Iya Valley

The Iya Valley (Japanese祖 谷 渓, Iya - kei,祖 谷 谷, Iya - dani or祖 谷 渓 谷, Iya keikoku ) is a 10 km long V-shaped valley in the western Japanese prefecture of Tokushima.

Geography

The valley follows the Iya River (祖谷川, Iya - kawa ) which belongs to the Yoshino River system. The river rises on the western slope of Mount Tsurugi (剣 山, Tsurugi- san ), which is the second highest peak on the island of Shikoku with 1954.7 m.

The Iya Valley was formerly in two villages, Higashiiyayama (东 祖 谷 山村, -son, " East Iya " ) and Nishiiyayama (西祖 谷 山村, -son, " West Iya " ), divided to these villages on 1 March were merged together with other villages in the area to the small town Miyoshi 2006. This form districts today.

Tourism

Although the access to the region has improved, the Iya Valley and the inner parts of Shikoku remain remote and hard to enter, which resulted in the past, that the valley is a preferred haven for refugees and defeated warrior was. So it is said that the members of the Taira clan sought refuge in the late 12th century after their defeat against the Minamoto clan in the Genpei War in the Iya Valley. In the present, the Iya Valley an increasing popularity as a tourist destination. While the western part of the valley on a good road links and several tourist hotels has, is the eastern part of the valley, Oku- Iya (奥祖 谷, "Inner - Iya " ), still quite remote, but this also for the preservation and protection of the local natural contributes. Several liana bridges to cross once the only way to rivers, still spanning the valley and are now a popular tourist attraction.

So spanning the Kazura Bridge (かずら橋, Kazura -bashi, 33 ° 52 ' 31 " N, 133 ° 50 ' 7 " O33.875277777778133.83527777778 ) the valley with a length of 45 m, at an altitude of 14 m and with a width of 2 m. This was recognized as Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Kazura Bridge in Iya Valley

Waterfall in the Iya Valley