A Day Tour: Oboke & Iya
A one-day tour to Iya and Oboke which are said to be a mysterious place in Japan. The audio guided service on the bus is conducted by Onsen Musume, an anime character to promote Japan's hot springs tourism. Fare includes lunch using fresh local ingredients and entrance fees to attractions. You will enjoy expansive sights that will take your breath away as you go through the Iya Valley. . 

Tourist spots

Heike Yashiki Museum of Folklore, Iya no Kazurabashi, Iya Valley/ Manneken Pis Boy, Roadside Station Oboke, Oboke Gorge Sightseeing Cruise& Oboke Gorge 
Season
April-July 2024: Saturdays, Sundays and National holidays 
Tour includes

Bus fare, Entrance fees to Iya no Kazurabashi, Heike Yashiki Museum of Folklore, Oboke Gorge Sightseeing Cruise, lunch & audio guided service by Onsen Musume
Reservations
Required ( Reservations open 2 months prior to the date you travel)
Bus Company
Shikoku Kotsu Co., Ltd. 


Fare
Adults
JPY 11,000
Children(6-12)
JPY 10,500



Departure. 10:45AM
Awa Ikeda Station
Departure. 11:00AM
Awa Ikeda Bus Terminal
11:40AM-12:05AM
Heike Yashiki Museum of Folklore
12:20PM-1:00PM
Lunch: Soba noodles( Buckwheat noodles)
1:05PM-1:50PM
Iya no Kazurabashi
2:10PM-2:25PM
Iya Valley/ Manneken Pis Boy
3:00PM-3:20PM
Roadside Station Oboke 
3:25PM-4:10PM
Oboke Gorge Sightseeing Cruise
Return 4:15PM
Nishiu 
Return 4:45PM
Awa Ikeda Station
Return 4:50PM
Awa Ikeda Bus Terminal
Heike Yashiki Museum of Folklore 
Heike Yashiki Museum of Folklore displays materials and relics of the Heike Clan in a well-maintained traditional house from the Edo period with thatched roofs and paper walls. There is a small garden which features a 800-year-old tree believed to have been planted when the clan member first arrived there.
Iya no Kazurabashi
Iya no Kazurabashi is 45 meters long, 2 meters wide and 14 meters high above the Iya River made of vines grown wild in the mountains. It is said that the bridge was constructed by the Heike Clan warriors about 800years ago so that they could cut away the ties when enemies were close. The Iya no Kazurabashi is designated as an Important cultural property by both the national and the prefectural government rebuilt every 3 years to ensure safety. Walking across the swaying bridge above the river will make your heart pound. 
Iya Valley/ Manneken Pis Boy
200 meters above the sea level, located on a steep cliff overlooking the Iya River, a statue of a little boy imitating the famous Manneken Pis statue in Brussels can be found. The panoramic views of the valley from here, especially in autumn when the leaves turn red and yellow are stunning. Local folklore says that the local boys used to stand on the rocks urinating down on the valley to prove their courage. Visitors are no longer allowed to stand on the rocks as this spot is very dangerous. 
Roadside Station Oboke (Lapis Oboke)
Lapis Oboke is the roadside rest area with a footbath facility, tourist information center, café, restaurants and a gift shop selling local specialties. There are monster museum which features dioramas of the monsters and ghosts from local folk tales, and a small gem museum dedicated to rocks and gemstones from this area and around the world.
Oboke Gorge Sightseeing Cruise
The small riverboat tour enables you to experience the natural beauty of the Oboke Gorge with a number of rocks naturally shaped like animals. You can enjoy the fresh green leaves in spring and summer and colorful foliage in autumn on the boat that cruises through the gorge. Pro


Oboke Gorge 
Oboke is a narrow and steep canyon near the entrance to the Iya Valley in the mountains of Tokushima Prefecture in Shikoku. Oboke means "big Dangerous Steps" due to the sheer cliffs with narrow paths. The “Oboke Gorge” has been formed by the fast current of the Yoshino River over 200 million years. These gorge is 8-kilometer long and boasts breathtaking landscapes including sculpted rocks and a V-shaped valley which change its appearance with the seasons. This impressive natural beauty designated as a natural monument can be enjoyed either from mountainside vantage points or deep down on the water by the sightseeing boat. 
Cancellation fee
After 5PM, 1 day prior to departure- on day of departure and later: 100%
Until 5PM, 1 day prior to departure: JPY 100 per person
Please cancel your reservation via the “Manage my Booking” Page of Japan Bus Online website at https://japanbusonline.com/BookInquiry before the specified deadline.

Important Notice 
- Child fare applies to children between the ages of 6 and 12. If children under 5 years old need a seat, please purchase a child ticket to board a bus.
- Reservations open 2 months before the date you travel.
- Luggage cannot be stored in the compartment under the bus. Please stow your luggage at Awa Ikeda Bus Terminal or send your items to your hotels in advance using the courier service。
- Due to road conditions and any circumstances beyond our control, departure or arrival time may change.
- We accept no responsibility for any extra expenses including hotel, train, or taxi caused by any delays due to Acts of God, delayed departure or arrivals, bad road or weather conditions, or any circumstances beyond our control.
- If you do not book tickets in advance, there may be a possibility that the lunch cannot be offered. We will not refund the lunch portion of the tour ticket price in this case.
The cruise fare will be refunded in case the sightseeing cruise is not in service.
- Passengers are required to have their temperature checked before boarding. Anyone who has a body temperature above 37.5 celsius degree will be denied boarding. In this case, no refund will be provided.
- All images shown are for illustration purposes only.
- We also ask for your cooperation to wear a mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based sanitizer, and avoid talking on the bus. 
- If you are allergic to buckwheat, please inform us in advance. Soba noodles can be changed to Udon noodles if you let us know at least 1 day before the tour either on the phone or via email.
Awa Ikeda Bus Terminal, Tel: 0883-72-1231 or yonkohstaff@gmail.com
Business Hours: 9 AM to 3 PM, Monday through Friday

Operating Bus Company
Shikoku Kotsu Co., Ltd. TEL:0883-72-1231, 8:30-17:30
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