Kyoto Elegant Seaside Gateway

📍 Time Start: 11:30 Duration: 4 h Distance and journey time (approximation): Kyoto Station to Amanohashidate Station: 2 h (train) Amanohashidate to Ine: 45 min (speedboat)

Depart from Kyoto Station on a morning train and arrive at the Sea of Japan coast, disembarking at Amanohashidate Station to meet a local guide. Welcome to Kyoto by the Sea, a delightful destination famous for tranquil coastal views and tasty seafood.

This slice of seaside paradise is the home of the picturesque Amanohashidate sandbar. The island stretching across the bay has long been counted among the Three Most Beautiful Views in Japan, and is said to have been used as a ladder by the gods when they descended to our earthly realm for mischief in ancient times.

After a break for lunch, visit Motoise Kono Shrine, said to be where sake was first offered to the gods. The Shinto religion’s most worshipped deity, the Sun Goddess (Amaterasu), was once enshrined here, making it the most important historical shrine in the region. Amaterasu is now enshrined at the Ise Grand Shrine in Mie prefecture, which is why the name Motoise literally means the “Origin of Ise”.

Take the cable car up to Kasamatsu Park and enjoy the incredible view of Amanohashidate’s sea bridge from above. The rather amusing local custom is to bend over and view the sandbar upside down while looking through your spread legs. This angle is said to make the island look like a dragon flying towards heaven. Give it a try and see!

Say goodbye to the guide and board a speed boat to the tranquil fishing village of Ine. Stay the night in a Japanese-Western style boat house with an unforgettable view of the sea and neighboring boathouses.

Overnight in Ine
 

Inclusions:

📍 Time (Sea Taxi) Duration: 30 min

Today is a self-guided day.

Spend the day exploring Ine. A unique village of over 200 funaya (boat houses) built right on Ine Bay, where people have lived in harmony with the mountains and sea for generations. Ine is the only spot in Japan to experience this kind of waterside scenery. Still unknown to most travellers, it’s a truly special destination where sustainable travel is carefully managed to prevent overtourism.

 Hop in a boat operated by a local mariner and enjoy a sea taxi tour of Ine bay. This is a fun chance to see the town from a waterside perspective and learn the history of how this amazing village developed.

In the afternoon, explore the town independently and soak up the local scenery. Tickets are provided to enter three preserved boathouses to see how past generations lived. Stop at one of the local cafes for a snack and coffee, browse handmade crafts at the visitors center, or wander the village’s picturesque narrow roads.

Optional Tour: Ine Village E-Bike Tour

Hop on the E-Bikes for a cycling tour of Ine bay to get to know more about Ine’s culture and town history whilst admiring the beautiful natural scenery. The length of Ine Bay is 5km, with a hilly terrain and narrow roads, making it perfect for cycling as cars are rarely present.

The tour includes highlights such as going inside a boat house and being introduced to traditional fishery tools and festival boats.

Time
Start: 10:00, 13:00
Duration: 2 h

Overnight in Ine

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Time Start: 9:00 Duration: 8 h

This morning meet the guide for a full day tour of Kyotango by private car.

The first stop will be a visit to the Nippon Genshosha Sword Forge to meet three exceptional swordsmiths, whose craftsmanship has been bestowed the Award of Excellence from The Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords.

Learn the history of samurai swords and how the weapons changed over time, with an opportunity to hold some of the newly forged swords and admire the details. Afterwards, visit the forge itself to witness some of the sword making process, and take part in some of the work if one so wishes.

Right around the corner, enter a workshop to witness one of the most fascinating forms of textiles. The area of Kyotango is known for producing the highest quality Kimono silk, and here at Tamiya Raden Weaving Workshop they weave mother of pearl into the silk to create something even more exquisite. 

Learn about this fascinating – and rapidly disappearing – technique with opportunities to watch the crafters at work. The stunning work created here has been featured in Paris Fashion Week and in collections with Louis Vuitton. The tour will end with a visit to their private gallery where a famous masterpiece kimono is displayed.

After a stop for lunch, head to Takeno Sake Brewery to sample the world's “most complicated” sake. This is a family run brewery whose current master brewer is the mad chemist all sake lovers need. From the way they bottle their sake, to the glassware custom-blown specifically for certain bottles of their sake, everything made is unique and special. 

Enjoy a private tasting experience at their chic brewery bar that ranges from standard bottles, high-end bottles, exclusives, and even their stratospheric evolving sake that matures over time as you drink it.

The tour will end at Amanohashidate station to board an outbound train on to the next destination.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast