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Kyoto is the Japan everyone queues for. Iya is the Japan of thatched farmhouses, terraced hamlets clinging to slopes and rivers the colour of jade, and most foreign visitors never get here. The limited express from Okayama or Takamatsu drops you at Oboke station; from there a local bus climbs into the valley to the Kazurabashi vine bridge. Stay two or three nights in a minshuku and add the double vine bridges of Oku-Iya, deep in the upper valley, if the season allows.
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When to go
April-May and October-November are best: fresh green or autumn colour, cool walking weather. June and early July are the rainy season. Late summer brings typhoons, which can close the bridges for heavy rain. The Oku-Iya double vine bridges close from December to March, and winter buses are thin.
Iya Valley right now and the next 7 days
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Iya Valley on the map
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The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Iya Valley · Open in Google Maps ↗
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Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
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Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Page updated 18 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Iya Valley in 3 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Cross the Iya Kazurabashi vine bridge1 h · ₹300 each · 550 yen. Open all year (8:00-17:00 Sep-Mar, longer in summer). May close in a heavy-rain warning.
- 12:30Lunch break
- 13:30Oboke Gorge boat30 m · ₹820 each · A 30-minute loop on the Yoshino river through the gorge, 9:00-17:00. Reported fare about 1,500 yen; check it. Stops in high water or strong wind.
- 14:30Peeing Boy statue and the gorge road1 h · free · The famous viewpoint over the Iya gorge. The bus stops 350 m away at Iya Onsen.
- 08:00Oku-Iya double vine bridgesHalf day · ₹300 each · 550 yen. Two vine bridges and a hand-pulled cable basket over the river, deep in the upper valley. Open April to November only.
- 13:00Lunch break
- 08:00Ochiai village and the scarecrow village (Nagoro)Half day · free · A hamlet of old farmhouses stacked up a slope, and a village where life-size dolls outnumber the people. Taxi or car only.
- 13:00Lunch break
How to get to Iya Valley
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
Bus + limited express
₹2,420About 4,440 yen (airport bus 2,000 + train 2,440) as of April 2026. The airport bus runs with flight arrivals; pay cash.
Limited express train
₹2,320About 4,270 yen, direct, roughly hourly. The way in from the Shinkansen.
Bus + limited express Cheapest
₹1,920About 3,530 yen (bus 900 + train 2,630) as of April 2026.
Local bus Last leg
₹365About 670 yen, every 1-2 hours. Get off at Kazurabashi Yumebutai and walk 5 minutes to the bridge.
Getting around once you're there
Shikoku Kotsu bus
₹365Oboke to Kazurabashi about 670 yen; Awa-Ikeda to Kazurabashi about 1,290 yen. Runs every 1-3 hours. Carry the timetable.
Taxi tour, 3 hours
₹8,000About 14,700 yen per taxi for up to 4: Oboke station, vine bridge, Peeing Boy statue, Oboke boat. Book with a local taxi firm.
Taxi tour, 6 hours
₹16,000About 29,400 yen per taxi for up to 4, out to the Oku-Iya double vine bridges, the scarecrow village and Ochiai. The only car-free way to the upper valley.
Sightseeing bus (Iya line)
Check priceA day loop from Oboke station to Iya Onsen, Kazurabashi and Oboke Gorge, timed so you can get off at each. Check the fare in the city's bus timetable.
Where to stay in Iya Valley
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Farm minshuku
₹6,450/nightAbout US$75 a room for two on recent listings. Walkable from Oboke station.
Guesthouse
₹6,800/nightAbout US$79-93 a night near the vine bridge. Shared bath in some.
Onsen hotel
₹7,500/nightThe cheaper hot-spring hotels by the gorge run about US$87-102 a night.
Splurge ryokan
₹27,000/nightAbout US$316 and up. The cliffside hot spring reached by a little cable car.
What to eat, and what it costs
Iya soba
Check priceThick, rustic buckwheat noodles from the valley. Served at Kazurabashi Yumebutai and soba shops in Higashi-Iya.
Dekomawashi (grilled potato, tofu and konnyaku skewer)
Check priceMiso-glazed street snack at the bridge and roadside stalls.
Minshuku dinner and breakfast
Check priceMany inns offer meals. Book them: there are very few restaurants open in the evening.
Things to do in Iya Valley
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Cross the Iya Kazurabashi vine bridge
₹300550 yen. Open all year (8:00-17:00 Sep-Mar, longer in summer). May close in a heavy-rain warning.
Oku-Iya double vine bridges
₹300550 yen. Two vine bridges and a hand-pulled cable basket over the river, deep in the upper valley. Open April to November only.
Oboke Gorge boat
₹820A 30-minute loop on the Yoshino river through the gorge, 9:00-17:00. Reported fare about 1,500 yen; check it. Stops in high water or strong wind.
Peeing Boy statue and the gorge road
FreeThe famous viewpoint over the Iya gorge. The bus stops 350 m away at Iya Onsen.
Ochiai village and the scarecrow village (Nagoro)
FreeA hamlet of old farmhouses stacked up a slope, and a village where life-size dolls outnumber the people. Taxi or car only.
Day trips and next stops
Kotohira (Konpira-san shrine)
Check fareJR limited express towards Takamatsu
Kochi
Check fareJR limited express
Mount Tsurugi
Check fareCar or seasonal bus
Takamatsu and the art islands
Check fareJR limited express
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- Buses run only every 1-3 hours and stop early. Miss the last one and you are paying for a taxi.
- The Oku-Iya double vine bridges close from December to March, and the upper valley road is slow and narrow.
- Typhoon season (late summer) can close bridges and roads at short notice. The UK FCDO has no advice against travel here but warns about flooding and heavy rain in Japan.
Ways to spend less
- Spend the night. Day-trippers leave by 4 pm; the valley in the evening mist is the reason to come.
- Split a taxi tour four ways: the 6-hour Oku-Iya loop works out cheaper than a rental car for a group without a licence.
- Come in late October or November: autumn colour on the gorge and fewer people than any Kyoto temple.
Before-you-go checklist
Iya Valley in pictures
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Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Iya Valley?
Apr–May, Oct–Nov is the best time. April-May and October-November are best: fresh green or autumn colour, cool walking weather. June and early July are the rainy season. Late summer brings typhoons, which can close the bridges for heavy rain. The Oku-Iya double vine bridges close from December to March, and winter buses are thin.
How do I reach Iya Valley?
Bus + limited express: Takamatsu Airport (TAK) → Kotohira, then JR limited express to Oboke, 1 h 35 m, about ₹2,420 one way. Limited express train: Okayama → Oboke (Nanpu), 1 h 40 m, about ₹2,320 one way. Bus + limited express: Kochi Airport (KCZ) → Kochi, then JR to Oboke, 1 h 25 m, about ₹1,920 one way.
How much does a 3-day trip to Iya Valley cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹16,500 on a shoestring, ₹22,500 mid-range or ₹54,000 in comfort over 3 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is bus + limited express (Kochi Airport (KCZ) → Kochi, then JR to Oboke) at about ₹1,920 each way.
How many days do you need in Iya Valley?
3 days is right for most people. That covers Cross the Iya Kazurabashi vine bridge, Oboke Gorge boat, Peeing Boy statue and the gorge road, Oku-Iya double vine bridges without rushing.
Is Iya Valley good for families or solo travellers?
Iya Valley works best for solo, couples, groups, families. Solo travellers find it easy and cheap.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Iya Valley?
Possible but not easy. Iya soba and dekomawashi look vegetarian, but soba broth is normally made with fish stock (dashi). Tell the minshuku when you book, and carry a written note in Japanese if you avoid fish.
Will my phone and cards work in Iya Valley?
Get an eSIM or SIM before you arrive. Signal is fine on the main road, weaker in the side valleys. Hotels take cards. The vine bridge ticket office takes PayPay. Carry yen. Buses, small inns and soba shops in the valley want cash; the airport bus is cash too.
Guides for Iya Valley
Longer reads from our blog that cover this trip.
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Sources and last check
Checked 11 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- miyoshi-tourism.jp OfficialKazurabashi 550 yen adult, seasonal hours, open year-round, heavy-rain closures, PayPay, bus from Oboke to Kazurabashi Yumebutai
- miyoshi-tourism.jp OfficialOku-Iya double vine bridge open 1 Apr-30 Nov 2026; tourist information centre
- miyoshi-tourism.jp OfficialTaxi tours 14,700 yen (3 h) and 29,400 yen (6 h) for up to 4; sightseeing bus loop; Peeing Boy statue 350 m from Iya Onsen stop
- gov.uk OfficialFCDO Japan advice updated 28 Aug 2026; latest change adds flooding and heavy-rain information
- japan-guide.comBus fares Awa-Ikeda 1,290 yen/60 min, Oboke 670 yen/25-30 min, frequencies (updated Dec 2024)
- selected-ryokan.comFares to Oboke as of April 2026: Takamatsu Airport 4,440, Kochi Airport 3,530, Okayama 4,270 yen; times
- rurubu.jpOboke boat about 1,500 yen adult, 30 min, 9:00-17:00 (undated)
- rurubu.jpOku-Iya double vine bridge 550 yen adult; winter closure Dec-Mar
- expedia.comBooking-site room rates for Oboke/Iya guesthouses, onsen hotels and Hotel Iya Onsen (USD snapshots)
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Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 18 October 2026 · Photo: KimonBerlin · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source · Photo: ume-y · CC BY 2.0 · source · Photo: Motokoka · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Suicasmo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Shizuha · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
