It’s tempting for travelers to stick to the obvious tourist route when visiting Japan, considering the excitement and never-ending stimulation of Tokyo, the imperial splendor of Kyoto, or the culinary paradise found in Osaka. However, travelers willing to veer off this well-worn path will be rewarded with stunning nature, fewer crowds, and a chance to see a side of Japan that they haven’t already seen through the screen.
The Iya Valley in the heart of western Japan’s Shikoku Island is an escape into Japan’s hidden past, where small farming villages existed in relative isolation on the terraces of western Japan’s steepest mountains.
Visitors who undertake the journey to this remote region are rewarded with untouched landscapes and unique accommodations, like the small community of thatched-house lodgings in Ochiai village. Scattered along the verdant mountainside in Tougenkyo-Iya, these eight thatched houses have been modernized for convenience while retaining their original character from when they were occupied by the farmers who cultivated these lands centuries ago.
A stay in Ochiai village serves as a respite from the hectic and plugged-in realities of modern life, but the surrounding region is full of sights and activities that make a visit to Iya into a memorable and immersive experience.
