Iya no Kazurabashi — Miyoshi
Iya no Kazurabashi
Vine suspension bridge · Rebuilt every three years · Nishi-Iyayama, Miyoshi, Japan
Photo: ume-y / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0), taken 4 May 2011; via Flickr. Full photograph shown.
Iya no Kazurabashi is a 45 m vine bridge hung 14 m above the Iya River in Miyoshi, Tokushima. It is woven from shirakuchi-kazura (hardy kiwi) vine and rebuilt every three years. The next rebuild is set for 12 January to about the end of February 2027, when it cannot be crossed. Tokushima Prefecture · Miyoshi City Tourism · Miyoshi City Tourism Checked
4 things to know
- Closed for its next rebuildMiyoshi’s tourism site says the bridge cannot be crossed, and the night light-up stops, from 12 January 2027 to about the end of February; snow may delay the work. Miyoshi City Tourism Checked
- The vine is running shortThe Forestry Agency’s Shikoku office says wild shirakuchi-kazura is declining, so students and locals plant seedlings in a national forest to supply future rebuilds. Shikoku Forest Office (Forestry Agency) Checked
- Steel inside the vinesjapan-guide.com says steel cables are hidden inside the vines today for safety. japan-guide.com Reported
- Two origin storiesOne legend says Heike fugitives built it so they could cut it down behind them; another credits the monk Kōbō Daishi. Miyoshi City Tourism Reported
Check-in guide
- 📍
- 162-2 Zentoku, Nishi-Iyayama, Miyoshi, Tokushima. Miyoshi City Tourism Checked
- 🎟️
- Admission 550 yen for adults and 350 yen for elementary pupils. Miyoshi City Tourism Checked
- 🚧
- Closed for rebuilding from 12 January to about the end of February 2027. Miyoshi City Tourism Checked
Sightings
- 20114 May
Vine bridge photographed
- 202230 Jun
Forestry office plans vine seedling planting
- 202411 Dec
Visitor guide updated · japan-guide.com
- 202530 Oct
Local feature on the bridge · yousakana.jp
- 202616 Oct
Rebuild announced for Jan–Feb 2027 · Miyoshi tourism
Green stamps are dated photographs and official records; amber stamps are news reports and visitor guides. The status stamp follows the newest dated source, 16 October 2026.
The facts
- Size
- 45 m long, 2 m wide, 14 m above the water. Tokushima Prefecture Checked
- Material
- Shirakuchi-kazura (hardy kiwi) vine. Miyoshi City Tourism Checked
- Hidden support
- Steel cables inside the vines. japan-guide.com Reported
- Rebuild cycle
- Every three years. Tokushima Prefecture Checked
- Next rebuild
- 12 January to about the end of February 2027; closed during the work. Miyoshi City Tourism Checked
- Vine weight
- About 5 t according to the prefecture, about 6 t according to Miyoshi City. Tokushima Prefecture · Miyoshi City Tourism Conflicting We lean to Miyoshi City’s figure, from the city’s own tourism page; the prefecture’s 5 t may be rounded.
- Protection
- National Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property. Miyoshi City Tourism Checked
- Origin
- The origin is unclear: legend credits either Heike fugitives or the monk Kōbō Daishi. Miyoshi City Tourism · japan-guide.com Unconfirmed
Related
- Japan Doesn’t Build Boring Bridges (12 Photos): the SAU collection that includes this bridge.
All sources (7)
Official
- Tokushima Prefecture: Kazurabashi, size, three-year rebuild, vine weight
- Miyoshi City Tourism: Iya no Kazurabashi, material, weight, protection, fees, legends
- Miyoshi City Tourism news, 16 October 2026, 2027 rebuild and closure
- Shikoku Forest Office press release, 30 June 2022, vine seedling planting
Guides
- japan-guide.com: Kazurabashi, steel cables inside
- yousakana.jp: Kazurabashi, local feature, October 2025
Photos
- Wikimedia Commons: Iya Kazurabashi-4.jpg, ume-y via Flickr, 4 May 2011, CC BY 2.0
Artwork File · Last checked 9 November 2026 · Certainty labels follow How We Verify Art · All Artwork Files