The locals remember stories of their fathers, who as children would actually come here and pee into the wind, at the edge of that cliff as a sign of bravery. Are you a man if you can’t? The statue is an accidental tourist attraction placed only a couple years ago by a father to remember his cute 2 year old by.

This statue is along a small pullout on the side of the highway when you're driving up the valley. The statue itself is not remarkable, but if you're looking for an excuse to get out and take a look at the view, you could pull over and do so. There are several other pullouts just a few kilometers down the valley from here that would work for the same purpose.

The views of the valley are lovely, and the story of the statue is endearing. However the road up to the statue would be precarious in bad weather conditions, but if it is on your way, then might be a nice stop

何故ココにコレが？と思うぐらいに発想は大変素晴らしいと思う。極狭の県道を進んで一度は通り過ぎてしまいUターン場所が限られており難儀する。特に駐車場は無いので路肩に駐車するしか無い。撮影などするだけで5分も滞在しない。いや祖谷出来ないでしょう。 観光地かされているとはいえわざわざ観に来る場所では無くガッカリ観光スポットかもしれません。絶対にリピートはないでしょう。 (Translated by Google) Why is this here? I think the idea is really wonderful. Traveling along the extremely narrow prefectural road, I passed it once and found it difficult to make a U-turn as there were only a limited number of places to make a U-turn. There is no parking lot, so the only option is to park on the roadside. I don't stay more than 5 minutes just to take pictures. No, Iya won't be able to do it. Although it is considered a tourist spot, it is not a place that people go out of their way to see and may be a disappointing tourist spot. There will definitely be no repeat.

In the evening of March 26, 2023, my wife and I spent a lot of effort and took some risks to find this little Statue. We drove past, initially having sight of the sign, but not the Statue. But we finally discovered it before driving further downhill. It was actually by the roadside, and can be spotted from the sign. I was so excited that I also released my tension, in the dark!

scenic outlook from this spot which features a copy of the statue (originally Belgium?) really in the middle of nowhere - well worth a visit for the stunning views and onsens in the area, also not far from some other interesting sightseeing spots

The view is picturesque and the air is so fresh. The statue looks over a deep valley. It’s worth paying a visit. But it is in the middle of a narrow road. There may be needs to park near a Ibsen hotel nearby and walk a few steps to see the statue.

2023年6月に訪れました。とにかく絶景です。途中の道は狭く落石もありました。すれ違い不可の多い道でしたので途中すれ違いが無かったのは幸運でした。写真を撮るスペースは2～3台分ですかね、路肩の部分が多少膨らんでいるのでそちらを利用します。景色が良いのでお勧めですが観光シーズンはどんなになってしますのか心配になります。 (Translated by Google) Visited in June 2023. Anyway, it is a superb view. The road was narrow and there were falling rocks. It was a road where many people could not pass each other, so I was lucky that I did not pass each other on the way. The space for taking pictures is about 2 to 3 cars. I recommend it because the scenery is good, but I'm worried about what the tourist season will be like.

Easy to get to by bus (Iya Onsen stop) but only really worth visiting if you are going to the onsen or have a car. Otherwise you will be waiting many hours for the next bus. Was good to know the story of the statue before we visited.

Funny statue (based off of the Mannekin Pis boy—surprisingly common image in Japan). Accessible by bus if you get off at the Iya onsen stop. The roads here are definitely scary. I felt fearful of the heights just from walking the short distance from the onsen to the statue (about 5 minutes). For sure worth a visit, but mainly because the views in the area are so fantastic. I don’t drive but I’m sure it’s a harrowing experience. The road is practically 1 lane wide but somehow accommodates cars in both directions. I saw a couple of times when cars had trouble passing each other.

Nice view but risky parking

It would be much better if you could visit at autumn. The road was quite narrow, no car park is close to the spot. There was a hotel at around 500 metres ahead. You can park your car next to there and walk to the spot. Otherwise you can only stop by and take a photo, as many travel guides did mention this place, there was three cars approached within 5 minutes. The valley is very deep and steep.

The road to reach there is narrow and you have to park on the narrow road. Good view of the valley. Don’t try climbing even if it is tempting to do so :)

Iconic statue that you can find on the side of the road. Definitely easy to miss if you don't keep an eye out for the one random sign, recommend placing it in your GPS. You can leave your car on the side of the road nearby if you want to take a few photos.

Just a small waterfall besides a vine bridge.

(Translated by Google) Biwa Falls is located near Iya Kazura Bridge. The origin of the name comes from the defeat at Yashima in the Genpei War. Heike fugitives infiltrated and settled in Iya A long time ago, I played the biwa at the Shinobiko waterfall in Kyoto. It is said that it was because they comforted each other. (Original) 祖谷のかずら橋のすぐ近くにある琵琶の滝です。 名前の由来は、源平の戦いに屋島で敗れた 平家の落人が祖谷に潜入・土着し 昔、京の都をしのびこの滝で琵琶をかなで つれづれを慰め合ったことによると言われている。

The water is so clear. Try to get here early to enjoy the serenity.

(Translated by Google) The Kazurabashi Bridge attracts a lot of attention, so it doesn't feel like it gets picked up much, but the clearness of the water is very impressive. (Original) かずら橋に注目が集まってしまうのであまり取り上げられる感じはありませんが水の澄み具合がとても印象的

(Translated by Google) This waterfall is located near Kazura Bridge in Iya. The waterfall with a considerable drop is a masterpiece. If you like waterfalls, this is definitely a place to stop by. (Original) 祖谷のかずら橋のすぐ近くにある滝です。 結構な落差のある滝は圧巻です。 滝好きな方なら必ず立ち寄る所だと思います。

2023年の4月に行きました。 なかなかの落差のある滝でした。 雨の日にでも行けばもっと迫力がありそうです。 (Translated by Google) I went in April 2023. It was quite a waterfall. If you go on a rainy day, it will be even more impressive.

(Translated by Google) The day before I visited, it was raining so heavily that all JR lines in Kochi Prefecture were suspended, so the amount of water was incredibly large and impressive. (Original) 訪問した前日は高知県内のJRが全運休するほどの大雨だったため、水量がとんでもなく多く迫力ありました

Very beautiful!

(Translated by Google) This beautiful waterfall is located just a short walk from Kazurabashi Bridge, and you can almost reach the basin of the waterfall. We also recommend walking along Iya Valley. (Original) かずら橋から歩いてすぐのところにある綺麗な滝で、滝壺に届きそうな場所まで行けます。さらに祖谷渓に沿って歩くのもおススメです。

(Translated by Google) This waterfall is located about 1 minute walk from the exit side of Tsunahashi Bridge. As you can see from the transparency of the waterfall basin, the water quality is very good and you can take photos, and if you go early in the morning, you can enjoy the sound of the waterfall and the cries of wild birds. (Original) 蔓橋の出口側から歩いて1分程度の場所にある滝です。滝壺の透明度からも分かるように非常に水質が良く写真に収めるもよし、早朝に行けば滝の打ち付ける音と野鳥の鳴き声を楽しむのもよしです。

(Translated by Google) Visited 2023/8/22. After crossing Kazurabashi Bridge, continue to the left. There was a lot of water and it was very cool under the waterfall. An ashtray was placed next to the entrance to the waterfall. (Original) 2023/8/22訪問。かずら橋を渡り終えて、そのまま左へ行くとあります。水量多くて、滝下はとても涼しかったです。滝の入口横に灰皿が設置されていました。

(Translated by Google) It's right near the Vine Bridge, and it only takes about 2 minutes to walk there. Although the waterfall is not big, it looks very powerful, so it's worth a visit! (Original) 就在藤蔓橋的附近，走過來只需要2分鐘左右，瀑布雖然不大，但看起來也很滂沱，所以也值得一看！

(Translated by Google) Pipa Falls is just next to the Vine Bridge. It can be reached on foot. The water is clear and cold, but nothing special. You can come and see it. (Original) 琵琶瀑布，在藤蔓橋旁邊而已，走路就能到，水質清澈冰涼，但沒什麼特別的，可以來看看

If you like strange stories then you must visit this place. One villager populated the place with dolls after most of it's residents left.

Equal parts fascinating, touching and creepy, the scarecrow village is an homage to the former residents of this now-near-deserted mountain village. The mountain roads make it more than a little hair-raising to get to, though the trip was definitely worth the trouble. Definitely visit the school hall, where a huge number of the scarecrows are gathered in a form of haunting tableau.

Boy oh boy, what do I write about this one!? For starters we arrived in the cold rain in the night, so we found shelter somewhere nearby, and did some exploring of the village in the night! This was a very spooky experience for the first time, seeing and the scare crow mannequins, around the place not knowing where to look next! In the morning, still raining and still quite cold, we made some great memories here, meeting some other local people, getting to see the village in the day and meeting the scarecrow mother herself! Being semi decent at japanese, we where able to really converse and talk about our lives and where we have travelled and the story behind scarecrow Village, and the process behind it. We where invited to the first room of her little house on the hill and got to drink some warm tea, and where treated to some biscuits. (She was very worried about us, with barely any rain protection, and it being quite chilly!) Here we conversed about everything and got to meet the father of scare crow village aswell! I promised that I would come back here one day in my travels with her, and she wrote a message to me in my henro book! Something I can't quite read but it still means a lot to me! 😆 Thank you so much, and for all of those travelling the area, it really is a must!

Super cool and super creepy. It was awesome meeting "James May" and the lady that created them. Wandering the small town and school is a fun sort of uncomfortable experience. The road to get there is also a fun uncomfortable experience; it is very narrow, very windy, and often has huge trucks coming the other way that you have to back up for. Overall a great experience that I likely won't be doing again!

More than fascination / creepiness, I felt a feeling of sadness after leaving the village. The schools, complexes and houses that were filled with dolls reflects the rapid de-population of this area to bigger cities I assume, which is a sad 21st century reality. The school which housed a multi-purpose complex described the different phases of lives people went through, from attending school, having weddings to old people sitting at the entrances. It invokes a sense of nostalgia and sadness, which I assume are the emotions felt by the producer of the dolls who resides here. This area seems extremely inaccessible without a car.

This village is... I don't know. A concept between scary, weird, peaceful... You'll see dozens of scarecrows on the way to the "village center". Placed where normally humans do stuff. An entire room has been filled with "not-people" reading, sleeping or talking among each other. The most weird part is the school. Everything is clean, and well kept by the locals, but seeing the building, with shadows at the windows watching outside, and no other sound than the river and the cicadas is unsettling. Kudos to those who maintain this place.

All the scarecrows are singlehandedly created by Madam Ayano Tsukimi, by stuffing old clothes with newspapers . These scarecrows helped to repopulate the neighborhood. She also conducts scarecrow making workshops

Amazing place and a bit creepy. The amount of dolls and imagination is what makes this special. We where lucky to meet the doll maker her self. Incredible nice and talented artist. Thank you for showing us around.

Scarecrow display to represent villagers in one of the more depopulated areas in the area. There's a community meeting space and a school filled with scarecrows in a variety of scenarios. Definitely a unique experience.

Interesting to see, how these puppets create their very own place. But to be honest, I won't be staying over night here. Little bit creepy to imagine what will happen around midnight in this village... ;). Jokes apart, I appreciate the effort of the last remaining villagers to make this place not forgotten.

Scenic secluded village on high mountains. Very difficult to get there due to very narrow and bending uphill mountain road, even for experienced drivers. You can walk around and appreciate the way of life of people living there. Mountain View is breathtaking.

Really worth the scary little path up. Very nice houses to visit and great overall vibe. Nothing much to do there (no restaurants), but magic place worth visiting for sure.

You can't just drive to this village and expect that the village itself will blow you away. There's a fair amount of history in the area, and there are some wonderful hikes, plus some great view points and a couple of famous bridges, but you need to find where those are. So as an overall ranking for the village, I can't rank it highly, but individual attractions within the village are really neat. Bear in mind that the roads here are very slow, so even though something looks close by kilometers, you don't want to try to be rushing to go anywhere, and there aren't many gas stations, so fill up when you have a chance. Bring your own water and snacks just in case you can't find anything along the way, because there are only a few shops.

Nice photo spot if you happen to pass by

Many photos in the reviews are of the observation point of this village. If you drive into the village, there is not much to see and it‘s a very steep and pretty dangerous drive even for experienced drivers (as many others mentioned before). We made the mistake of not turning around and drove further up the mountain on a rough road with steep cliffside. Not recommended! To really see and appreciate the beauty of this village, go to the viewpoint on the opposite side.

Hard to access, not well prepared for tourism. Still very beautiful area.

Great place to visit

It started to snow a few days ago. Lovely place! Some of the places cannot be accessed due to the snow!

I was there in July, the hottest time of the year 92 degrees, definitely not recommended, try to go in Spring or Fall. I also suggest you go early in the day, take your time with each location, enjoy the peace and tranquility of the surrounding sites. But it was because it’s so hot, there were no one else, so I got to enjoy the place all by myself.

Absolutely gorgeous. A must see if your in Shikoku.

Spent part of the day walking the grounds of this beautiful Temple. Number 66 of 88 on the 'Ohenro' Pilgrimage route. Beautiful Cedars and Cypress trees, some, definitely hitting 1,000 years old. What was cool was the 500 Arhat statues, all with different faces, lining some of the paths at the Temple. Nice day.

Amazing temple and the facilities will leave you with tons of pictures. Definitely worth the mission up to the clouds.

Won't spoil it with detailes...we were positively surprised each step of the way!!! Do not miss! Discount for foreign passport on the cablecart to go up....it was magical! Aside for a group of pilgrims we were alone

Very high, highest temple on the shikoku 88 temple route. But absolutely worth it. Breathtaking views..

(Translated by Google) The sake bottle is hot and difficult to pour, but the soup stock is the best! Kamaage udon noodles have sharp edges, and the bukkake temperature leaves corners, making it difficult to attach. The volume looks a lot, but it's delicious enough to fit in! (Original) 徳利が熱々で注ぎにくいが出汁が最高！釜揚げの麺は角がとれ、ぶっかけ温は角が残り、甲乙つけがたい。ボリュームは見た目多いがするっと入ってしまうほど美味い！

(Translated by Google) I used it for lunch after sightseeing in Iyakei. It was very crowded, but the shop is large, so I put it in with a little waiting time. Ordered kiln ball udon and meat udon, tempura burdock, chicken tempura, and onions. All of them were quite delicious, but especially the tempura was freshly made and delicious. I think this is amazing for 100 yen each. There were quite a lot of people eating oden as well. I was impressed that there is such a high-level udon restaurant in Tokushima. (Original) 祖谷渓観光の後にランチで利用させていただきました。すごい賑わいでしたがお店が広いので少しの待ち時間で入れました。窯玉うどんと肉うどん、天ぷらはごぼうと鶏天、玉ねぎを注文。どれもかなり美味しかったですが、特に天ぷらは出来立てで最高に美味しかったです。これが１つ100円は凄いと思います。おでんも食べている方が結構多かったです。徳島にもこんなにレベルの高いうどん屋さんがあるのだと感動しました。

(Translated by Google) I went on a weekday between 2:00pm and 3:00pm. Normally you can't even park your car there, but depending on the time of day it's empty. As for the taste, the nabeyaki udon has a dashi-based taste. Meat udon etc. have a sweet flavor and will fill your stomach quickly. Oden is also perfect for the season! Toppings such as ginger, tempura, green onions, and shichimi are brought to the table. The price is so reasonable that I end up eating way too much. (Original) 平日の14時〜15時くらいに行きました。 通常時は車も置けないくらいのところですが、時間帯によっては空いてますね。 味は、鍋焼きうどんは出汁系の味。肉うどん等は甘めの味付けですぐにお腹に溜まります。 おでんも季節的にぴったり！ 生姜と天かす、ネギ、七味等のトッピング関係はテーブルに運んでくれます。 値段もお手頃なので食べすぎちゃいます。

The taste is good and really they have a lot of costumers

(Translated by Google) This is my first visit in a long time. I lived in Awa-Ikeda a little over 30 years ago and used to go there. Anyway, it was cheap from that time. I heard that a long tunnel was built at Inohana Pass, and I wanted to go through the tunnel. I saw the udon shop and found it! Nostalgia. I ordered meat udon. The table inside the store is also included. There used to be a large tatami room table in the center! Meat Udon has a lot of meat, and udon is delicious. However, I was worried about the green onions when the tenkasu placed on the table. It's a corona wreck, so who might have touched it? If splashes jump in while eating ... It's a bitter smile for me who is nervous (laughs) It is likely to oxidize the tenkasu in the intense sunlight. I think it used to be a famous udon restaurant called Jumbo, but it was on the menu after all. Because it's a corona bruise? I didn't see anyone eating jumbo. If you sit by the window, you can see the town of Ikeda and the Yoshino River. The view is nice, but it's hot. There was a curtain rail, but the curtain was pulled off. It would be nice to have something a little more blind. (Original) 久しぶりの訪問です。 もう30年ちょっと前に阿波池田に住んでいて、よく行ってました。 とにかく当時から安かったです。 猪鼻峠に長いトンネルができたと聞き、トンネルを抜けてみたくて行きました。 うどん店を見て、あった！　と懐かしさが。 肉うどんをオーダー。 店内のテーブルも一緒。昔も中央に大きなお座敷テーブルがあった！ 肉うどんのお肉も多いし、うどんも美味しい。 ただ、テーブルに置かれた天かすとネギが気にはなりました。 コロナ禍なので、誰が触ったかもしれず。食べている時に、飛沫が飛び込んでいたら…とか。 神経質になっている自分に苦笑ですが（笑） 激しい陽の光も浴びて、天かすも酸化しそうです。 昔はジャンボたらいうどんの有名店だったように思いますが、やっぱりメニューにありました。 コロナ禍だから？　ジャンボまで食べている人は見かけませんでした。 窓際の席に座ると、池田の町や吉野川が見渡せます。 眺めはいいですが、暑いくらいで。 カーテンレールはあるけど、カーテンはのけられていた。 もう少し、ブラインド的な物があれば快適だけれどなぁ。

(Translated by Google) I've been to many udon restaurants over the years, but this one is my favorite. The menu is jumbo udon. Contains 3.5 balls. This is ¥640. Pour the dashi stock into the tokkuri and add as many green onions, fried balls, ginger and sesame seeds as you like. Put 2 noodles from the tarai and eat it. As you continue to eat, the soup stock will gradually become thinner. Then you will eat the noodles and soup together. When it becomes thinner, add ginger and drink it up as a soup, then pour it again. You can enjoy the taste change. The taste change of this soup stock and the condiments are left on each desk, so the feeling of freedom is irresistible. If you get lost in the menu, try Tarai Udon or Jumbo Udon. (Original) 長年色んなうどん店に行きましたが、結局この店が1番好き。 メニューはジャンボうどん一択。3.5玉入ってます。これで¥640。 徳利に入った出汁を注いで、ネギ、揚げ玉、生姜、ゴマを好きなだけ入れます。 そこに麺2本をタライから入れて食べます。 食べ進めるとだんだん出汁が薄くなってきます。 そうすると麺と出汁を一緒に食べていきます。 さらに薄くなると生姜を入れてスープとして飲み干し、新たに注ぎます。 味変が楽しめるんです。 この出汁の味変具合、薬味を各机に置きっぱなので、自由自在感がたまりません。 メニュー迷ったらタライうどんかジャンボうどんです。

(Translated by Google) The second udon restaurant today. The udon here is delicious! Soup stock is the best. The soup stock was so delicious that I could eat it with just udon and soup stock. Topped with meat on hiyakake. Put the green onions and tempura bits on the table and eat the udon. This was delicious. Thank you for the meal. (Original) 本日2件目のうどん屋さん。 ここのうどんは旨い！ 出汁が最高。 うどんと出汁だけで食べれるくらい出汁が美味しかったです。 ひやかけに肉をトッピング。 卓上にあるネギと天かすをドバッと入れてうどんをかちこむ。これが旨かったです。 ごちそうさまでした。

(Translated by Google) Since it was morning, I didn't have many options so I went in, but I was surprised by how delicious it was, far exceeding my expectations. I didn't really understand the system, but if you sit at an empty table, someone will come to take your order. Most people seem to decide at the entrance, but I don't know what they're doing... If you go to pick up the oden yourself, you can count the number. The locals think it's miso, but they end up eating it with mustard instead. The flavor wasn't as strong as the color, so it was good to have it with udon instead of just udon (because I end up getting full just with udon). I also like that the udon stock comes in a separate bottle and you can pour it as you like. If I had time, I would also like to ride the ropeway. (Original) 朝だったのであまり選択肢がなくて入ってみたのですが、想像を遥かに上回るおいしさでびっくりしました。 システムがよく分からなかったのですが、空いているテーブル席に座ったら注文を聞きにきてくれます。大半の人は入り口で決めてるようですが、勝手が分からず…。おでんは自分で取りに行ったら数を数えてもらえます。地元の人は味噌なんだろうと思うのですが、ついカラシで食べてしまいます。色ほど味は濃くなくてうどんだけではなく一緒が良かったです(ついうどんだけでおなか一杯になってしまうので)。 うどんのダシは別のボトルに入って来て、自分で好きなようにかけるシステムもいいです。 時間があればロープウェイも乗ってみたかった。

(Translated by Google) It seemed like a udon restaurant frequented by locals, and the staff were very nice. I came with my dog ​​in a camper, and they allowed me to eat in the car, which I was very grateful for. The taste is really delicious! The noodles were smooth and chewy, and the soup stock was the most delicious I've ever had. The quality and cost performance were such that I would go there if it was near my house. (Original) 地元の方が行きつけのうどん屋さんという感じでしたが、店員さんの感じがとても良かったです。 犬連れキャンピングカーで伺ったのですが、車で食べることをOKして下さり、とてもありがたかったです。 お味の方は、本当に美味しい！麺もツルツルしていてコシがあって、お出汁は今までで1番美味しかったです。家の近くにあったら、通ってしまう程のクオリティとコストパフォーマンスでした。

(Translated by Google) Sanukiya Udon. There is Hashizoji Temple across the road. Although it is not Kagawa prefecture's udon restaurant, it is a famous restaurant that has been around for a long time. The store is very busy! There are over 150 seats available on the first floor! Udon is not only available in Kagawa Prefecture! Why are the chewy, dashi, and meat udon noodles so delicious? . Each one is very long. The cheerful voice of the staff and the sound of the knife as they cut the udon noodles echoes throughout the store! If you can't finish all of it, we recommend the Tara Udon. Udon noodles that everyone pokes and uses their chopsticks to pick up will increase your appetite. The seasonings are good, the soup stock is strong, and it is placed on the table with a thud. Other than udon, oden is also delicious. . The scenery of Ikeda and the railway that can be seen from outside the window of the store is a must-see place for enthusiasts! (Original) うどんのさぬきや。 道路向かいに箸蔵寺があります。 香川県のうどんではありませんが、昔からの有名店です。店内は大繁盛！座る場所も一階で150席以上も満席！うどんは香川県だけでは無いですね！ コシと出汁、肉うどんはどうしてこんなに美味しいのか。。 一本一本がとても長い。店内に響く店員さんの元気な声とうどんを捌く包丁の音！ 食べきれない場合はたらいうどんがおすすめです。 みんなで突いて箸を伸ばして取るうどんは食欲増します。薬味もしっかり、出汁はトックリで机にドンと置かれます。 うどん以外でもおでんは唸る美味しさ。。 店内の窓の外から見える池田の景色と鉄道はマニアには必見の場所です！

(Translated by Google) This is the store to stop by when traveling to Shikoku! In terms of location, if you go from the Tokushima Kagawa route, it is easy to stop by as it is just before the junction of Kochi and Matsuyama. The handmade and hand-cut udon noodles have a fluffy texture, and you can add your own toppings and add your own dashi soy sauce, so you can customize the flavor to your liking! Oden and tempura are also delicious. Seasonal citrus fruits are also sold near the cash register, and we also recommend them! (Original) 四国旅行の際には立ち寄るお店です！立地的に、徳島香川ルートから行くと、高知と松山の分岐の手前にあるため寄りやすいです。 手打ちで手切りのおうどんはふわもち食感で、トッピングはセルフ、出汁醤油で頂くため、好みのお味にできます！おでんや天ぷらも美味しいです。 レジ付近では季節の柑橘も売られていて、そちらもオススメです！

(Translated by Google) Visited after hearing about it from a friend. I was surprised by the authentic Sanuki udon. Sturdy texture, delicious soup stock, and affordable price. it's the best. I also thought it was great that the staff were agile and the process flowed smoothly even when it was crowded. (Original) 知人にお勧めと聞いて訪問。 本格的な讃岐うどんにびっくり。しっかりしたコシ、美味しいダシ、お手頃な値段。最高です。また、店員さんの動きが機敏で、混雑していてもスムーズに流れていて、とても素晴らしいと思いました。

(Translated by Google) Stopped by on the way back from climbing Mt. Hashikura. Although it was around 3 o'clock on a holiday, there were a few customers here and there. It doesn't seem like it's self-service, so they guide me to a table. The most popular dish is tara udon, which is similar to meat udon, so I tried making meat udon. The oden that was recommended to me looked delicious, so I ordered the tofu-age. Meat udon is delicious and as expected. The udon noodles are also hand-cut. The karashi in the oden was stronger than the white miso that is often found in Sanuki udon, so it was too spicy. It was cold, but it warmed me up. thank you for the food. There was a parking lot in front of the store and a space next to it, so I think we could park about 20 cars. (Original) 箸蔵山登山の帰りに立ち寄る。休日の3時ごろだったけど、ちらほらお客さんはいました。セルフではないようで、デーブルに案内してくれる。 人気は、たらいうどんか、肉うどんっぽいので、肉うどんにしてみた。勧められた、おでんが美味しそうだったので、厚揚げを頂いた。 肉うどん、予想通りの味で美味しい。うどんも、手切りって感じでいい。おでんの辛子が、讃岐うどんによくある、白みそ強めじゃなく、辛子強めだったので、かけ過ぎて辛かった。寒かったけど、温まりました。ごちそう様でした。 駐車場は、店の前と、隣のスペースもあったので、20数台は止めれそう。

The alkaline sulfur hot spring, which makes your skin smooth, was fantastic. We booked a room with an open air bath, and soaking in the outdoor bath surrounded by mountains was truly amazing. The water was slightly lukewarm, but I think it would still be enjoyable even in spring or summer.

I enjoyed my lunch set with the local food there. The staffs were very nice and the sceneries were breathtaking! However, the onsen on the lower floor next to the river was not clean. There were spider webs nearby the onsen, lot of dust in the water and inside the basket used for putting my belongings. By the way, the onsen on the second floor where you need to take a cabin car up there was so nice and clean! So, in overall I think Iya onsen is a very good place but it can be perfect if they take a better care of the onsen next to the river.

Onsen hotel right next to the famous peeing boy statue replica in Iya Valley…

Amazing Stay with Stunning Views! I had an incredible experience at Iya Onsen. The view from the hotel is absolutely breathtaking, offering a perfect backdrop for a relaxing stay. The onsen is wonderful, providing a serene and rejuvenating experience that I thoroughly enjoyed. The food was delicious, and the variety of dishes left me very satisfied. The staff were exceptionally friendly and grateful, always ensuring that my needs were met and making me feel very welcome.

PROS: Beautiful and unique, professional staff, one of a kind onsen, ok food CONS: very little English, can only get their by car, no private bath in some of the rooms VERDICT: If you have a car, this place is a must! Not what I was expecting to be honest but a real stylish place with an amazing and unforgettable view with an atmosphere that is fairly unique in Japan. So this place is supposedly one of the top three most remote places in all of Japan, but is only 5Km from a town (I was expecting it to be a little more remote lol). The hotel is also a little smaller than I was expecting, I was thinking it would be a little more grandiose. HOWEVER, it is VERY stylish and beautiful. The staff is top notch. When we pulled in, there was a staff member waiting in the parking lot ready to greet us and help with our luggage. The staff were pretty straight laced and did not speaking much English, but staff, especially the dinning staff, did talk to me and my friends (whose Japanese level ranges from basic to JLPT N2 level). The room was super chic with a mix of traditional ryokan vibes with a modern design. Our room had two full sized beds and 3 futons, TV, vanity, and bathroom. The only issues with the room was the view which was of a construction scaffold, which sucks since the hotel is located on a beautiful gorge where a clear blue river runs through it, and that the room did not have its own bath/shower. Also they give you snacks! We got persimmon jelly/gummi, a silky cake, and "yuzu tea" (which just taste like sea water) The food was good, not amazing, but good. The dinner we had was a 12 course meal with food that was a mix of truly unforgettable to very forgettable. I really enjoyed the horse and deer meat, as well as the soup and anidofu. As for unforgettable, the fish and udon was pretty standard. Besides the food, the drinks were pretty good and reasonably priced too! I highly recommend the IYA CLEAR BLUE cocktail! The breakfast was good, not as great as the dinner but good and very filling. For the breakfast you can choose between Japanese and western food but only Japanese food for dinner. The onsens were real unique. There is a 24hr one in the main part of the hotel where you can look out a huge window to see the foliage, which I would image would be divine in the fall with the leaves changing. The real show stopper though is the onsen RIGHT ON THE RIVER! You take a cable car down (which you operate yourself and plays classical music) down to the onsen. At the onsen building you can get a close up look at the clear blue river and a vine bridge (which maybe you can go on? It was blocked off when me and my friends went) and enjoy a natural hot spring that is open air and right on the river. There is a private onsen you can rent out, but me and my friends didn't. There is also a decent souvenir shop that sells some local goods and a view vending machines that sell alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks (but no milk for after the onsen TnT) Overall, if you have a car and are visiting shikoku, I highly recommend staying here! its also near the famous Nagoro doll village, several vine bridges, and the beautiful oboke gorge!

Amazing experience. Love the scenery view around this hot springs. I came here at November, autumn season is very recommended. The hot spring is very unique. You can choose indoor only for indoor plus outdoor set. I recommend take the second. Little high cost but the outdoor has good experience. You have to ride a car look like train to the bottom of the hill. It's little scary but satisfied.

I only did a day trip to the onsen, I did not stay. First of all, the location was absolutely gorgeous and I am happy that I experienced it. I read some reviews ahead of going that the price was not worth it but I wanted to see for myself as it was a recommendation from a friend. The staff were great, very helpful and kind. I went at the beginning of March on a not particularly cold day, however it was 'light jacket weather', the water from the open air onsen is not very hot, as you are told while riding down the cable car. So, I couldn't fully relax as I was a little cold. When I went, it was around 12, there were not many people. I later saw that there were about 10 people going down at one point and I thought that the onsen may actually be kind of small for that many people. The water was silky and nice though. The facilities were clean. There are lockers with keys, baskets, a WC, and a hair dryer. There are many stairs after thr cable car to get down. As for the indoor onsen, meh. It is only one hot bath. The temperature was good. However, there is nothing except for the one bath - no sauna or cold bath for example, I was surprised. I saw you could get tickets for just the indoor bath, I wouldnt say that is worth it. Also, I am in my twenties and when I got out of the bath, I slipped and bruised my leg. I think its too slippery because of the floor tiles, I have never slipped at an onsen before. In the change room there are lockers with keys, baskets, moisturizers, qtips and bathrooms. The surrounding area was very clean and there was laundry just outside the onsen. There is also a nice waiting area after you're done bathing. The signs are in English and I saw the staff helping in English as well. last note - really try not to forget anything... I forgot my earrings and had to turn around, drive back up the mountain, wait for the cable car to come, ride the cable car down, run down the sets of stairs, fetch the earrings and take the cable car back up, the whole thing took 30 mins. So check twice!

This was the highlight of our honeymoon. Though a little confronting to plan to get to - once we had the trains figured out, it was very easy to get to. Pro Tip: Book your tickets beforehand. Don't arrange on the day. The taxi up to the hotel was both a stunning ride and actually very informative. They had set audio to play as the we made our way up the mountain. Found out that this was one of the Top 3 most secluded onsens in the entirety of Japan. On top of that, it was quite cheap considering it was a 40min drive. The staff were incredibly accommodating and though not everyone spoke the greatest English, there were staff members that could which made the entire experience much easier. I ended up trying each one of the baths on my weekend stay - even the Private bath - and it was honestly such a magical experience. If you're going as a couple, I would recommend the Private bath at some point. The food was to die for as well. Local delicacies and dishes served as expected of most ryokans but there was just such a sense of freshness from all of the produce we had. More importantly though, it was such a relaxing vibe. After the hustle and bustle of sightseeing Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka - Iya was the perfect spot to just SLOW DOWN and enjoy the amazing views. This may have been my first visit but I can guarantee it will not be my last.

Room is very clean ,the staffs all very polite and professional, the dinner is extra delicious, will recommend friends to come, and I will be back if have chance, especially beautiful views and the cable car, excellent !

Hotel met Japanse kamers. Onze kamer met uitzicht op de vallei was voorzien van een eigen badkamer van glas en ook uitzicht op de vallei. Wij hebben 2x gebruik gemaakt van het privé thermaal bad, beneden langs de rivier. Daar kom je via de kabelbaan naast het hotel. Aparte ervaring die je zeker moet doen. De service is top. Het jongere personeel spreekt engels. Ook hebben ze goed rekening gehouden met glutenvrij eten. Hotel is bereikbaar via de smalle weg nr.32 met veel bochten, hoog door de vallei. Het verkeer was niet druk en wij hadden weinig tegenliggers. Even voordat je het hotel bereikt rijd je langs het Japanse manneke pies, die vanaf een rotspunt de kloof in plast. Dit punt is ook lopend bereikbaar vanuit het hotel. Goede parkeer gelegenheid voor de gasten, voor de deur van het hotel. Je kunt het hotel ook alleen bezoeken voor de thermaal baden. Deze bestemming zeker boeken voor uw rondreis door Japan. (Translated by Google) Hotel with Japanese rooms. Our valley view room had a glass en suite bathroom and also a view of the valley. We used the private thermal bath twice, down along the river. You can get there via the cable car next to the hotel. Special experience that you should definitely do. The service is top notch. The younger staff speaks English. They have also taken gluten-free food into account. The hotel is accessible via the narrow road no. 32 with many bends, high through the valley. The traffic was not busy and we had little oncoming traffic. Just before you reach the hotel you drive past the Japanese manneke pies, which pees into the gorge from a rocky point. This point is also accessible on foot from the hotel. Good parking facilities for guests, in front of the hotel. You can also visit the hotel just for the thermal baths. Definitely book this destination for your tour through Japan.

We stayed 2 nights at this traditional Japanese hotel. A very tortuous, narrow winding road up into the mountains to get there but worth it. The most amazing feature is the cable car down into the valley to access natural hot springs. There were also onsens in the hotel and in our room. Spectacular views across the valley. We dressed in traditional Japanese dress for dinner and had a wonderful array for food in Japanese style.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Our stay at Iya Onsen hotel in the picturesque Iya Valley was absolutely delightful! From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warmth and hospitality that exceeded our expectations. The room was cozy and comfortable, providing us with a perfect retreat after a day of exploring the breathtaking surroundings. The customer service was impeccable, with staff members going above and beyond to ensure our stay was memorable. The highlight of our experience was definitely the onsen. Both the indoor and outdoor baths offered serene relaxation, but the outdoor onsen was truly special. Taking the 5-minute cable car ride 170 meters down to the riverside added an element of adventure to the experience, and the views from the bath were absolutely stunning. As for the meals, both dinner and breakfast were beyond delicious. We were treated to a variety of traditional Japanese dishes that showcased the region's flavors and ingredients. Each meal was a culinary delight, leaving us fully satisfied and eager to try more. Overall, our experience at Iya Onsen hotel was nothing short of magical. The combination of comfortable accommodations, exceptional service, delicious meals, and unique onsen experience made our stay truly unforgettable.

The natural onsen is the greatest highlight. One of the best I ever been to. The hotel is small, but service was good and food quality was also high.

Room is a bit small. The hot spa is located near the stream so we had to take a 5-min cable car ride from the hotel down there. We had the pork hot pot for the dinner,which was very delicious. The breakfast was excellent. Although it is rather pricy, still a very good experience in Iya onsen.

Honestly the best place I have ever stayed. From the incredible views and scenery to the natural hot springs. I have had an experience I will never forget. Driving a small narrow road to get here was so much fun and to be away from any traffic noise and to just be amounts nature is truly amazing. We even saw monkeys. I am definitely coming back in another season to see the mountains in different colours, we are lucky enough to be here in early autumn to see the leaves changing to reds and browns. The staff are great and the facilities all round are fabulous. In the end the onsen and the cable car to get to them is the winner. I have been to Japan before but never have I been in a place like this. Thank you Hotel Iyaonsen for making our holiday extra special.

What a view! Our room had a view on the Iya Valley, we won't forget. The access to the onsen via cable car worth the trip on its own. Add to this the great service from the staff and a "sugoi" dinner, you get a great time for sure. ありがとうございました Iya Onsen Hotel, our honeymoon trip is amazing thanks to you!

Had a very relaxing and enjoyable time staying at Hotel Iyaonsen. The hotel structure itself isn’t very big and doesn’t have much facilities. Completely understandable given its peculiar location in the mountain. The room we had was very spacious and with a mountain view. It has a massage chair and a private onsen. The star of this ryokan of course is the outdoor nature onsen only accessible by cable car. The water temperature is relatively cold (38c) and thus you can soak for a much longer time. The natural onsen water and the magnificent nature is an unbeatable experience. The food was very delicious. Loved the different touches of the local foods. Beautiful presentation and perfect portion size. I will come and stay here again.

We travelled a long, long winding and narrow road to this serene, next to a stream and mountain view hotel. Love their onsen water, makes my skin silky smooth. So special, different from many onsen i've been.

One of the best hotels in my experience. Splendid location with a breathtaking view of the clear stream and steep hills. The room was spacious with a free massage chair, which was wonderful. Both dinner and breakfast were delicious. The best one was a hot springs with sulfur and bicarbonate which not only smooth and soften your skin but also wash away your trieness. 10 out of 10.

We did not stay here but rather had a fantastic Soba noodle dinner with a fantastic view on their terrace. I could imagine staying in the ryokan as well, considering the location, and the cleanliness. But you would have to check other reviews for comments.

You can have Japanese soba noodles here at this restaurant. Form the garden roof, you will have a great view to the nature and the mountains surrounded by. Also, there is a very nice and interesting object installed at the garden terrace that will defiantly makes you laugh. There is a small gift shop at the entrance of the restaurant, so you can buy little souvenirs, soba noodles and Japanese special spice as well. At the restaurant, you will find a Japanese style short-leg tables.

Had a quick meal at this restaurant after taking an onsen bath down the road. Had their fried tofu udon and “dango stick”(mochi, tofu, konjac) I really enjoyed the fried tofu & udon. The dango was really good too, especially the konjac jelly. Sitting outside was super pleasant too!! The view was amazing.

Simply wonderful! Peaceful small ryokan with the most wonderful views. The rooms too have a stunning view over the valley and river below. The cedar wood outdoor bath was amazing, especially after a long day exploring the valley. Taking the inclusive meal package is an absolute must, the dinner and breakfast was something to behold. Fit for royalty! The staff are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G !! They even took a photo at dinner and handed it framed to us as a gift on the day of our departure, what a touching gesture. A place to reconnect with your soul and nature. If you have the opportunity - GO! I’d recommend a car to visit all the sites the valley has to offer, but we managed well enough without one. The famous cone bridge is a short hike away. Great to work up an appetite for dinner!

Truly the highlight of our 2023 stay in Japan! The Iya Bijin was not available through any of the big travel booking sites at the time of booking so we chanced it and did it through their Japanese only website, thanks to Google translate. We then had our Osaka hotel call them to confirm the reservation and everything went amazingly well. Upon arriving with the very recommendable scenic Shikoku Mannaka Sennen Monogatari train (look it up, it's worth getting to Oboke from Tadotsu with that train) and the local bus (very small so don't be carrying several suitcases! Taxis can also be booked but we only booked one for the return journey to the station from Iya Bijin), we had to wait a short while at their restaurant located just outside the main accomodations area and already the service was amazing. My husband and I both have some Japanese conversational knowledge so we were able to fully enjoy ourselves thanks to the friendly yet very professional staff. By the way, they serve amazing soba dishes at their outside restaurant! As for the room itself, overlooking the amazingly beautiful Iya valley, it was just perfect! The tatamis, the shōjis, the yukatas they changed every single day with matching obis and haoris, we could have stayed there forever. It's just peaceful and serene. Now, the kaiseki for breakfasts and dinners was an eye opener for us. The delicacy of the multitude of dishes, the visual appeal as well as the deliciousness of it all, not to mention. The smiling and cheerful oba-sans who served us every day, we couldn't get enough. The fire pit in the middle of the table to grill dangos and fish and to keep the nabes hot, was a never experienced feature for us. On a side note, whenever we'd go out to wait for the bus to get to one of the many scenic points in that area, they'd come out to offer us free coffee or tea at their restaurant and they'd even stop the bus for us. If we came back and our room was still being cleaned, they'd also offer us coffee or tea at their restaurant until the room was ready (and the Onsen filled with hot sulfuric water). All in all, an experience we'll cherish forever and it really makes us want to go back. Too bad we live so far!

A fantastic scenery, beautiful room and amazing service. Hotel staff is really sweet and dinner and breakfast are really good - I’ll come back again here, enjoying the private onsen bath we had in our room and serenity of the surrounding 🙏✨

room quality good service quality good food is 50,50. good public onsen

We stopped here for the soba (not a rating for the hotel) and glad we did. When we came it was peak lunch time but we're able to get a seat outside easily - we did come on a Thursday. The outside deck is an amazing place to eat your soba as the view is amazing. I have the oomori zaru soba for 1600 yen and it was decent. If your heading to the bridge this is a great lunch destination.

We got the huge corner rooms. Two double beds in the large bedroom, large living room with tatami, separate dining room, two soaker hot tubs, one inside and one outside big enough for two on the wrap around veranda (seems like skinny dipping, looking way across at the mountain and far down to the river). The bedroom floors are heated, the temperature is comfortable. There is a chair that gives you a massage. Traditional Japanese decor, subdued and peaceful. The washroom includes a Toto high tech toilet with more functions beyond the standard than I could figure out, maybe music. The explanation by our hostess of how things work was in Japanese, but many written instructions in English are around. We are looking forward to a feast tonight when dinner is served in our private country-style dining room.

Perfect, melt in mouth beef and pork. Perfect quick lunch stop

(Translated by Google) It's a restaurant that has been around for a long time, but when I visited it for the first time in 25 years, I was surprised because the interior had changed a lot. First of all, I was surprised that the first floor along the road was a direct market. It seems to be quite popular and there are many shoppers. The restaurant was on the 2nd floor, and the banquet hall on the 1st basement floor was a reservation-only banquet hall. If you go to the restaurant on the 2nd floor, there is a counter where you can see Lake Ikeda Dam. I ordered a daily hamburger steak for a limited time. In addition to the hamburger steak and sausages, they came out on a hot iron plate. Besides, soup and rice (a lot) with a small dessert are included, and 1100 yen is cheap. The taste is excellent and the sauce of the bowl is hung down and eaten. If you have the budget, you can eat authentic steak. The inside of the store is clean, and the oil on the meat doesn't fly and the desk doesn't get sticky. A long-established restaurant in the local area. I was able to meet a good lunch for the first time in a long time. (Original) 昔からあるステーキを中心とした店だけど、25年ぶりに訪れたところ、随分と内装が変わっていたのでビックリ（そりゃそうだよね） 先ずは道路沿いの1階が産直市になっていたのに驚いた。結構人気らしく買い物客が多い。 2階がレストランで、地下1階は完全予約制の宴会場になっていた。 2階のレストランを進むと池田ダム湖が展望できるカウンターがある。 期間限定の日替りハンバーグステーキを注文。 ハンバーグの他にサイコロステーキやウインナーなどが熱々の鉄板に乗せられて出てきた。 他にスープとご飯（量たっぷり）小さなデザートが付いて1100円は安い。 味も上々で器のソースを垂らして食べる。 予算が有れば本格ステーキも食べることができる。 店内も清潔だし、よく掃除されているのか肉の油が飛んで机がベトつくなんて事も無い。 地元では老舗のレストラン。久しぶりに良いランチに巡り会えた。

One of the restaurants I want to visit again.

The ramen here was maybe not the best I've ever had, but still quite tasty anyway. They make proper, western style fried chicken though. Absolutely delicious. They close early (15:00) so make sure to come in time. The young waiter today (19.08.2022) was very kind and helpful. Service in Japan is always high quality but he went out of his way to be nice.

(Translated by Google) Customers and representative that is blasphemy Tokushima ramen house. And to say from the man who came from Tokyo, licking completely ramen management. Soup is delicious but is overwhelmingly small amount. Barbecued pork does not feature also. I want to study properly because I'm a good soup. In Tokyo If you take this at 900 yen or more will go bankrupt in 1 Tsu months. Customer comes! Management does not seem only to be to fool the customers and Tokushima. I want to talk about whether I feel like I'm really serious. (Original) お客と徳島を冒涜している代表格のラーメン家。東京から来た人間から言わせると、ラーメン経営を完全に舐めてる。スープは旨いが量が圧倒的に少ない。チャーシューも特徴ない。いいスープなんだからきちんと勉強してもらいたい。これで900円以上取ったら東京では1っヶ月で倒産します。客は来ません！経営者はお客と徳島を馬鹿にしてるとしか思えない。一回本気でやる気があるのか話をしてみたいレベル。

The noodles are good. View of river from balcony is good.