ENJOY COURSE
Two days and one night trip by car
"Oku-Iya", another secluded region where the defeated and fleeing Heike warriors remain.
This is a course that allows one to fully immerse in nature. The tour begins in "Ochiai Village", which was designated as a national preservation area of important traditional buildings. It will take you around to the "Higashi-Iya Museum of Local History and Folklore," which exhibits the Heike clan's lives, and other places where you can learn about the old nostalgic scenes and history of ancient mountain villages. You will also be able to go around to visit marvels of nature such as "Oboke and Koboke," and "Iya Valley."
*The time may vary based on the duration spent at each sightseeing spot and lodging destination.
*Some sightseeing spots may be closed between December to March in the winter.
For more details, please check with each sightseeing location.
Ikawa /
Ikeda IC
Around
80 minutes
JR Oboke
station
Around
40 minutes
Around 45 minutes
Around 5 minutes
Around 30-90 minutes
Overnight stay at an inn near Oboke-Iya and Oku-Iya
Around 5-40 minutes
Around 20 minutes
Around 15-20 minutes
Around 30 minutes
Around 1 minutes
Around
35 minutes
Ikawa /
Ikeda IC
Around
2 minutes
JR Oboke
station
01
【Estimated duration: 15 minutes】
The sight of houses that were constructed from the middle of 1700s to the early 20th century, stone walls that are stacked up one by one, and fields bring out old nostalgic scenes of ancient mountain villages.
From the Ochiai Village Observatory, you will be able to enjoy a panoramic view of the village.
Around 45 minutes
02
【Estimated duration: 50 minutes】
Double Vine Bridges is surrounded by gorgeous scenery with an atmosphere of seclusion. The double vine bridges are sometimes called “Male and Female Bridges" or "the Wedded Bridge." You can stroll around the grounds freely, and go down to the riverside. There is also a man-powered ropeway called "Yaen" near the bridge, which allows one to cross the stream by which pulling a rope.
Around 5 minutes
03
【Estimated duration: 40 minutes】
In Oku-Iya, there is a village that lives peacefully with scarecrows. There are scarecrows everywhere in the village, and the sight of scarecrows doing farm work and chatting calms the heart. All of the scarecrows are inscribed in the "Basic Scarecrow Ledger," and currently more than 300 scarecrows are livening up the village.
Around 30-90 minutes
04
【Estimated duration: 30 minutes】
As the "home of the defeated and fleeing Heike," the Iya region is still alive today with legends. The relationship between "The Tale of the Heike Clan" and "The Legend of the Heike Clan in Iya" is introduced, and places that are related to the legend are featured on photo panels. Observe the appearance of Higashi-Iya through the four seasons for your self, the changes in daily tools from the shifting times, and artifacts that enrich daily life, all of which are remnants of generations that have been preserved carefully by the villagers.
Around 20 minutes
05
【Estimated duration: 40 minutes】
Iya-no-Kazura Bridge which holds the lamentable story of the Heike clan. It is said that it is made of vines so that it could be cut down if enemies approached.
This bridge is made of Actinidia Augusta (weighing about 6 tones). It is 45 meters long, 2 meters wide, and suspended 14 meters above-stream.
Biwa-no-Taki is located one minute away by foot from the Iya-no-Kazura Bridge. It is said that it is named after the story of defeated and fleeing Heike warriors that sounded their Biwa, a Japanese lute, by this waterfall while feeling nostalgic for the city of Kyoto and comforting each other.
Around 15-20 minutes
06
【Estimated duration: 20 minutes】
Iya Valley is made up of precipitous cliffs and steep mountains surrounding the Iya River. In spring, you can enjoy the beautiful fresh greenery and foliage that reaches from the valley floor to the peaks of the mountains in autumn. There is "Hinoji Valley," which was named for the shape of the winding Iya River, which resembles the Japanese hiragana character "hi," as well as the "statue of the Peeing Boy" on the edge of a 200-meter precipice, which was created based off a folktale that describes how the local children and travelers went there to show their bravado back in the old days.
Around 30 minutes
07
【Estimated duration: 30 minutes】
The geological layers that were formed in the depths of the sea bed about 100 to 200 million years ago coincidentally appeared on the earth's surface due to uplift and erosion by the Yoshino River. The shelves of rock which can be seen up close almost seem like sculptures. From atop the boat, you will be able to peacefully appreciate the beauty of the valley in each of the four seasons, such as fresh green in spring, and colored leaves covering the ground in autumn.
Around 1 minutes
08
【Estimated duration: 35 minutes】
Since this area is the home town of “Konaki-Jijii,” within the facility, there is a ""Yokai House (Japanese hobgoblins)"" that features local hobgoblin folklore. Out of the hobgoblins mentioned in local folklore, there are about 70 models of them that are displayed.
In addition, you can also enjoy touring the rocks and gemstones museum and shopping at the gift corner in the complex.
Around
35 minutes
Around
2 minutes
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