For a vacation truly off the beaten path, you can't go wrong with heading into the Iya Valley, a remote, mountainous area deep in the heart of Shikoku Island. From Kochi, it's a 90-minute drive that takes you through Kochi and into one of those "hidden" regions in Japan where roads could not access the forested peaks and craggy valleys and rope bridges were the main means of transportation. Today, only a few remain and the Kazurabashi Bridge is a reminder of Japan's simpler past. Stretching 160 feet across a gulch and 45 feet, it's very well-maintained and is rebuilt every three years. As you walk across, you'll be amazed at the breathtaking views. More views await at the Oboke Gorge, where a boat will be waiting for you to take you on a cruise down the Yoshino River past narrow banks crowded with maple trees, azaleas and wildly-shaped rocks.