Tokushima

Exhilarated? Or Scared?

Manneken Pis boy in Iya Valley and a village in the sky

Takako Sakamoto Nov 15, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>He is peeing from the edge of a cliff! How audacious!</p>

<p>In the valley the trees are changing color</p>

<p>Is this one of the tanuki (Japanese raccoon) made in Shigaraki? His facial expression is so comical.</p>

<p>One of the most scenic valleys in Japan</p>

<p>Ochiai village in Iya is called the 'Village in the sky', and sprawls on the side of a mountain</p>

<p>It was drizzling when I visited, and the mist was covering the mountain ridges</p>

<p>The houses of Ochiai Village are built along stone-walled terraces</p>

I visited Iya Valley in Tokushima Prefecture, and the 'Village in the Sky,' to see autumn foliage on November 3, 2011.

The Iya River valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in Tokushima. At the bottom of the plunging V-shape of the valley the emerald green Iya river flows. When you look at the river from the top of the valley it looks so faraway that you get dizzy. In autumn, the whole valley from river to peak will turn brilliant colors. However, I came a bit too early to see the magnificent beauty of it.

Don't miss the famous Manneken Pis boy, who stands on the edge of the cliff!

More info

Find out more about Iya Valley.

Iya Valley: Hidden Treasure

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...