So, we couldn't make it to the Iya Valley in Tokushima Prefecture... Well, that's just one more reason to plan a return trip to Japan, isn't it? We're told this place is like stepping into a time machine back to old Japan, with its mountain valleys and farmhouses that look like they've been plucked straight from a history book. It's where samurai once hid out, including the Taira clan after their epic fall in the Genpei War, turning the area into a historical hideaway.

Iya Valley is essentially Japan’s answer to "off the beaten path," offering a slice of authentic charm for those who dare to venture off the tourist treadmill.