When talking about sightseeing spots in Iya (one of Japan’s Three Hidden Regions), one will mention Kazura Bridge. Right in the vicinity of the bridge there is an “open air bath in the sky” with views out of this world.
That open-air bath can be found here.

Kazurabashi Hotel (an onsen hot spring hotel) somehow has a “Ghibli air” to it.
The hotel itself is quite in the middle of the mountains, but the open-air bath in the sky is even further up the mountain.
If you do your best, you can reach it even by climbing up the mountain, but there is a cable car that connects the hotel and the bath.

Well, actually, a more accurate description would be a cable hut!
In any case, with this moving house you can climb all the way up the mountain in an instant.

When you reach the mountaintop, you can find separate open-air baths for men and women, as well as a mixed bath. It’s a superior quality simple sulfur hot spring that is said to help with: joint pain, muscle pain, stiff shoulders, hemorrhoids, sensitivity to cold, recovering from tiredness, and promoting health, among other things.
From each bath you can enjoy a view over the beautiful Iya Mountains – it feels like your soul is being cleansed.

Right next to the baths there is a resting area, “Hanbee no Ie” (‘Hanbee’s house’) where you can rest your body if you feel dizzy after the bath.

Behind “Hanbee no Ie” there is a viewing platform with a footbath.

We recommend soaking up the view from here, as well!

And lastly, you can enjoy local cuisine in the room with sunken fireplaces…
Let’s try “dekomawashi” (river fish and dengaku) that is cooked in the sunken fireplace.
This rural feeling is great!

Try the flavors of the mountain village and leave your fatigue in the hot spring in the sky.

Come and visit this hidden hot spring hotel!
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Yumoto Shin Iya Onsen Hotel Kazurabashi

Location: 33-1 Zentoku, Nishiiyayamamura, Miyoshi City, Tokushima Prefecture
Tel: 0883-87-2171
Parking: Available
Home page: http://www.kazurabashi.co.jp/ (Japanese, but hotel reservation page available in English)

Setouchi Finder Photo-writer: Daisuke Chiba