Exploring Ine Fishing Village & Amanohashidate (Kyoto)

Ine no Funaya is a small coastal Kyoto fishing village in Ine town, about 120km north of Kyoto Station. It is famous for its ancient wooden floating houses along the coast of Ine Bay. Along with that is Amanohashidate, about 25km from Ine no Funaya, one of the "three great scenic spots" of Japan (Nihon Sankei - Top 3 most beautiful tourist destinations in Japan, besides Matsushima Bay and Miyajima Island).

Although very famous to Japanese people, Ine & Amanohashidate are not well known to tourists, and are easily overlooked in Kyoto travel itineraries . Through this article, I will share with you my trip to these two beautiful places, to diversify your Kyoto trip.

Address:

Ine no Funaya Fishing Village: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Jjbdjnx4JvPE11hJ6

Amanohashidate: https://maps.app.goo.gl/H4AE9qHYauYf6TNV8

The easiest way to get to Kyoto fishing village is by car, because the train takes a long time, is expensive, and you can't control your time.

I left Kyoto Station at 7:30 AM, and it took about 3 hours to reach Ine fishing village. Since it was almost noon by the time I arrived, I decided to have a meal first before exploring and taking photos. Ine is known for its incredibly fresh seafood (being a fishing village, of course), and the restaurants are conveniently located near each other, right next to the parking lot.

Address of the restaurant I chose: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nQkQcWxHokJJK5pd6

If this restaurant is too crowded, you can also try the ones next door, as there are plenty of options in the area.

In addition to the specialty braised fish dish, you can also try Katsudon if you're not in the mood for seafood.

This restaurant is also well worth the money for its location. Sitting on the 2nd floor or in the backyard offers a panoramic view of the fishing village from above, which is absolutely stunning—make sure not to miss it.

View of the entire Ine no Funaya from above.

After taking photos at the restaurant, I made my way down to the fishing village area below.

Everything along the way is incredibly beautiful and historic—just raise your camera, and you’ll capture stunning photos effortlessly.

The next place you must visit is Ine Cafe, a popular spot on Instagram, offering stunning views of the sea and the entire fishing village.

Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/UNejeVDHJ5XTb4Mj7

Next, let's take a stroll along the fishing village to explore and enjoy the fresh air in this peaceful area.

Here are a few more beautiful photo angles you can explore:

This corner is arguably the most beautiful spot to capture stunning photos of the fishing village.

After about 2 hours of exploring and taking photos at Ine no Funaya, I headed to the area where you can take a boat to view the entire Ine Bay.

Address: Ine Bay Sightseeing Boat – https://maps.app.goo.gl/bUdiRRQR7q35Uouz9

Here, you can board a two-story yacht that will take you on a 30-minute tour around Ine Bay. During the ride, you’ll also have the chance to feed the seagulls and take photos from the yacht.

Yacht tickets cost 1000 JPY, and don't forget to buy food for the seagulls at the entrance before boarding the boat (100 JPY for one pack). Additionally, you can also find local specialties and souvenirs for sale here.

Seagulls fly abundantly and get very close to the yacht, making it easy to capture this wonderful scene in your photos.

Some close-up photos of seagulls:

After filming, taking pictures, and feeding the seagulls, you can head down to the 1st floor of the yacht, where you'll find many more beautiful photo angles to capture.

Some photos I took on the 1st floor:

I ended my visit to Ine no Funaya here, having gathered many unforgettable experiences and hundreds of beautiful photos to take home.

Next, I got on the bus and started moving to the next destination: Amanohashidate - one of the three most beautiful landscapes in Japan.

It takes about half an hour by car from Ine fishing village to Amanohashidate. Once there, we will queue to buy tickets for the top of the scenic spot. There are two types of tickets available: the chair lift (single seat) and the monorail (sitting in the sightseeing train compartment). Both options cost 850 JPY for a round trip.

I highly recommend taking the chair lift, as it offers a comfortable ride and allows you to easily capture photos with the stunning view behind you. Sitting in the monorail can be a bit cramped and less exciting in comparison.

The ride from the starting point to the top takes about 3-5 minutes, giving you plenty of time to film and take pictures along the way.

And here is the first view when we reach the top:

All fatigue melts away as you take in this breathtaking scene.

There are also countless corners to take pictures here 😀

There are also many activities to enjoy here, especially for children, such as the Ferris wheel and cycling to take in the scenery from above.

After more than an hour of taking pictures and enjoying the sights, I was getting ready to leave before it got dark.

On the way down, we took the chair lift again, giving us another chance to capture some final photos of the stunning scenery.

I then got in the car to return to Kyoto, which took about 3 hours, and arrived at Kyoto Station at 19:30. That marked the end of a perfect day exploring Ine no Funaya fishing village and Amanohashidate.

Thank you for reading through to the end of the article.

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