Flights to Iya Valley
A gorge on Shikoku where defeated Heike samurai supposedly hid — thatched farmhouses, vine bridges over the river, and villages so depopulated they've filled the empty houses with scarecrows.
Things to do
ChiioriEdo period minka farmhouseTourism hasn't reached it yet. Here is exactly how to, and how long that's likely to last.
Open on the live mapTrack your flight thereGetting to Iya Valley
6 airports have scheduled nonstop service to KCZ (Kōchi Ryōma Airport). From there: drive ~52 km from KCZ.
All 6 nonstop origins
Via KIX — Osaka
Osaka is the hub for Iya Valley: 63 airports fly there nonstop, then drive ~52 km from KCZ.
Show the 40 nearest as a list
| From | Airport | Airlines | Flight time |
|---|---|---|---|
| TokyoJapan | HND | All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines | ~1h 8m |
| FukuokaJapan | FUK | Peach | ~1h 10m |
| MiyazakiJapan | KMI | Peach | ~1h 10m |
| TokyoJapan | NRT | Jetstar Japan, Peach | ~1h 13m |
| KagoshimaJapan | KOJ | Peach | ~1h 14m |
| NagasakiJapan | NGS | Peach | ~1h 15m |
| BusanSouth Korea | PUS | Air Busan, EASTAR JET, Jeju Air, Jin Air, T'Way Air | ~1h 20m |
| TaeguSouth Korea | TAE | T'way Air | ~1h 23m |
| SendaiJapan | SDJ | Peach | ~1h 25m |
| ChongjuSouth Korea | CJJ | Aero K, T'way Air | ~1h 32m |
| ChejuSouth Korea | CJU | T'Way Air | ~1h 38m |
| SeoulSouth Korea | GMP | Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air, Korean Air, Peach | ~1h 39m |
| AmamiJapan | ASJ | Peach | ~1h 40m |
| SeoulSouth Korea | ICN | Aero K, Air Busan, Asiana Airlines, Eastar Jet, Jeju Air, Jin Air, Korean Air, Peach, T'way Air, Thai Smile Airways | ~1h 41m |
| SapporoJapan | CTS | Jetstar Japan, Spring Airlines Japan | ~1h 58m |
| OkinawaJapan | OKA | Japan Transocean Air, Jetstar Japan | ~2h 5m |
| KushiroJapan | KUH | Peach | ~2h 10m |
| YantaiChina | YNT | Indigo Airlines | ~2h 14m |
| MemanbetsuJapan | MMB | Peach | ~2h 15m |
| ShanghaiChina | PVG | Air China, All Nippon Airways, China Eastern Airlines, Japan Airlines, Juneyao Air, Peach, Shanghai Airlines, Spring Airlines | ~2h 16m |
| DalianChina | DLC | Spring Airlines | ~2h 17m |
| QingdaoChina | TAO | Shandong Airlines | ~2h 20m |
| WuxiChina | WUX | Shenzhen Airlines | ~2h 24m |
| MiyakoJapan | MMY | Japan Transocean Air | ~2h 26m |
| HangzhouChina | HGH | Air China, Beijing Capital Airlines, Eurofly | ~2h 28m |
| IshigakiJapan | ISG | Japan Transocean Air, Peach | ~2h 33m |
| NanjingChina | NKG | Juneyao Air | ~2h 34m |
| JinanChina | TNA | Shandong Airlines | ~2h 42m |
| TianjinChina | TSN | Tianjin Airlines | ~2h 44m |
| TaipeiTaiwan | TPE | Air New Zealand, AirAsia X, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, EVA Air, Etihad Airways, Japan Airlines, Jetstar Japan, Peach, Starlux Airlines, Thai Airways International, Thai Lion Mentari, Thai Vietjet Air, Tigerair Taiwan | ~2h 46m |
| BeijingChina | PEK | Air China, All Nippon Airways, Hainan Airlines | ~2h 51m |
| KaohsiungTaiwan | KHH | AirAsia, China Airlines, EVA Air, Tigerair Taiwan | ~3h 6m |
| GuangzhouChina | CAN | China Southern Airlines | ~3h 44m |
| ShenzhenChina | SZX | Shenzhen Airlines | ~3h 44m |
| Hong KongHong Kong | HKG | Cathay Pacific, Harbor Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Hong Kong Express Airways, Peach | ~3h 45m |
| MacauMacau | MFM | Air Macau | ~3h 48m |
| AganaGuam | GUM | T'way Air, United Airlines | ~3h 49m |
| ManilaPhilippines | MNL | Cebu Pacific, Jetstar Japan, Philippine Airlines | ~3h 58m |
| CebuPhilippines | CEB | Cebu Pacific Air, Philippine Airlines | ~4h 19m |
| HanoiVietnam | HAN | Vietnam Airlines | ~4h 43m |
Showing the 40 nearest of 63.
Routings from major airports
| From | Stops | Via | Door to door |
|---|---|---|---|
Dallas-Fort WorthDFW
| 2 stops | YVR → KIX | ~17h 21m |
New YorkJFK
| 2 stops | YYZ → KIX | ~17h 57m |
Los AngelesLAX
| 1 stop | KIX | ~14h 48m |
MiamiMIA
| 2 stops | YVR → KIX | ~19h 30m |
ChicagoORD
| 2 stops | HND → KIX | ~17h 6m |
LondonLHR
| 2 stops | HEL → KIX | ~15h 51m |
TorontoYYZ
| 1 stop | KIX | ~16h 37m |
Why it's still quiet
A gorge on Shikoku where defeated Heike samurai supposedly hid — thatched farmhouses, vine bridges over the river, and villages so depopulated they've filled the empty houses with scarecrows.
The friction
The scarecrow village photographs too well to stay unknown.
Background
The Iya Valley region in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan is a scenic area known for its mountain valleys, thatched roof farmhouses and historic Vine Bridges. Although access has improved in recent years, the Iya Valley and the inner parts of Shikoku have historically been remote and difficult to enter. Members of the Taira clan were said to have entered the area after losing the Genpei War to the Minamoto clan in the late 12th century.
Questions
- Is there a nonstop flight to Iya Valley?
- Yes — 6 airports fly nonstop to KCZ (Kōchi Ryōma Airport), including Fukuoka, Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Tokyo.
- Which airport do you fly into for Iya Valley?
- KCZ — Kōchi Ryōma Airport. Most travelers connect through KIX (Kansai International Airport).
- When is the best time to visit Iya Valley?
- Apr–Nov. The scarecrow village photographs too well to stay unknown.
- What does Iya Valley cost per day?
- Varies by season.
- Why is Iya Valley still quiet?
- A gorge on Shikoku where defeated Heike samurai supposedly hid — thatched farmhouses, vine bridges over the river, and villages so depopulated they've filled the empty houses with scarecrows.