30 minutes by car from Amanohashidate, one of the three most scenic spots in Japan, to Ine no Funaya! I want to go back to those days! I took a walk through a fisherman village with a somewhat nostalgic atmosphere.

Ine Bay, located in the northeastern part of the Tango Peninsula, in the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture, Ine Town, faces the Sea of Japan where rough waves crash, but it is a calm cove. Along the coast of Ine Bay, there are about 230 boathouses called “Funaya,” which have boat garages on the first floor and living spaces on the second floor. When viewed from the sea, It looks like Funaya are floating on the sea. Because of its unique scenery, it has been selected as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. It is about 30 minutes by car from Amanohashidate.

The reason why Ine Bay is a calm cove is that although it is located on the Sea of Japan side, it wraps around the Tango Peninsula greatly, opens to the south, and is surrounded by mountains and island (Aoshima island).

Ineura Park is a park located in the innermost part of Ine Bay, and is a popular spot where you can see the townscape of funaya from up close.

The tourist information center offers free rental bicycles, so you can enjoy cycling easily. At the tip of Ine Bay is the Ganja ga hana Red Lighthouse, where you can see Aoshima island up close. It’s 2.5km from the tourist information center, so if you’re cycling, you can come and go in about 30 minutes. Around the red lighthouse, squid are dried in the sun around autumn, and the sight of squid lined up in rows is a typical autumn feature of Ine Bay.

Access to Ine no Funaya

From Tokyo

It takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes from JR Tokyo Station to JR Kyoto Station by Tokaido Shinkansen.

From Osaka

It takes about 15 minutes by Tokaido Shinkansen from JR Shin-Osaka Station to JR Kyoto Station.

Transfer to the limited express Hashidate at JR Kyoto Station and it takes about 2 hours to Miyazu Station or Amanohashidate Station on the Kyoto Tango Railway.

Alternatively, at JR Kyoto Station, transfer to the JR Sanin Main Line (limited express) to JR Fukuchiyama Station, about 1 hour 30 minutes. At JR Fukuchiyama Station, transfer to the Kyoto Tango Railway Miyafuku Line to Miyazu Station, about 50 minutes. Get off at Miyazu Station, it takes about 70 minutes from Miyazu Station bus stop to Ine bus stop.

Alternatively, transfer to the Kyoto Tango Railway Miyatoyo Line at Miyazu Station and it takes about 6 minutes to Amanohashidate Station. Get off at Amanohashidate Station, it takes about 60 minutes from Amanohashidate Station bus stop to Ine bus stop.