefit of nature as people in Japan commonly engage in so-called forest bathing to breathe in phytoncides emitted to improve their health. The overall length of the monorail ride 4,600 m/2.85 mi, the difference in level 590 m/1,936 ft, the sharpest slope at 40 degrees, the highest point at 1,389 m/4,557 ft. These figures rank the Oku-Iya Monorail first in the world among tourist-oriented monorail services. The monorail is electrically powered and environmentally friendly.

Next door is a ryokan with an onsen and restaurant.

Open daily 08:30 – 15:00. Closed Wednesdays.

088-372-7620

Nagoro Village, a village of less than 30 people, is famous for its over 300 life-size "scarecrows". The scarecrows have been created since 2003 by Ms. Tsukimi Ayano who returned to Nagorao, her native village, from Osaka.

See more information in this Japan Times Article.

Open 24/7.