rural region in Western Tokushima where thatched hamlets and patches of farmland cling to the mountainsides Where is Iya Valley?Iya Valley is located in western Tokushima in northeast Shikoku which is the smallest of Japan’s four main islands hung between the big-hitters of Hiroshima and Kobe crossing the Seto Inland Sea by suspension bridges the region remains less visited by international tourists Iya — which translates to ‘ancestor valley’ — is Shikoku’s dark heart: a tree-mantled mountainous time capsule carved up by monumental valleys and rushing It’s roughly divided into two regions: Nishi-Iya a more accessible region along the great Yoshino River one of the deepest and most secluded parts of Japan Iya Valley is a throwback to an old-world Japan a region which hasn’t quite caught up with the rest of the country the first roads into Iya only appeared in the early to mid-20th century self-sufficient populace was left to develop alone The result is an anomalous culture of hilltop towns Iya’s impregnable landscape also made it a hideout for political exiles who built the region’s best-known attraction: its three remaining vine bridges that crisscross above the Iya River Iya abounds with spectacular scenery of steep unfathomably blue-green rivers and veils of verdant forest that shift with the seasons One of its strangest attractions is Nagoro where one villager has tackled the dwindling population by replacing people with life-size dolls Iya Valley offers hikes along dramatic cliffside trails canyoning through glassy pools and some of Japan’s best white-water rapids at Koboke Gorge despite them being renewed every three years and now secretly bolstered by cables As relatively few tourists make it to Iya Valley it’s ideal for off-the-beaten-track travel and those hoping to experience an entirely different side of Japan plus its rice-free food culture thanks to its inhospitable agriculture Iya Valley is famed for its unique vine bridges (called kazurabashi) that hang over the Iya River Each is made from several tons of wisteria vines that are gathered from the surrounding mountains Each is made from several tons of wisteria vines that are gathered from the surrounding mountains.photograph by Western TokushimaWhat are some of its main draws?The Hinoji bend at Oboke and Koboke gorges is one of the valley’s most photogenic spots A horseshoe of emerald water parts the towering which you can enjoy from a lookout above or on a boat tour below Iya Valley's rivers also offer incredible class three and four rapids with stony chutes and roiling waters broken briefly by more serene sections you’ll find authentic crafts and architecture you can still see preserved samurai houses and spot the increasingly elaborate udatsu in Wakimachi and Sadamitsu these roofed walls became a status symbol for Iya Valley’s tobacco and indigo traders a Buddhist temple complex featuring 1,300-year-old temples you can see hillside village life and stay in one of the traditional thatched kominka buildings The unique cuisine of Iya Valley is another highlight with soba (buckwheat) replacing traditional rice Tuck into hot stews of soba noodles and soba rice with each season offering a different aspect and activity Spring and autumn are the best times to see the changing landscape cherry trees paint the river valleys pink with sakura while autumn foliage lights up in scarlet and saffron Summer brings long days for hiking Oku-Iya’s interior clear skies for stargazing and the best weather for tackling river rapids Winter is the hardest season to travel through the valley making its narrow snaking roads harder to navigate winter is great for exploring traditional towns like Sadamitsu cosying up with a hot sake from one of the local breweries where you can bathe in hot spring waters and watch snow fall across the mountains Subscribe to our newsletter and follow National Geographic Traveller (UK) on social media: The In Vitro Diagnostics Division of PHC Corporation a provider of medical devices and diagnostics has received European Union Medical Devices Regulation (EU-MDR) certification for a motorized drug injection device that delivers anti-inflammatory medications called tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors and monitored drug injections in the home setting for conditions including rheumatoid arthritis The EU-MDR certification clears the way for future distribution of the device in approximately 20 countries including EU countries APP-1000 is a class IIa portable medical device manufactured at PHC IVD’s Wakimachi plant in Japan It allows patients to self-inject TNF inhibitors automatically at a touch of a button with no measurement or preparation required The device comes equipped with an LCD screen with illustrated guidance to make it easier for patients to use Dosing history stored in the device memory can be transferred via Bluetooth to a smartphone allowing patients and doctors to check the dosing record remotely at any time patients can choose from three injection speeds depending on their needs This device is currently available in Japan PHC IVD plans to make it available in EU countries MM Activ Singapore Pte Ltd 1 North Bridge Road,#08-08 High Street Centre communications@biospectrumasia.com +65 90150305 Copyright 2025 MM Activ Singapore Pte Ltd