All Iya Tour

A comprehensive tour of our amazing valley

Understandably, our most popular tour

For those who want our advice for a complete Iya Valley tour, then this is it. On this special course one of our English speaking local guides explains every part of Iya including local life, customs, culture, and history. We will take you along the original Iya road through Manpu Gorge and its breath-taking footbridge, and your guide will lead you on a special in-depth walk upon the ancient paths of Ochiai Village where you'll also have an inside tour of a historic thatched-roof farmhouse.

You will also go to the historic home of Iya former ruling Samurai for a personalized tour, walk through the hauntingly unique Scarecrow Village with a chance to meet the artist, go out to the tranquil Double Vine Bridges which are by far everyone's favorite, and stop at various viewpoints along the way including Iyakei Gorge's famous Peeing Boy Statue.

We will also stop for great lunch at a Iya-style restaurant, either for some hand-made soba noodles and other Iya treats, or to a local place that is known for its fresh vegetables and range of wild game dishes hunted by the owner. For sure, this is a thoroughly satisfying and comprehensive tour of the Iya Valley, and you are sure to enjoy!

Base Time:

6.5 ~ 7 hours

Not available on Wednesdays.
Includes pick-up and drop-off from any Iya Valley or Oboke area accommodation and/or via JR Oboke Station. Pick-up or drop-off elsewhere also possible, just let us know.
This tour typically lasts about 7 hours, but it can be reduced a bit if needing to catch a particular departing train from Oboke Station. Just let us know.
Add On sights possible, see below.
In winter (December 1 to March 31) the Double Vine Bridges and the Samurai House are closed, so during this time we go to the main Kazurabashi Vine Bridge and the Iya History Museum instead.

Price:

Standard Taxi (1-3* people) ¥ 59,500

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Jumbo Taxi (3-8 people) ¥ 77,700

This is total price per private group (not per person)
All prices include tax
Includes vehicle, driver, and English speaking local guide
3 people in Standard Taxi is only recommended if 3rd person is a child or you are 3 small adults.
Meal fees not included (see below about options)
Please pay your guide's lunch fee (about ¥800-1200)
Entrance fees not included (¥550/person Double Vine Bridges, ¥310/person Samurai House. Children are discounted)

Peeing Boy in Iyakei Gorge

Visual odyssey across continents
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Historic Iya House

Stark beauty of desolate dunes
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Scarecrow Village

Portraits of people from around the globe

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Double Vine Bridges

Breathtaking colors of our planet

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Itinerary (fixed route) :

Pick-up from any local accommodation or JR Oboke Station
Iyakei Gorge Viewpoints (Hi-no-Ji Bend, Peeing Boy Statue)
Ryugugake Park and Manpu Gorge Wire Bridge
Historic Iya Samurai House
Local Lunch (options explained below)
Traditional Ochiai Village Walking Tour
Nagaoka-ke Historic House
Scarecrow Village Walk
Oku-Iya Double Vine Bridges**
Ochiai Village Viewpoint
Drop-off at any local accommodation or JR Oboke Station

** From Dec 1 to March 31 the Double Vine Bridges are closed, so we will go to the main Kazurabashi Vine Bridge instead.

Details About this Tour
- This is a Fixed Route Tour. If you would like to change the locations for this itinerary, please see one of our Custom Tours.
- From Dec 1 to March 31 the Double Vine Bridges and the Samurai House are closed, so we will go to the main Kazurabashi Vine Bridge and the Iya History Museum instead.
- This tour can start anytime between 8:00am and 11:00am.
- We are generally not available for this tour on any Wednesday.
- Pick-up and drop-off can be from any local accommodation or JR Oboke Station. Other locations that are not in Iya or Oboke can also be arranged but may include an additional fee and require extra time.
- We ask to please pay your guide's lunch fee (approx 800 -1200 yen. Details explained in "Lunch Options" below.)
- On heavy rain days, it may not be possible to walk through some places such as Ochiai Village (but we will provide umbrellas), so we will just tour these places by car and extend time at other points. Also, the guide and driver will do their best to accommodate anyone who may be physically unable to handle the walking tours.
Lunch Options
- On this tour we have a few restaurant options, often based on the day of the week (not all locations are open every day). These locations include a couple hand-made Iya soba noodle restaurants, or a local restaurant which has a variety of fresh dishes including wild game (deer) as well as soba noodles. Vegetarian is possible at any place (but please understand about the often unchangable use of dashi whether here or anywhere in Japan). Meal prices typically range from about 800 to 1200 per person at all places.
- Also, we ask that you please pay your guide's meal fee for lunch at any restaurant.
- Alternately, you can bring along your own bento lunch box and/or snacks instead of stopping for a meal, and eat at the covered picnic area beside the Double Vine Bridges. Food can be purchased from the shop next to Oboke Station. But please note that in early spring and mid/late autumn it may be a little chilly when eating outside here. Please let us know if you would prefer to do this.