Nishi-Awa Contents

Dodoro Waterfall boasts a drop of 30 m, created on the Ototani River, a tributary of the Handa River. The area around the falls was developed as a sightseeing spot in 1995, and newly opened in May 1997.
There is a parking lot, an observation point and public toilets, and two rest houses.

Light-up: 2 months from July to August, from 7pm to 9pm.
The Dodoro Falls Festival (from 1pm) is held in July every year, with goma burning and other events.

On the way to Mt. Tsurugi, you’ll find this popular spring water spot, where visitors even come from outside the prefecture to collect water. While most water in Japan is soft, this spring is classified as hard water with a hardness of 130 mg/L. Rich in minerals, it offers a refreshing taste of the pure waters of the Mt. Tsurugi range.

The Last Gas Station on the Sadamitsu–Ichiu Route to Mt. Tsurugi
This is the final gas station before reaching the Mt. Tsurugi trailhead along the Sadamitsu–Ichiu route. The trailhead is about 27 km ahead, so if you’re concerned about your fuel level, be sure to stop here.

Before climbing Mt. Tsurugi, stop by for information, handy goods, and souvenirs. Also enjoy our original craft beer and coffee made from freshly ground beans with a hot sandwich (for eat-in or take-out).

This is a local shop along the Sadamitsu–Ichiu route to the Mt. Tsurugi trailhead, where you can stop on the way. It offers drinks, bread, instant noodles, snacks, and other items useful for hiking. In front of the shop, there are several vending machines, so you can still purchase drinks even outside of business hours.

There is a clean public restroom available here. The Mt. Tsurugi trailhead is about 27 km from this point, making it a convenient stop for a restroom break.

This 400-year-old tree is the largest cherry tree in Tokushima. The trunk splits into three, so when the pink blossoms are in full bloom, its branches spreading wide are a beautiful sight.

Built in 1763 (about 250 years ago), this is one of the largest samurai residences in the Iya region. The Oe district of Higashi-Iya Village, where it stands, is historically connected to the defeated Heike clan who fled here after losing the Battle of Yashima.

The Kita Family was the head family of this Heike settlement, and their residence reflects the lifestyle of the upper-class samurai of Iya. In the garden stands the impressive Hoko Cedar, which is well worth seeing.

A 300-year-old traditional farmhouse.
The Oku-Iya area is often called the “Tibet of Japan,” known for its high elevation and steep, narrow valleys. Chiiori was purchased by Alex Kerr and named after his love of playing the flute. The name Chiiori means “House of the Flute.”

The udatsu of Sadamitsu are based on Kyoto’s merchant street culture from the early Meiji period. These walls are called niso udatsu, and bear beautiful and artistic patterns on the front of each house.