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：徳島県三好市東祖谷菅生620

Phone：0883-76-0877

About 800 years ago, these vine bridges were built by the Heike clan as a means to access their riding grounds at Mt. Tsurugi, where they trained. The bridges also connect to the Oku Iya campgrounds. These two bridges have been named "male" and "female" respectively, hence are sometimes referred to as the "wedded bridges."The nature here is deep and immersive, and offers a different experience from the main Vine Bridge, so both spots are well worth the visit.※Oku Iya Double Vine Bridges is currently closed for the winter. Its next reopening will be on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 from 9:00 AM.

Address：徳島県三好市東祖谷落合

This community is located in the heart of the Higashi-Iya Valley; a beautiful hamlet built into the mountainside. The homes here were constructed during the middle of the Edo period (circa.1700), up until the Showa period (circa 1930). It is unknown when the first settlers arrived here, but there are many legends and folklore of the Heike clan and frontier settlers making their homes in Ochiai. Villagers live at an elevation of 390 meters on a steep hillside, and the village itself was formed by stacking stones to make walls. There is an impressive and ancient air to this mountain hamlet and a natural beauty you simply can't encounter anywhere else.Designated in 2005 as a national preserved heritage site.

Address：徳島県三好市東祖谷菅生191

Over 350 scarecrows are about in this deep mountain village. One woman handmade all of them and creatively placed them around the area: in the fields working, waiting at bus stops, dancing local dances, etc. You can walk around the village and enter the old school to see a glimpse of the past.

Address：徳島県三好市池田町州津蔵谷1006

Phone：0883-72-0812

This mountain temple was built by Kobo Daishi in the 5th year of Tencho Era (828), and it is of the “Shingon-Shu” denomination of Buddhism. It is believed that Kobo Daishi received a revelation from Konpira Daigongen while training at this site, and then built the seven halls of the temple compound. Hashikura Temple has over a thousand years of history, and can be reached by boarding a ropeway at the bottom of the mountain.This site is popular for the beautiful maple fall colours in autumn and the cherry blossom trees in spring.

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：徳島県三好市東祖谷京上14-3

Phone：0883-88-2286

There exhibited many items from which you can imagine the old way of life of the fallen Heike Clan and also of village people with sentiment. There are also many relics exhibited at the Municipal cultural tradition and preservation institution to tell us the legend of Heike clan in Iya. On its second floor, they have a hall capable to hold 500 people and lavatory facility for the disabled.

Address：徳島県三好市東祖谷大枝43

Phone：0883-88-2040

This 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 renown for the legend of the fleeting Heike Clan after losing the battle at Yashima. The residence of 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.

Address：徳島県三好市東祖谷釣井209

Phone：0883-88-5290

Chiiori is a 300 years old traditional-style house with thatched-roof in Oku-Iya. This remote region, where is at a high altitude with very deep mountain ravine, is often referred as “Tibet of Japan” from their similarity in the landscape. The house was purchased by Mr.Alex Kerr renown as a researcher of East Asian Art and Culture and was named “Chiiori” (House of the Flute ). The name of “Chiiori” was literally made up of “Chi”, an archaic un-used character they found in the dictionary for “Bamboo Flute” and “Iori”, meaning “Thatched Cottage”and its name came up as Alex plays flute. The house is run by The Chiiori Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable tourism, environmental awareness and promotion of the traditional Japanese way of life.

Address：徳島県三好市池田町白地ノロウチ763

Phone：0883-74-0066

Unpenji is the 66th temple of the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage, believed to be founded by Kobo Daishi. In 8th year of the Enreki Era (789) when he was 16 years old, he climbed up this mountain and built the hall. Later, by the order of Emperor Saga, another Zen priest stayed here and carved the statue Kannon-Bosatsu (one who achieved enlightenment) with a thousand hands. It was then enshrined at this temple.There are about 500 Arhat statues here (statues of Buddha’s disciples), and there’s a tale that everyone can find a look-alike statue. This area is also popular for its fall colours in autumn. This mountain lies between Tokushima, Kagawa and Ehime prefectures and is the highest of the 88 temples, at 1,000 meters above sea level.

Address：徳島県三好市池田町マチ2465-1

Phone：0883-72-3450

Ikeda town, geographically being located at the middle of Shikoku, has always been important crossroad for any transportation to North, South, West and East. The Awa-Ikeda tobacco production industry flourished in the mid-to-late 19th century. The town prospered as the collection point for various goods like tobacco due to its central position. The row of old houses still remained along this old street, giving somehow deserted and solitary feel about them. It is a atmospheric old town, in which you may want to be lost in thoughts. The old residence of tobacco manufacturer who prospered from the end of Edo period to Meiji is now converted into tobacco museum and even after over 100 years passed, it still reminds us of its prosperity of the past. In the courtyard, you will enjoy beautiful flowers of each four seasons.

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：徳島県三好市東祖谷阿佐244

A Heike Clan mansion where Tairano Kunimori, a Heike warrior, who had fled from the battle field settled. Its architecture is so unusual that it was designated as a tangible cultural property of Tokushima prefecture. (March 21, 2000) Its exterior and interior is open to public.

Address：徳島県三好市東祖谷釣井１０７

This is the oldest house known of its building date in Iya region and is a very significant one as it retains the appearance of mountain village house of that time. The main building of family house was once that of the village head of Imai community built in the 11th year of Genroku (1699), which was transferred here during Tenpo period 1830 - 1844. The house has the style of “Naka-Nema-Mimadori” and is regarded as rather large private house in this region. The roof of house was rethatched in 2007. (Designated as a National significant cultural heritage)

Address：徳島県三好市東祖谷菅生２８

This private little house, built by the local methods which was popular and then further prospered in the Iya region, shows its characteristic of a little house. Such a house rarely remains today. It was built during Tenpo period (1830－1844) and consists of just one room, garden and front space. The outside plastered wall is covered and protected by split bamboos (called Hishagidake) and the way they placed lavatory room in the middle of front are very characteristic features. This house was originally standing in village of former Higashi-Iyayamamura Kurishido, but was transfered to Sugeoi village in Higashi-Iyayamason in August 1983 and restored to the former state. The photograph here is from that time. (Designated as a National significant cultural heritage) ※The tour is only for the exterior. I can't go inside.

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：徳島県三好市井川町井内東2375

Phone：0883-78-2759

Description from Jifuku-Jizo (A stone statue of Jizo) Kunimori Taira, the second son of Norimori Taira took the road to Iya to escape and lay the young Emperor Antoku after losing the battle at Yashima between the Genji Clan and the Heike Clan in the 3rd year of Juei Era (1180). The fleeting party stayed the night at the Jifuku-Ji (Temple) in Ikawaya and the party of 36 departed next day. They left a pair of red and white flags there, which were discovered in Showa Period (1926-1988). The Asa family in Iya also has a red flag in exact same size. The white flag of Genji Clan displayed next to that of Heike could go back to the Nanbokucho Era (North and South Imperial Court Era) and if that is the case, this red flag may also belong to the same era. Nonetheless, they were both relics of the battle at the Yashima and those flags being displayed next to each other now symbolize the unity of peace.

Address：徳島県三好市池田町西山岡田382-3

Nagaya-mon here meaning “gate-house” stands on the Horagusa-Daichi (plateau) looking down the suburbs of Miyoshi City and also Yoshino river. It was built about 230 years ago. The gate-house 22 meters wide (from east to west) by 4.5 meters long has the thatched roof, white-washed wall. It has stockroom, watch room, guard room, bedroom and barn. The expansive gate-house signified the great power which those village officials held in the era of feudal clan ruling.

Address：徳島県三好市三野町加茂野宮1796

This temple was founded about 1,200 years ago (Daidou Era 806-810) and the “Sei-Kannon-Ritsuzo” (the carved wooden statue of sacred *kannon-the Goddess of Mercy) is enshrined here and is designated as a National Cultural Heritage. The statue is carved out of one piece of wood, which goes back to Fujiwara Era . She has stout body, short neck, big hair style called “Takara-Gami” and square-built figure, which resembles classic style in appearance. Once a year on 29th January at the temple festival, they allow the public viewing of the Kannon image, whose face is very serene. It is also known that here stands the tomb of Nagayoshi Miyoshi, the descendant of Nagakiyo Ogasawara who strengthened their power base to rule Awa region.

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：徳島県三好市三野町芝生８２２

Yoshinaga, who became the origin of Miyoshi family later, constructed the castle. It is located in the area of a river terrace which is one step higher, the north of Prefecture Road 12. The name of the town subsection is "Breech Mansion". No remnants remain. Explanation boards have been placed where the castle once stood.

Address：徳島県三好市池田町サラダ１６６１

Ohnishi castle was demolished by the one castle one county policy of Tokugawa Era. So, the local samurais of Ikeda took over the resposibilities to keep law & order and to guard the county border after the demolition. This particular bukemon was constructed for the residence of Mamiya family, who was a local samurai warrior of Ikeda.

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.

Address：徳島県三好市三野町太刀野１９０９−１

Chuo Kozo-Sen is the fault line in geological term, dividing South Western Japan into the continental and pacific ocean side. It is the active fault line, which is the cause of the earthquake. The fault line stretches over the length of 1,000km across from Yashiro City in Kyushu, Matsuyama, Ikeda, Mino and Naruto in Shikoku, Kii peninsula, Ise bay, Tenryu River, Lake Suwa to even further Kanto mountainous region. This fault line is openly viewed at the next to the Roadside Station Mino.

Address：徳島県三好市三野町芝生

Shindayu Yamamoto was born about 200 years ago in Shibou and he was active in the provincial government office as a deputy along with the mayor Shube Hirao. In the 3rd year of Bunka-Era, the whole of north area of Yoshino river was hit with serious drought. Many farmers went hungry and suffered badly due to the heavy tax imposed. So bad was the situation, they fled to the neighbouring county, Sanuki. After the consultation with the mayor, Mr.Yamamoto made a plea in a letter to the governor of Awa-han so that they could carry out the work to make irrigation canal. He signed the letter with his own blood and put his life on line to commit a hara-kiri, were it not successful. This difficult work was completed after two years, but then, they encountered the another problem as the canal was kept being buried by the landslide every year. One day, he was inspired by the story of a coal miner and got an idea of digging the tunnel for the irrigation canal. Yet again he managed to get an approval for the suggested work in exchange for his property and wealth to tunnel the mountain and at last it was completed in the late autumn of 10th year of Bunsei-Era after overcoming many difficulties and sacrifices. The length of canal is 268.5 meters. This made the poor villages (Kamonomiya, Seiriki and Shibou whose staple diet was potatoes) enriched and they then became the granary of the area.

Address：徳島県三好市池田町ウヱノ２９０３−１

“Haru-Fukaki, Ochibana-no, Chiri-o-Fuminagara, Suwasandou-o, Noborikishi-kana” This stone monument was erected in memory of the fact that Isamu Yoshii composed the tanka-poem when he visited Ikeda Cho and enjoyed the Suwa park in 1937.

Address：徳島県三好市池田町サラダ 阿波池田バスターミナル

“Kizami-Tobacco-cha, Ikeda-ga-Honba, Mukashi-nagarano, Awa-kizami, by Ujyou” This short poem was composed by Ujyou Noguchi in 1936 when he visited Ikeda town. It consists of 15 verses and was named as “Ikeda-Kouta”.The monument inscribed with the 10th line extracted from the poem was erected near the Ikeda bus terminal (previously the site of the tobacco factory).

Address：徳島県三好市池田町白地本名７６−２

“Tabi-ni-Nete, Nobinobi-to-Miru, Makura-Kana. 26th day, in Hakuchi” This haiku was composed by the authoress, Fumiko Hayashi who wrote the famous “Hourou-ki” (Wanderer) when she stayed at the inn in Hakuchi in 1941. She enjoyed her stay here and got on very well with then owner's uncle. It is well known that the heroes in two novels were modeled on him. This stone tablet, inscribed with a haiku composed by Fumiko Hayashi, was erected in honor of her.