Iya Valley Guide: Vine Bridges, Oboke and Car vs Bus

The Iya Valley (祖谷) is a steep mountain valley in Miyoshi City, western Tokushima, in the middle of Shikoku. You come for a vine bridge over the river, the gorge at Oboke (大歩危) and hillside hamlets. It suits repeat visitors who have done the big cities and are happy to spend a night in the mountains. If you cannot stay overnight, or narrow mountain roads make you nervous and you will not have a car, the valley is hard work: on the timetable revised October 1, 2026, the last bus back from the Kazurabashi stop leaves at 17:25.^[9]

Key facts

• Worth it for: repeat visitors, drivers and anyone who wants rural Japan with a famous sight at its center.
• Time needed: one night covers the vine bridge and Oboke Gorge; a second night adds Oku-Iya and Ochiai (our planning suggestion).
• Vine bridge fee: ¥550 for adults.^[1] Open every day.^[1] Closed for rebuilding from January 12, 2027 to around the end of February.^[2],[1]
• Nearest station: JR Oboke (大歩危), then a Shikoku Kotsu bus to Kazurabashi Yumebutai and a short walk.^[1]
• Driving: about an hour from the Ikawa–Ikeda expressway exit to the bridge.^[1]

Iya Kazurabashi — what is the vine bridge like?

The Iya Kazurabashi (祖谷のかずら橋) is a suspension bridge woven from vines. It hangs 14 meters above the river.^[1] Miyoshi City says the whole bridge is rebuilt every three years, so it is a living craft rather than a museum piece.^[2],[1] The next rebuild closes it to visitors from January 12, 2027 to around the end of February, and the evening light-up stops for that period.^[2],[1]

You pay at the entrance. Adults pay ¥550 and elementary school students ¥350; preschool children cross free.^[1] Hours change with the season: 8:00–18:00 from April to June, 7:30–18:30 in July and August, and 8:00–17:00 from September to March. There are no regular closing days.^[1]

Can I cross in rain, wind or after dark?

Rain alone does not close the bridge. Miyoshi City says it stays open on rainy days but may close temporarily during a heavy rain warning or other severe weather, so check the forecast and the city’s tourism site on a stormy day.^[1] In the evening the bridge is lit up from 19:00 to 21:30, but you cannot cross it while it is illuminated.^[1]

Oboke Gorge — is the boat worth it?

Oboke Gorge is a rocky stretch of the Yoshino River below the valley, close to Oboke Station. If you add one thing to the vine bridge, make it the boat: it is the simplest way to see the gorge from the water. It costs ¥1,800 for adults and ¥900 for children from age 3 through elementary school.^[7]

You do not need to book. Boats leave as needed between 9:00 and 17:00, with the last departure at 16:30, every day of the year.^[7]

The exception is the river itself. The boat does not sail in high water, strong wind or storms, and Miyoshi City advises calling the operator before you go.^[7],[3] After heavy rain, plan the vine bridge first and keep the boat as optional.

Oku-Iya Double Vine Bridges — worth the extra drive?

Deeper in the valley, in Oku-Iya, a second pair of vine bridges crosses the river in the forest. Check the season first: Miyoshi City lists the Oku-Iya bridges as closed from December through March.^[5] For what stays open in the cold months, see the winter guide to the vine bridge.

Go only if you have a car or a taxi for the day; the road continues well past the main bridge.

Ochiai village — what are the mountain villages?

Ochiai (落合) is a hamlet built into the mountainside in the Higashi-Iya Valley, and it was designated a national preserved heritage site in 2005.^[6] Miyoshi City lists an observation point for the village, which is the place to stop if you are driving through.

How much does it cost and when is it open?

The vine bridge costs ¥550 for adults and ¥350 for elementary school students.^[1] If you drive, the Kazurabashi Yumebutai car park charges ¥500 for a standard car and is about 5 minutes on foot from the bridge.^[1] The Oboke Gorge boat costs ¥1,800 for adults.^[7]

How do I get to the Iya Valley?

By train, take the Limited Express Nanpu to Oboke Station. From Okayama Station it takes about 1 hour 40 minutes, so a Shinkansen to Okayama and the Nanpu gets you into the valley the same day.^[7] Whether a rail pass pays off depends on the rest of your route; the comparison of rail passes for Oboke and Shikoku works through that decision.

From Oboke Station, Shikoku Kotsu buses run up to Kazurabashi Yumebutai, a 5-minute walk from the vine bridge.^[1] The timetable changed in October 2026; see the next section.

By car, leave the expressway at Ikawa–Ikeda. Miyoshi City puts the drive to the vine bridge, including the walk from the car park, at approx. 1 hour.^[1] If you have not driven in Japan before, the guide to driving in Japan covers the licence translation, car rental and tolls.

What is the current bus timetable from Oboke?

Shikoku Kotsu revised its route buses on October 1, 2026. Its Nishi-Iya Line now runs between Miyoshi Hospital in Ikeda and Kazurabashi Yumebutai, calling at Oboke Station on the way.^[8] Kazurabashi Yumebutai is the end of that line. For Hotel Iya Onsen and the Hi-no-ji Gorge, Shikoku Kotsu tells passengers from Oboke to change there to its Iyakei Line.^[8]

Shikoku Kotsu publishes the Nishi-Iya Line timetable only as a scanned PDF on its route bus page, so we do not reproduce its times here. Download it from the operator’s route bus page before you travel and note the last bus from Kazurabashi Yumebutai to Oboke.

Deeper into the valley, the Higashi-Iya Line continues from Kazurabashi Yumebutai toward Kubo. Its buses leave Kazurabashi Yumebutai at 09:30, 12:30, 15:24 and 17:05.^[9]

Two stops have similar names, and this is where visitors get confused. Kazurabashi Yumebutai is the car park and shop building, a 5-minute walk from the bridge.^[1] The Kazurabashi stop is a separate stop on the Higashi-Iya Line: the 09:30 bus from Kazurabashi Yumebutai calls there at 09:35 and reaches Ochiai at 10:12.^[9]

Coming back, the last Higashi-Iya bus leaves Ochiai at 16:48 and the Kazurabashi stop at 17:25, and reaches Kazurabashi Yumebutai at 17:30, where the timetable marks a connection toward Ikeda.^[9] Check the Nishi-Iya timetable to confirm that connection reaches Oboke Station.

Car, bus or taxi — which should I choose?

A car is the easiest way to see the whole valley. The bus works for the vine bridge, Oboke Gorge and Ochiai if you plan the day around a few departures.

Item	Bus	Rental car	Taxi tour from Oboke
Cost	Fare by distance on Shikoku Kotsu’s fare table	Rental, plus ¥500 parking at Kazurabashi Yumebutai	About ¥14,700 for up to 4 people
Time	Higashi-Iya buses at 09:30, 12:30, 15:24 and 17:05 from Kazurabashi Yumebutai	About 1 hour from the Ikawa–Ikeda exit to the bridge	About 3 hours
Sights reached	Vine bridge, Oboke Gorge, Ochiai	Everything, including Oku-Iya from April to November	Vine bridge, Iya Valley, Oboke Gorge
Main catch	Last bus back from the Kazurabashi stop at 17:25	Narrow mountain roads	Costs more for one or two people

Figures come from Shikoku Kotsu’s Higashi-Iya timetable,^[9] its last return bus,^[9] Miyoshi City’s parking fee,^[1] driving time,^[1] taxi tour estimate^[4] and the Oku-Iya winter closure.^[5]

If you arrive by train and want more than one stop, a taxi tour is the middle way. Miyoshi City estimates about ¥14,700 for a 3-hour taxi tour from JR Oboke Station via the vine bridge, the Iya Valley and Oboke Gorge, in a regular taxi that seats up to 4 people.^[4] You book it by phone with one of the local taxi companies listed on the city’s tourism site.

Where do I rent a car, and which road should I take?

Miyoshi City lists two local rental companies, Miyoshi Rent-A-Car and Oboke Rent-A-Car, and recommends reserving in advance.^[3] Both take bookings by phone or e-mail; the contact details are on the city’s tourism FAQ.

From the Ikawa–Ikeda exit there are two roads to the bridge. The route via Oboke on Prefectural Roads 45 and 32 is approximately 37 km (50 minutes). The route via Iyaguchi on Prefectural Road 32 through the Iya Gorge is approximately 33 km (1 hour), and large buses cannot enter it.^[3] Shorter on the map does not mean easier: if narrow roads worry you, take the Oboke route.

The usual mistake is the car navigation system. If you search by phone number, Miyoshi City asks you to enter the Kazurabashi Yumebutai car park, 0883-87-2200, not the tourist information center, which is about an hour away by car.^[1] Plan to arrive before dark: the bridge closes at 17:00 from September to March.^[1]

Where should I stay?

Stay in the valley itself rather than in a town outside it. Inns near the vine bridge or near Oboke Gorge put you next to the sights in the evening and morning. Staying in the valley also means you do not depend on the last buses of the day.^[9] Awa-Ikeda, a town on the rail line below the valley, is a fallback if the valley inns are full.

If you book a ryokan, the ryokan guide explains how they work.

If the inn has an onsen and you have tattoos, read the guide to onsen and tattoos before you book.

Tips

Frequently asked questions

Can I leave my luggage somewhere?

Yes. Miyoshi City lists baggage storage at Awa-Ikeda Station, Oboke Station and Kazurabashi Yumebutai, the car park and shop building next to the vine bridge.^[3]

How much do children pay at the vine bridge?

Elementary school students pay ¥350, and preschool children cross free. Junior high school students pay the adult fee.^[1]

Can I see the Iya Valley without a car?

Yes, for the vine bridge, Oboke Gorge and Ochiai. Take the bus from Oboke Station to Kazurabashi Yumebutai and the Higashi-Iya Line on to Ochiai.^[9] For several stops in one afternoon, a taxi tour from Oboke Station is the practical option.^[4]

Does the vine bridge close in bad weather?

Not for ordinary rain. It may close temporarily during a heavy rain warning or other severe weather.^[1]

How many days do I need?

One night is enough for the vine bridge and the Oboke boat. Two nights let you add Oku-Iya and Ochiai at an easy pace. This is our planning suggestion, not an official figure.