Through Magnificent Gorges and the Unique Scarecrow Village | 壮丽的峡谷和独特的稻草人村庄

Driving through the picturesque Iya Valley is an unforgettable experience. Today I'd like to share some breathtaking vistas I saw there, as well as a few unique scenes from the remote settlements.

I felt as if I'd been transported to another universe as we made our way through the winding roads. The deep canyons, cascading waterfalls, crystal-clear streams, and brilliant layers of autumn foliage, all took my breath away.

The turquoise Iya River meanders through the valley, cutting through towering cliffs and lush forests. As a result, bridges, dams and weirs are common sights in these gorges.

While the dams have provided significant benefits in terms of water management, energy production and tourism, they have also caused some disruption and ecological impact.

In the middle of the twentieth century, forestry and hydroelectric plants construction provided a significant economic boost to this remote region. Many residents left after the dams were built. There weren't many work openings, and daily living wasn't as easy as it would have been in a city. Locals have to drive long distances through snaking, narrow mountain roads to reach the nearest hospital or supermarket. Some of the outlying settlements were progressively disappearing because of their isolation and aging populations.

On the way, we took a couple of breaks for strolls and lunch. I didn't see any eateries, and there were no ubiquitous chain convenience stores or vending machines like in larger cities. We finally found a little grocery shop at a rural settlement to stock up on snacks, drinks and cup noodles.

While walking around, I noticed lots of abandoned old houses and other structures. Many life-size dolls were scattered across Nagoro, a village near Mount Miune. I first believed they were scarecrows made to frighten birds away, but the dolls were visible on practically every corner rather than simply in gardens or fields.

So I did a quick research and discovered that the location is known as Nagoro Scarecrow Village. After years of working as a tailor in Osaka, Ayano Tsukimi returned to her childhood home in Nagoro in the early 2000s. She was saddened by the hamlet's diminishing population and empty scenes. In an attempt to bring life back to the community, she started making scarecrows in the likeness of Nagoro's former residents.

The dolls have been placed throughout the village, including along streets, in gardens, at bus stops, and even inside abandoned homes and school classrooms. Some are posed in groups, while others are positioned alone. Some of the dolls are performing mundane tasks, and others are engaged in more surreal activities. Because of this, Nagoro has been featured in many documentaries and news articles, and has even inspired a manga comic series.

自驾穿越如画的东祖谷是非常难忘的经历，今天就来分享一些峡谷的壮丽风光，还有来自深山小村庄的独特景象。

清澈碧绿的祖谷河流经峡谷，蜿蜒穿过陡峭险峻的石壁和郁郁葱葱的森林。因此，桥梁、大坝和水堰都是山谷中常见的景观。

水电站为这块地区带来了经济发展，也造成了负面影响。大坝建成后，许多居民离开了。偏远的山区没多少工作机会，日常生活也不方便。当地人需要沿着狭窄的山路开车很久才能到达最近的超市或医院。人口老龄化加剧，一些居民点逐渐消失。

一路上没有看到餐馆，也没有日本城市普遍的连锁便利店或自动贩售机。最后终于在一条小路边找到一家杂货店，买了些点心、饮料和杯面。

沿路晃悠的时候，看见许多废弃的老房子和锈迹斑斑的车辆。Nagoro这座小村子里还散布着真人大小的布偶。我起初以为它们是用来吓跑鸟类的稻草人，但后来发现这些人偶几乎无处不在，或站或坐，或单独或成群，而不只是立在田地间或花园里。

上网看了一下，原来这个地方就叫稻草人村庄。村子里的人偶比居民还多，是当地人月见绫野手工缝制的。她在大阪做了多年裁缝后，回到老家照顾年迈的父亲。山村日益减少的人口和死寂沉闷的景象让她觉得很伤感，于是，她就开始制作布偶，模仿曾经住在这里的居民，并把他们放置在村子里的各个角落，甚至是教室的课桌前，来增添点人气和生机。后来Nagoro的这一独特现象被媒体报道，还给漫画创作带来了灵感。

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^{All content by @itchyfeetdonica. Thank you for visiting!
图文 by Donica，谢谢来访！=)}

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