Ine Fishing Village 伊根の舟屋

The charming village of Ine is home to distinctive boathouses that line the bay, offering you a historical perspective along with superb accommodation.

Ine Fishing Village is located around the Ine Bay in northern Kyoto Prefecture . It is quite a remote village, accessible only by car or bus from Amanohashidate Station, famous for its long pine-treed sandbar.

Ine is about 15 kilometers north of Amanohashidate. Take a JR Hashidate limited express train from Kyoto Station to Amanohashidate Station. Buses run between Amanohashidate Station and Ine about once per hour. The ride takes about 60 minutes.

Ine is a small town of about 1,900 people, tucked tightly between the mountains and Ine Bay. In ancient times, the area was along the trade route from Mainland China to Kyoto , so Ine developed as a town dedicated to the fishing industry. It's thought to be one of the most picturesque villages in Japan.

Ine is famous for its unique funaya, or boat houses. These wooden buildings sit right on the water and serve as both dock and home for the fishermen of the village. The boats are housed in the first floor, with the second floor serving as the dwelling area.

Around 230 funaya remain today, stretching along five kilometers of the coastline. A few are minshuku, or guest houses, providing an authentic peek into a life of the fisherman today.

Guest houses usually include two meals and one of the guest houses offers an onsen bath. All offer guided sea taxi service and fishing. Staying overnight in the remote fishing village will wash away all your stress and worries.

Boat tours around the bay are available. You can choose between large sightseeing vessels or smaller boats—sea taxis—driven by locals. The larger boats require no reservation and take you on a 25 minute tour of the bay. The smaller boats offer a more personalized tour and are thus more expensive. Reservations are required.

One of the most fun parts of the tours is feeding the birds. Many kinds, including sea hawks, inhabit the area and look forward to being fed by hand. The boats sell bird snacks, too.

This park is perched on a hill above Ine and has an observation deck and a larger collection of restaurants and shops than Ine itself has to offer.

Due to its remoteness, plan for an entire day by the Ine seaside, or even for an overnight visit. Your visit can be combined with a visit to Amanohashidate—another seaside town in northern Kyoto Prefecture .