Iya Valley

A very narrow road - but this one is nice, at least it has a
barrier on the cliff side.  Many don't.
 Last weekend we decided to go for a drive to the Iya Valley.  It is a secluded little valley in the middle of Shikoku, the island that we live on.  It was about a 2-3 hour drive to get to our ultimate destination - mainly because the roads were all 1 car wide and very curvy.  We spent a good portion of the drive going 30 km/hr.  But, it was beautiful.  With approximately 72% of Japan being mountainous, homes and farms are built precariously on hillsides.  Our little adventure allowed us to see some amazing sites.


Above and left are photos from a hillside restaurant we stopped at.  Jason's lunch was a very traditional Japanese Soba dish.  It was very pretty.  I love all the colors that show up on your plate here!

 Next stop was a famous vine bridge called "kazurbashi".  There are 3 remaining vine bridges in Japan.  They are said to have been build in the 12th century by warriors fleeing Kyoto after losing a civil war. As history tells it, the warriors settled in the Iya Valley, hiding in its' seclusion.  These vine bridges were built as a way to get around and across the rivers, but could also be easily destroyed if enemies were to approach.  Today the bridges are reinforced with steel cables and offer little to no danger, although, that doesn't mean we weren't nervous crossing it.




We made it across and were able to explore the river bed below.  There is no way to depict how huge the rocks were.  Both kids loved climbing over them and it was very difficult fro them to stay dry, but they did it!
On one side of the bridge was a pretty amazing waterfall.


This last photo was taken on our way out of the Iya Valley.  This is what rural Japan looks like.  I think that so often when I tell people I live in Japan they think of Tokyo, giant cement buildings, crazy traffic, and maybe a few ninjas...But no.  This is where I live.  This photo is a typical hillside in Shikoku, Japan, with homes and farms built and tucked safely into the mountains.  Gorgeous!

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