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While the swaying vine bridges of Japan’s Iya Valley may not be as beautiful as Tower Bridge, London’s most iconic landmark, as old as Arkadiko Bridge, a stone arch bridge in Greece whose construction dates back to the Mycenaean Era, or as long as China’s Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge that runs for a good 102 miles, because of its swaying nature, it’s a bridge adrenaline junkies will love exploring. Of course, the improbable combination of excitement and fear is not something all of us can brave. For some, this experience may just melt the heart, churn the stomach, and dissolve the bowels. It’s like standing on Suicide Point in India, a rock outcrop on the waist of a steep cliff that has become a major draw with tourists.

In this article, we shine the spotlight on the swaying bridges of Japan’s Iya Valley and show why they are worth the hype.

Why You’ll Want To Lace Up For The Bridges of Japan’s Iya Valley

The swaying bridges of Japan’s Iya Valley are not for those clinically diagnosed with High Blood Pressure. We can summon the strength and cross the nearly 24-mile-long Lake Pontchartrain Causeway even if it means losing sight of land for an unsettling 8 miles. It’s because Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is framed by reinforced concrete as well as steel. As far as the fear that a bridge may give way is concerned, remembering that a bridge is supported by steel, the strongest alloy in the world, will certainly calm the nerves. The problem is that the bridges of Japan’s Iya Valley are not made of steel. Instead, they are made of vines, vines that grow wildly in the surrounding jungles. And while they look firmly woven together and evidently exhibit skillful handiwork, only a few stomachs will be completely free of butterflies.

Vine Bridge
Via Unsplash
Vine Bridge

And it is not just that the bridges are made of vines. A 2-meter-high vine bridge, even if made of twining stems of plants, is not something that will scare a child. But one of the vine bridges of Japan’s Iya Valley is about 14 meters high. For perspective, that’s a height about as tall as a four-story building. And here’s the thriller. Those 14 meters are not above solid ground but above a raging river whose depth is hundreds of meters deep. And if the height of the vine bridges is not blood-curdling enough, these bridges are sometimes slippery (depending on the weather) and occasionally sway depending on the strength of the wind. One’s heart may not stop beating while crossing these vine bridges, but it may falter or miss a beat.

It is an experience that might scare the daylights out of an adult. But again, it’s a chance an adrenaline junkie will not want to let slip up.

Related: Here's Where To See The First Iron Bridge In The World

Other Factors That Make Iya Valley Bridges A Must-Cross For Adrenaline Junkies

The bridges of Japan’s Iya Valley are made of vines. That’s curious enough. But that they are sometimes slippery and often sway—transforms them from just an oddity to a tempting thriller. It’s what makes them a must-cross for adrenaline junkies. These bridges also feature handrails that, like the bridges themselves, are made of vines. Sometimes, the handrails, perhaps because of the wobbling and the swaying, appear as if they are detaching from the bridge. Since when crossing the bridge people often use the handrails as support, the perception that the handrails are giving way, and the thought that one may plunge down the river, often makes for some anxious moments.

Tokushima, Japan
Via Unsplash
Tokushima, Japan

Yet the bridges, as they look today, are nothing scary. Years ago, the bridges did not even have handrails. With not a shred of support on either side and spaces between the planks, those crossing it would crawl or slither, afraid of bouncing over and plunging to the deep Iya River below. Obviously, many people would just turn back.

Related: Beautiful Bridges From Around The World

A Brief History Of Iya Valley Vine Bridges (& How To Visit)

The vine bridges of Japan’s Iya Valley are entwined in much fascinating folklore, legend, as well as myth. One version is that the bridges were constructed by the Heikke refugees, who, after being defeated in the 1185 Gempei War, relocated to the Iya Valley, among other areas, in pursuit of a safe place where they could settle down. Those who arrived at the Iya Valley would make 13 vine bridges, which, because they could be cut easily, made the Iya Valley region a potential natural fortress for the Heike refugees.

  • How Much Will I Pay To Cross The Vine Bridges of Japan’s Iya Valley? 550 Yen or about 5 USD.

Today, however, only three of the original thirteen remain. The most popular of these bridges is the Iya Kazura Bridge in West Iya, a short walk from the main village. Finally, the Iya Village is a two-hour drive from Tokushima City on Shikoku island. Swaying on a slippery vine bridge suspended several feet above a deep river might just unlock all the stores of adrenaline in one’s body.