Nishi-Awa Contents

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.

A local exchange base facility with a souvenir corner, a restaurant, a bathing facility, a teleworking office, and a café. The souvenir corner offers a wide variety of Shikoku's specialties as well as ethical products. The open-air plaza with its expansive lawn is also equipped with a colorful playground.

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).

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.

Honrakuji Temple, selected as one of the 88 scenic spots in Shikoku, features Japanese gardens and landscaping with the majestic Yoshino River and the Asan Mountains in the background. The mossy garden also has a tea ceremony room where you can enjoy matcha tea. A sutra copying experience is also available.

As a symbol of innocent courage, a statue of a peeing boy was constructed at the edge of the nearby precipice, the most perilous spot in Iya Valley. In the old days, it's said the local children would stand on this cliff and urinate into the ravine to show their bravado. A short drive away is also the iconic Hi no Ji Valley, shaped like a horseshoe, or the Japanese character for "hi".

A unique and beautiful gorge, where the Yoshinogawa River flows emerald through the valley. Scenic views of the gorge's crystalline schist resemble marble sculptures, and the fresh green of the surrounding forests in summer, the fiery foliage in autumn, or winter's shimmering frosts, make for a spectacular sight in any season.

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.

This historic Shingon Buddhist temple is said to have been founded by Kobo Daishi.
It serves as the inner sanctuary of Konpira Shrine and is designated as an extra (bangai) site of the Shikoku Pilgrimage.

Take the ropeway up for a scenic view of Ikeda and the Yoshino River, then stroll through the temple grounds, enjoying the old architecture and intricate wooden carvings that adorn many of the buildings here. At the top of a rather hefty staircase, you can also find a mini 88 pilgrimage: statues all lined up and numbering all of the 88 Shikoku temples.

This temple popular for the beautiful maple fall colours in autumn and the cherry blossom trees in spring. Iconic Buddhist festivals are also held here twice a year, open to the public.

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.”

This showroom and sales space is open to the general public and dedicated to cymbidium orchids.
During the peak flowering season (late November to March), the space bursts into bloom with a dazzling display. Popular varieties such as the “Queen of Cymbidiums” Anmitsu Hime, the “King” Marie Laurencin, and Princess Masako fill the air with a gentle, sweet fragrance.