TOURIST SPOT・EXPERIENCE
Address:徳島県三好市西祖谷山村善徳162-2
Phone:0883-76-0877
The Kazurabashi Vine Bridge stretches over a canyon in a secluded mountain village in Iya Valley. The bridge itself is tied to the legend of the Heike clan, once the most powerful ruling clan, who fled into these mountains from their enemies. This bridge was once the only way to cross over the deep canyons in this area, and was built with vines that are easy to cut in case of enemy pursuit. Nowadays, the bridge remains an important National and Prefectural significant folk cultural asset, and visitors come from all around Japan to test their courage and cross. The vines are safe and sturdy, and replaced once every three years.The Kazurabashi bridge is made of kiwi vines (Actinidia arguta) and is 45 meters long, 2 meters wide. It weighs approx. 6 tons and is suspended 14 meters above the river.* Light-up Every night from 19:00 till 21:30, the bridge is lit up, creating a fantastic atmosphere.* Biwa-no-Taki (Biwa Waterfall) This nearby waterfall was a place of refuge for the ancient people, who would come here to comfort each other by playing their Biwa Flutes, and remembering the home in Kyoto they were driven from. The water falls from 50 meters and is a majestic sight.
Address:徳島県三好市山城町上名1553-1
Phone:0883-84-1489
This roadside station in the beautiful Oboke Gorge was opened in August 2008, and authorized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The building serves as a tourist information center and center to buy souvenirs or enjoy lunch at a cafe with terrace seating. This area has many legends about hobgoblins, so you can also visit the Hobgoblin Museum to see many spooky and fascinating statues and learn more about the legends. For a bit of manga trivia, it is also believed this area is the home town of “Konaki-Jijii”, who appeared in the comic book “Ge-Ge-Ge-no-Kitaro”.On the second floor, there is a Rocks and Gemstones Museum, which exhibits rocks and minerals from the Iya area, and also from around the world. You may request a volunteer guide for the trails or experience accessory craft-making (reservations necessary for groups). For more information, please ask at the Tourist Information Center.
Address:徳島県三好市西祖谷山村東西岡46
Phone:0883-84-1408
The museum exhibits materials and relics of Heike Clan. This has been a residence of the descendant of Horikawa Naiki, who was a private doctor to the young Emperor Antoku. He has entered into this remote mountain with the remaining member of Heike Clan after they lost the battle and power, and he served as a doctor as well as an oracle in this Iya region, where medicinal herb were plentiful. In its garden stands the 800 years old tree and in the museum building, of which inside remained as then at Edo period, exhibited armor, flag, the ancient document, materials and etc. The lavatory facility for the disabled available.
Address:徳島県三好市山城町上名
Yamashiro district is steeped in many mysterious legends and is the home of Konaki-Jijii, whose story was first introduced in the book called “The hobgoblins” by Kunio Yanagida, the founder of Society of Japanese folklore in 1938. This statue was created in 25 November 2001 and stands in the Fujinosato Park. Its model is from first volume of comic series, which Shigeru Mizuki wrote based on the Yanagida's story.
Address:徳島県三好市西祖谷山村徳善113
The residence belongs to the descendant of the retainer of General Masashige Kusunoki, who lived in Northern and Southern Courts era. There conveyed, to this day, the character of a house of the awa mountain warriors, who survived the turbulent times thanks to the natural fortress and their carefully considered tactics. (Please note that the residence is not open to the public as it is a private house.)
Address:徳島県三好市西祖谷山村南山155
Furumiya shrine enshrines the Princess Karauta. The legend says that Princess karauta fell in love with the first imperial prince (Ichinomiya-Takayoshi-Shinnou ) of Emperor Godaigo, but died soon after giving birth to a baby in Iya. Later, she came to be worshiped as the Deity for easy and safe delivery and there are many visitors paying homage at a shrine.Every year on the 2nd Sunday in September, the Furumiya shrine festival is held from around noon.
Address:徳島県三好市山城町寺野113
Phone:0883-86-1322
Located in Ohtomine at an altitude of 400 meters, this shrine is for the protector god of Emperor Ninken. This god provides healing for insanity or demon-possession, and people also visit to pray for an abundant harvest or safe sea travel. Many people visit this shrine, even from outside the prefecture.
Address:徳島県三好市西祖谷山村善徳1204
Jindai Odori's root is said to be a rain-making ritual more than 1100 years ago, which makes it different from other Japanese traditional rituals like "Protection against evil" or "Repelling Insects" rituals. This is designated in 1954, as an important national intangible ethnic cultural property for its brilliance and valiance.
Address:徳島県三好市西祖谷山村重末249
Phone:0883-87-2322
The traditional drumming performance handed down from long ago at Hachiman Shrine of Shigesue which is said to be built in 1419 in Nishi-Iya Village. It is a prayer for the abundant to harvest of grains and to disperse devils, and is performed in the Autumn festival.
Address:徳島県三好市西祖谷山村徳善110
Fusuma Karakuri is a traditional performing art using a series of picture-painted sliding doors moving crisscross to show different images in turns. Tokuzen Fusuma Karakuri is very rare because it's performed on temporary built outdoor stages. The scale is a size larger than that of Usiroyama's, totally 57 fusumas of 9 sets. You can enjoy it with its local folk songs and dances during the autumn festval period. Miyoshi City designated it as a tangible folk cultural property. (On December 20 in 2012)
Address:徳島県三好市西祖谷山村後山289
Fusuma Karakuri is a traditional performing art using a series of picture-painted sliding doors moving crisscross to show different images in turns. Although this art had once disappeared during the post-war rebuilding and high economic growth of the 20th century, it was performed again with 69 on-fusuma pictures for the first time in 50 years on October, 2005. At present, you can enjoy it with its local folk songs and dances during the autumn festival period. Miyoshi City designated it as a tangible folk cultural property. (In February 2006)
Address:徳島県三好市西祖谷山村徳善110
Phone:0883-76-0877
Its origin is said to be a part of rainmaking rituals for drought-stricken farmers, while Sugawara-no Michizane was a guard of Sanuki. * It is performed during some October Saturday night programs of Fusuma Karakuri.
Address:徳島県三好市山城町寺野
This ruins of Tao Castle lies on the summit of Mt. Shiroyama at the altitude of 460 meters. It was the historic battlefield where the local warriors fought gloriously against the advancing army of Chosogabe in the 5th year of Tensho Period (1577).
Address:徳島県三好市山城町
Yamashiro Cho, renown for the magnificence of Oboke and Koboke ravines, and the beauty of Shiozuka plateau lies in the secluded part of Shikoku mountainous region. It was once a home of brave mountain samurai warriors who fought to protect their country border and is also a home of the Yokai (Hobgoblin) legend, which is quite unique in this country. The legend of Yokais has long lived on in everyday's life of local people here, its stories often being associated with the dangerous part of region. So, the hobgoblins or peculiar phenomenon were sometimes said to be a reminder to people to be diligent in general walk of life and also to respect nature and environment. These legends together with effort of local people trying to energize the community through a little unique and fun theme was recognized and acknowledged as “Yokai Heritage” by World Yokai Society in 25th May 2008. This is the second acknowledgement after Sakaiminato City in Tottori Pref. in its history.