Higashiiyayama [Village] - Higashiiyayama

Japanese: 東祖谷山[村] - ひがしいややま

A village in Miyoshi County, western Tokushima Prefecture. Population 2,620 (1995). Together with Nishi-Iyayama Village, it is known collectively as Iya Valley and Iya Mountain. It was once one of Japan's most remote and uncharted regions, and the legend of the Heike refugees is said to have been passed down. It occupies the upper reaches of the Iya River, a tributary of the Yoshino River, and is a steep, mountainous, highland area, mostly made up of forests. Settlements are scattered on both sides of the Iya River, which flows west through the center, and on the mountain slopes, and there is very little arable land. The main settlement is Kyojo. Until a road was opened along the Iya River in 1920, one had to cross Mizunokuchi Pass to get to Tsuji along the Yoshino River, Ochiai Pass and Sajiki Pass to get to Kamo, and Oshima Pass to get to Sadamitsu.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

徳島県西部，三好郡の村。人口2620(1995)。西祖谷山村とあわせて祖谷渓（いやだに），祖谷山と総称され，かつては日本の代表的な秘境に数えられ，平家落人伝説も伝わる。吉野川の支流祖谷川の上流域を占め，急峻な山間高冷地で大部分が山林からなる。中央部を西流する祖谷川の両岸と山間傾斜地に集落が散在し，耕地は非常に少ない。中心集落は京上（きようじよう）。1920年に祖谷川沿いに道路が開通するまでは，吉野川沿岸の辻へは水ノ口峠，加茂へは落合峠，桟敷（さじき）峠，貞光へは小島（おしま）峠を越えて行かねばならなかった。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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