furthest end of Higashi-Iya near the base of Mt Tsurugi. The main Iya-no-Kazurabashi is 45 meters in length and is classified in Japan as an Important Tangible Folk Culture Property. Its vines are replaced every 3 years, and for safety, steel cables are laced inside the vines. Tourism Tourism is quite popular in the western part of the valley (Nishi-Iya) particularly due to the historic vine bridge (kazurabashi) and hot spring baths at the large hotels in its vicinity. Yet most people (about 95%) do not get much farther than this site, mainly due to the fact that the primary access road to the rest of the valley is only one lane at times which creates insurance restrictions for most group tour buses. However, the deeper reaches of the valley in Higashi Iya are much more preserved. For those visiting in the summer months, the pleasant temperatures are an escape from the usually oppressive heat found most other places in the country. Aside from the scenic double vine bridge deep in the valley (Oku-Iya Kazurabashi), there are historic hamlets, many thatched-roof homes, extensive mountain hiking, and one of the oddest art installations in the country. Notes External links IyaTime: Iya Valley Tourism Website in English http://atlasobscura.com/places/vine-bridges-japan The alluring lofty peaks of Iya Valley (The Japan Times) Vine bridges cross Japan's remote Iya Valley (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Few Americans know about this mysterious, remote valley in southern Japan (The Washington Post) Off the Beaten Track on the Island of Shikoku (Channel NewsAsia) In between days in Okayama, Japan (The Australian Financial Review) (Chiiori Trust) (Chiiori Org) (Inside Kyoto) (Huffington Post Japan) (New York Times) (Travel Age West) Regions of Japan Landforms of Tokushima Prefecture Tourist attractions in Tokushima Prefecture Valleys of Japan Miyoshi, Tokushima