Iya Valley

Didn’t really know what to expect as I headed towards Iya  Valley.  All I know is I wanted to go to Scarecrow Village and do this homestay at this remote location called Romantei.   I had a hard time booking it, but he finally agreed to let me come for one night in between other customers.  He was busy so he couldn’t pick me up at the station.  I agreed to take the one hour bus ride to his place.  Well that included a 1 hour wait for the bus.  Then it started raining… but not so bad.  I finally got on the bus and he graciously was waiting for me at the bus stop.  His place was interesting… and so was he. 

He spoke in English and had a big laminated book with directions and information in English.  He especially noted that it takes 90 minutes for ambulance or help to come… so be careful.  He kept repeating that when given me directions.  He noted the safety exit sign if there should be a fire or some other disaster… and remember 90 minutes.  He showed me this book in which pervious guests had written heartfelt messages and drawn beautiful pictures.  He had me mark on his map where I came from.
Well, time to make rice.  He had me make a fire outside and cook the rice in a pot on the “stove”. 

Then he told me to take a furo.  The furo was wonderful.  I loved it and could have stayed in there all day.  It was evening and the sky was beautiful. 

After dressing, I met him in the dining room.  He had music playing and slowly brought me the items to eat. 

Then it was relax time.  He got out a candle, tea and incense.  He told me “relax time”  then he left me to go to bed and gave me the book and colored pencils so I could write him a message as his other guests had. 

The next morning, he had me manually grind his coffee beans for my coffee then I had to make another fire in the middle of the room to cook my mochi.  It was wonderful.  Served me miso soup.  So serene.  He made me feel very special. 

Then it was time to go.  I was being picked up by a tour guide to go deep into the valley to Scarecrow Village.  He usually will tour the guest, but he had to get ready for his next visitor.   Luckily I had some Hawaiian cookies and some Hawaii keychains to give him.  Then we followed his ritual of lowering the American flag, with song, no less.   I told him I’d send him the Hawaiian flag.  He raises the flag of his guests’ country. 

So… on the road with my guide and her driver.  We went to a samurai house and walked in the old villages.  This area of Tokushima was where samurai were sent to ensure peace in the area.  Now the villages are getting smaller in size as young adults chose to move away and only the elderly remain
There are maybe 20 to 30 people in each village. 

We had  buckwheat noodle ramen from a local resturant.  It was yummy.  The noodles were so fresh.  Instead of growing rice, they mostly grow buckwheat. 

Then, finally we made it to Scarecrow Village.  I loved it.  The lady who makes the scarecrows is not home today, but we got to see her house.  My guide knows her as she lives in a nearby village.   The scarecrows were wonderful. 

Only saw visitors and hardly any sight of townspeople, besides the scarecrows.  One day, maybe I will come back and take her workshop.  I’d love to meet her.  My guide says she made her first scarecrow that resembled her father and so many people thought he was real and stopped to talk with him.  So she was encouraged to make more.  She makes no money from the scarecrows but the government does provide her village with restrooms for the tourists and probly anything else that she might want. She doesn’t even sell souvenirs.  I respect that of her. 

Then on to the double and single vined bridges.  These bridges, they say, were built by samurai and they could cut down the bridges if the enemies were approaching.  The area is encompassed by gorges and valleys.  Now the bridges are reinforced with steel wire so they won’t collapse.  Little shaky, but quite fun to walk across. 

After the long day I was dropped off at my hotel near the edge of the valley. Oboke Station in Obake Valley… not pronounced obake but Oobake. Here, besides going to the onsen, I did a boat cruise through the gorge and visited a folktale museum.  

In Japan, they have lots of scary folktales so that the childen won’t go into the valley or other places they shouldn’t go.  There are stories of children or adults disappearing and not returning.  Now I recognize some of the scary masks and dolls my gramma used to have.  Interesting museum just in time for Halloween.  

Next on my agenda is going to Dogo Onsen… can’t wait! So excited for that one…