This weekend we listened to the 180th Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On Saturday, we downloaded all the podcasts from iTunes, grabbed our iPod, and enjoyed the talks from our church leaders as we drove to the Iya Valley. We decided to take the scenic route up and over Tsurugi-san, the highest mountain in Tokushima which gave us plenty of time to listen to the Saturday sessions. We followed a beautiful crystal blue river all the way up the mountain. We were on our way to the beautiful Iya Valley which is not only known for a majestic gorge but an ancient kazurabashi, or vine bridge. However taking the long way over Tsurugi-san allowed us to stop at two other vine bridges along the way. After summiting the mountain we started making our descent down the other side. About fifteen minutes from the summit, we stopped to see Oku-Iya Kazurabashi. These vine bridges are commonly called the “Couple Bridges” because there are two. The larger of the two is known as the Otto no Hashi, or the husband bridge. The smaller is Tsuma no Hashi, or wife bridge.
Things to Know: Kazurabashi Vine Bridges
Related Blog Posts:
Shop Photography Prints
The Otto no Hashi (husband bridge).
Looks like something right out of Indiana Jones.
You better watch your step…
…or you’ll end up like Cole.
The beautiful river.
The Tsuma no Hashi (wife bridge).
And if you prefer not to take the bridge, you can ride a small wooden cart across the river.
And yes, it is totally creepy walking across an old bridge made of vines!
After our visit to Oku-Iya Kazurabashi, we continued on our way. In the late afternoon we arrived at Iya-no-Kazurabashi. The following description is from my favorite travel guide, Lonely Planet, “The remote Iya Valley, known locally as Iya-dani, is considered one of Japan’s ‘three hidden regions’. It was to here that Kyoto’s defeated Heike clan fled from the rival Genji clan during the civil wars of the 12th century. Iya draws a steady stream of travellers who come to cross the famed kazurabashi (vine bridges) that span the deep river gorges. Despite their virtual disappearance (the vines comprising the bridges must be totally replaced every three years), the tourist trade has spawned a recent comeback. At one time, rivers in the mountainous interior of Shikoku were traversed by these perilous catwalks, which, when being pursued by enemy forces, could conveniently be cut down after crossing.”
“Dekomawashi is potato, tofu and jellied arum root (konnyaku) on a bamboo skewer, grilled with miso sauce over a charcoal fire. The grilling method resembles that of a wooden puppet (deko) being slowly turned (mawashi), hence the name. Sauteed ayu and amego, are superb tasting fish caught only in clean, clear streams in the valley. Buckwheat porridge and dumplings were born in the Iya region, created by fleeting Heike warriors 1,000 years ago who missed their life in Kyoto, according to legend.” (From Romanticism in the Land of Mystery, published by Miyoshi City Office of Commerce, Industry & Tourism)
Biwa-no-Taki, an elegant 50 meter waterfall near Kazurabashi. Legend holds that fleeing Heike warriors played their biwa, a Japanese lute, at the foot of this waterfall.
