Other
Chiiori House
A mountain-side thatch-roofed, traditional Japanese farmhouse, restored at exorbitant cost and described in loving detail in Lost Japan. It's open to visitors, who can work and contribute to the organization's community revitalization efforts. Run by friendly volunteers, you have to book at least a week in advance to stay overnight, and should contact them for visits of any length. No fixed fees, but a donation is expected. The easiest way to get there is via taxi from JR Oboke Station about 45 minutes, but there are buses from Awa-Ikeda and Oboke — the Oshima Tunnel is the closest stop.
O-Tsurugi Shrine
ãå£ç¥ç¤¾. Located in Mi-no-Koshi, not far from the Tsurugi chairlift station. It's not very much to look at, but it's traditional to stop here before starting your ascent. The shrine is in fact in three parts, with one in Mi-no-Koshi, one on the trail to the top and one at the very top of the mountain.
vine bridges
Iya's best-known attractions are the precarious-looking vine bridges ãããæ© kazurabashi, which used to be the only way to cross the river.
The most popular vine bridge is in West Iya, quite close to the main village. This is a rather large operation and not particularly scary, entrance costs ¥500 and the bridge's operating hours are officially defined as sunrise to sunset.
The more atmospheric Oku-Iya vine bridges 奥ç¥è°·äºéãããæ© can be found at the eastern end of the valley, before the final ascent to Mi-no-Koshi. There are two of them, namely the Husband's Bridge 夫ã®æ© Otto-no-hashi, the longer, higher up and thus evidently manlier of the two, and on the left the Wife's Bridge 婦ã®æ©, Tsuma-no-hashi. These are a bit closer to the Tarzan kind of vine bridge and best avoided if you have a fear of heights, although even here there are steel cables hidden inside the vines. On the other side is an excellent campground and a beautiful waterfall. There is also a small wooden cart that can seat up to three people suspended from rope cables near the Wife's Bridge. You can go halfway across the ravine before you need to pull yourself the rest of the way with the rope in the cart, though people waiting in line often help pull at either end. Entrance ¥500, but getting here can be a problem as buses usually don't come this far.