Iya Highlights Tour

A half-day tour of some legendary points

A collection of special places

On this half day tour you can see and experience a selection of the Iya Valley’s most notable sights. First you will visit some panoramic viewpoints within the undeveloped Iyakei Gorge, including Hi-no-Ji Bend and the precariously perched Peeing Boy Statue. Next, at the famed Kazurabashi Vine Bridge, test your mettle by crossing this massive back-country construction which sways above the emerald waters of the Iya River. Nearby, walk with your guide to the tranquil Biwa Waterfall and opt to taste some Iya-style snacks roasting over coals at the surrounding shops.

Afterwards, head deeper into the valley, taking a side trip along the cliff-faced original road of Iya with a stop at its stunning wire suspension bridge, and then have in-depth walk along the ancient footpaths of the historic Ochiai mountainside village where you also get to tour the inside of a traditional thatched-roof farmhouse.

Base Time:

4.5 hours

(or 5 hours if via Oboke area**)

Not available on Wednesdays.
Fixed Route Itinerary.
A lunch stop is included (see below).
This Half-day Tour takes about 4.5 hours only when both starting and ending via accommodations located in the Iya Valley, but with larger groups it may take 5 hours, please see the blue box below.
** If starting and/or ending this tour via Oboke area accommodations and/or JR Oboke Station we need to add an extra 30 minutes of time due to the extra driving distance needed between Oboke and the Iya Valley, so the tour will be 5 hours, or may be a bit longer with a larger group, please see the blue box below.
Add On sights possible, see below.

Prices:

Standard Taxi (1-3* people)

- 4.5 hrs: ¥ 41,500

- 5 hrs (if via Oboke): ¥ 45,800

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Jumbo Taxi (3-8 people)

- 4.5 hrs: ¥ 53,900

- 5 hrs (if via Oboke): ¥ 59,600

This is total price per private group (not per person)
All prices include tax.
Includes vehicle, driver, and English speaking local guide.
3 people in Standard Taxi is only recommended if 3rd person is a child or if you are all 3 small adults
Meal fees not included (see below about options)
Please pay your guide's lunch fee (about ¥800-1200)
Entrance fees not included (¥550/person Kazurabashi Vine Bridge, children are discounted).

Itinerary (fixed route) :

(route order may change based on starting time)

Start anytime between 8:00am and 1:00pm
Pick-up from any Iya Valley or Oboke area accommodation, or JR Oboke Station
Iyakei Gorge Viewpoints (Hi-no-Ji Bend, Peeing Boy Statue)
Iya-no-Kazurabashi Vine Bridge
Biwa Waterfall
Ryugugake Park and Manpu Gorge Wire Bridge
Local Lunch (see below about options)
Historic Ochiai Village Walking Tour
Nagaoka-ke Historic House
Drop-off at any Iya Valley or Oboke area accommodation or JR Oboke Station

Details About this Tour
- This is a Fixed Route Tour. If you would like to change the locations for this itinerary, please see one of our Custom Tours.
- This tour can start anytime between 8:00am and 1:00pm.
- We are generally not available for this tour on any Wednesday.
- Pick-up and drop-off can be from any Iya Valley or Oboke area accommodation, or JR Oboke Station. Other locations that are not in the Iya Valley or Oboke areas can also be arranged but may include an additional fee and require extra time.
- When starting and/or ending this tour via the Oboke area, the tour takes an additional 30 minutes and will be priced accordingly. The Oboke area includes: Jr Oboke Station, Hotel Obokekyo Mannaka, Hotel SunRiver Oboke, Akanoya Guesthouse, Bokenouen Guesthouse, and Cosmos Guesthouse.
- On heavy rain days, it may not be possible to walk through some places such as Ochiai Village (but we will provide umbrellas), so we will just tour these places by car and extend time at other points. Also, the guide and driver will do their best to accommodate anyone who may be physically unable to handle the walking tours.
Lunch Options
- On this tour we have a few restaurant options, often based on the day of the week (not all locations are open every day). These locations include a couple hand-made Iya soba noodle restaurants, or a local restaurant which has a variety of fresh dishes including wild game (deer) as well as soba noodles. Vegetarian is possible at any place (but please understand about the often unchangable use of dashi whether here or anywhere in Japan). Meal prices typically range from about 800 to 1200 per person at all places.
- Also, we ask that you please pay your guide's meal fee for lunch at any restaurant.
- Usless the restaurant is particularly busy (or if you prefer eating at a slower pace) the total time we stop for lunch is usually about 30 - 40 minutes.

For Groups of More than 4 People

We always aim for you to have the most enjoyable time possible, and with groups of more than 4 people, we often tend to move through the sights and have lunch a bit slower than usual, so it may be better to add an additional 30 minutes to the tour time. With the Jumbo Taxi for such groups, the extended 30 minutes would be 5,700 yen extra, and we will explain more after contacting via email.

+ Add On options for this tour:

This 4.5 - 5 hour Iya Highlights Tour is great for those who don't have a whole day available, but we can Add On some additional points to this tour if you are looking to do a little more!

Rates for every 30 minutes of extension:

Standard Taxi with guide + ¥4350

Jumbo Taxi with guide + ¥5700

*these extension fees are per group, not per person.