Iya Architecture Tour

Traditional Architecture Tours

Traditional Iya

Architecture Tour

Explore the classic buildings of Iya

Discover the methods of Iya's kayabuki

On this unique tour you will visit three different centuries-old thatched-roof houses (called kayabuki ) where your guide will give an inside tour of each which focuses on their construction methods, their layout design based on how they were used and lived in, and the necessary steps that have been used to restore and preserve these beautiful buildings. Each structure has its own unique characteristics, with one being the home of a simple farmer, another being that of a village chief, and the final being the splenid home of Iya's former ruling samurai (an optional fourth grand building which was also a home to the samurai's clan can also be visited with a time extention, please ask if interested when contacting).

This tour also includes an in-depth walking tour along ancient foot-paths through Ochiai Historic Village, which is revered for its collection of traditional homes. Additionally, you will also go to viewpoints along the original Iya road through Manpu Gorge and its breath-taking wire footbridge, visit the weird and wonderful Scarecrow Village with a chance to meet the artist, and also go out to the hidden Double Vine Bridges which are marvels of back-country engineering .

We will also stop for a great lunch at an Iya-style restaurant, either for some hand-made soba noodles and other Iya treats, or to a local place that is known for its fresh vegetables and range of wild game dishes hunted by the owner. This is a fantastic experience for those who are interested in traditional carpentry and architecture!

Base Time:

7 hours

Not available on Wednesdays.
Includes pick-up and drop-off from any Iya Valley or Oboke area accommodation and/or via JR Oboke Station. Pick-up or drop-off elsewhere also possible, just let us know.
This tour typically lasts about 7 hours, but it can be reduced a bit if needing to catch a particular departing train from Oboke Station. Just let us know.
Add On sights possible, see below.
Not available in winter (December 1 to March 31)

Standard Taxi (1-3* people) ¥ 60,900

Jumbo Taxi (3-8 people) ¥ 79,800

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
Meal fees not included (lunch options explained below)
Please pay your guide's lunch fee (about ¥800-1200)
Entrance fees not included (¥550/person Double Vine Bridge, ¥310/person for historic house. Children are discounted)

Itinerary:

Pick-up from any local accommodation or Oboke Station
Ryugugake Park and Manpu Gorge Wire Bridge
Kita-ke Historic House, or Asa-ke Historic House
Local Lunch (options explained below)
Historic Ochiai Village Walking Tour
Nagaoka-ke Historic House
Koune-ke Historic House
Scarecrow Village Walk
Oku-Iya Double Vine Bridges**
Ochiai Village Viewpoint
Drop-off at any local accommodation or Oboke Station

** From Dec 1 to March 31 the Double Vine Bridges are closed, so we go to the main Kazurabashi Vine Bridge instead.

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.
- From Dec 1 to March 31 the Double Vine Bridges are closed, so during this time we go to the main Kazurabashi Vine Bridge instead.
- This tour can start anytime between 8:30am and 11:00am.
- We are generally not available for this tour on any Wednesday.
- Pick-up and drop-off can be from any local accommodation or JR Oboke Station. Other locations that are not in Iya or Oboke can also be arranged but may include an additional fee and require extra time.
- Please pay your guide's lunch fee (about ¥800-1200). See details in "Lunch Options" below
- 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 understad 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.
- Alternately, you can bring along your own bento lunch box and/or snacks instead of stopping for a meal, and eat at the covered picnic area beside the Double Vine Bridges. Food can be purchased from the shop next to Oboke Station. But please note that in early spring and mid/late autumn it may be a little chilly when eating outside here. Please let us know if you would prefer to do this.

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, especially if going via the Oboke area and/or Hotel Iya Onsen. With the Jumbo Taxi for such groups, the extended 30 minutes would be 5,700 yen extra, so the total fee for the 7.5 hour tour would be 85,500 yen. We will explain more after contacting via email.

+Add On options for this tour:

Our Architecture Tour focuses mainly on Iya's traditional buildings, but we can Add On some additional points to this tour to make it even more wonderful!

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.