Experience the thrill of soaring 12 stories high on a zipline across the Iya River in the Forest Adventure IYA VALLEY

After taking a sightseeing boat ride through the Oboke Gorge in Miyoshi City, Tokushima Prefecture, to admire the breathtaking rock formations and emerald waters of Oboke and Koboke—one of Japan’s three great hidden scenic spots—we continued our journey to our lunchtime reservation at Forest Adventure IYA VALLEY. This popular Shikoku attraction, has become a must-visit destination in recent years thanks to its exciting forest activities.

After parking in the lot, we decided to go straight for the zipline course crossing the river, priced at 2,500 yen. To conserve our energy, we chose the simpler 30-minute zipline round trip for a quick yet thrilling experience. Worried about dirtying our clothes, we changed into yesterday’s attire before starting.

There were seven main safety reminders, the first being to use the restroom and take care of any smoking needs beforehand, as the full activity could take up to two hours. Even for our shorter 30-minute trip, we nervously visited the restroom first. The second most important rule was to empty all pockets. To comply, I left my bag and water bottle in the car, carrying only my iPhone for photos and videos. Dropping items into the deep valley below would be troublesome.

Since we didn’t have gloves, we purchased a pair at the service center. After gearing up with safety equipment, we crossed the Iya Roman Bridge, a suspension bridge spanning a high gorge. On the other side, we followed signs up a forested slope, passing several intriguing adventure activities that looked both fun and challenging.

Reaching the forest zipline area, we saw two women ahead of us carefully following the instructor’s guidance. Step by step, they made their way up to the zipline platform, which was perched about three stories high on a tree. It looked intimidating.

When it was our turn, we secured our safety harnesses to the cable and advanced up to the platform. At one point, we even had to cross a balance beam between two trees—an exhilarating challenge! Finally, we reached the starting point of the zipline and zipped down, soaring over the valley.

▲The zipline at Forest Adventure IYA VALLEY stretches so far that people on the opposite end are barely visible. The wind causes your body to spin or turn mid-air, adding to the excitement.

After returning via the zipline to the starting point and taking a brief rest, we explored the surrounding paths. We encountered a fun, giant wooden statue that required us to walk underneath its legs. It was a playful and unique touch to the park.

On the way back, we made sure to take more photos of the scenic views and facilities, especially the Iya Roman Bridge. Crossing it felt incredibly high, like being 15 stories above the ground.

The bridge even had a small statue of the famous “Peeing Boy” (小便小僧), a well-known icon of the Iya Valley. This one wore a cute hat, adding to its charm.

Back at the service center, we returned the small waist pouch we borrowed and admired the variety of gear available, including phone pouches. The zipline and adventure park provided a truly memorable and exciting experience.