Exhilarated? Or Scared?

Manneken Pis boy in Iya Valley and a village in the sky

By Masayoshi Hirose

Community writer

Translated by Takako Sakamoto

Community writer

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He is peeing from the edge of a cliff! How audacious! (Photo: Masayoshi Hirose)

In the valley the trees are changing color (Photo: Masayoshi Hirose)

Is this one of the tanuki (Japanese raccoon) made in Shigaraki? His facial expression is so comical. (Photo: Masayoshi Hirose)

One of the most scenic valleys in Japan (Photo: Masayoshi Hirose)

Ochiai village in Iya is called the 'Village in the sky', and sprawls on the side of a mountain (Photo: Masayoshi Hirose)

It was drizzling when I visited, and the mist was covering the mountain ridges (Photo: Masayoshi Hirose)

The houses of Ochiai Village are built along stone-walled terraces (Photo: Masayoshi Hirose)

I visited Iya Valley in Tokushima Prefecture, and the 'Village in the Sky,' to see autumn foliage on November 3, 2011.

The Iya River valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in Tokushima. At the bottom of the plunging V-shape of the valley the emerald green Iya river flows. When you look at the river from the top of the valley it looks so faraway that you get dizzy. In autumn, the whole valley from river to peak will turn brilliant colors. However, I came a bit too early to see the magnificent beauty of it.

Don't miss the famous Manneken Pis boy, who stands on the edge of the cliff!