Called one of the three hidden regions of Japan, the Iya Valley has remained one of the country’s remotest areas. It is a challenge to reach the place. The access to the valley is through a narrow winding road that stretches for about twenty kilometers on the mountainside. Found in Tokushima Prefecture on Shikoku Island, the Iya Valley is one of the most mysterious places in the archipelago. It has also retained its stunning natural beauty.

Morning fog envelopes the mountains and the winding gorges. When the mists dissipate, shades of green emerge as dark green conifers and soft green tufts of bamboo carpet the valley. Cherry trees and wild azaleas add color in spring. Maples blaze a change of color in the entire vista during autumn. It is silent in this place under the sky, save for the rustling of leaves and soft gurgling of the river.

World-class rafting in the gorges of Oboke and Koboke just outside West Iya and sightseeing of breathtakingly scenic views are the activities to do in the area. In the eastern end, hiking is popular as there are various trails mapped out. But the best attraction of Iya are the precarious-looking vine bridges that cross the winding river at the bottom of the gorges.

The Iya Valley is a showcase of rural Japan. It is a rare sight, in fact, in a country that is tagged as one of the most modern places on earth.

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Via TIMEasia