The lower reaches of the Iya Valley are referred to as the Iya Gorge (祖谷渓 "Iya-kei"). This area is mostly undeveloped and unpopulated, but the original road that accesses the Iya Valley goes through here (Rt 32), which was built between 1902 and 1920. Though a more modern tunnel connecting the central valley to Oboke has been built (allowing faster and easier access to the main areas of the Iya Valley), it is still possible to enter by way of the old, mostly one-laned road through the gorge (called the "Iya Highway"). About halfway along this 20 km long cliffside, gorge road is the Peeing Boy Statue, which was installed in 1968 in honor of young boys who would traditionally relieve themselves from this high precipice.