Ine

Ine (伊根) is a town located around the Ine Bay in northern Kyoto Prefecture, about 15 kilometers north of Amanohashidate. This working town has a long and rich history as a fishing village and is regarded as one of the most beautiful villages in Japan.

The unique aspect of Ine are its funaya. Literally meaning "boat houses", these traditional waterfront buildings contain garages for boats on their first floors and residential space on the upper floors. Today there over 200 funaya remaining along the bay. Some of them now serve as lodgings where visitors can stay the night, but due to their popularity it is often difficult to make reservations (see external links for a list of lodgings).

The best way to see Ine and its funaya houses is from the sea. There are two types of boat tours available. Large sightseeing boats take passengers on a 25 minute loop around the bay, while smaller sea taxis operated by local fishermen offer a slightly more personalized experience. Unlike the large sightseeing cruises, the small boat tours require reservations beforehand, which can be made at the tourism office at Funaya no Sato Park.

The town itself is a normal town inhabited by working people, and most houses are personal residences. There are only a small number of shops and restaurants, meaning that there is not an incredible amount to do here. The largest concentration of amenities are found at Funaya no Sato Park, a road-side station on a hill above the town with large parking lots, a tourist information office, an observation deck, restaurants and shops.