From Osaka: Miyama Kayabuki no Sato, Amanohashidate & Ine Bay Day Tour

Depart from Osaka
to seaside and thatched-roof villages in northern Kyoto

Gather by 7:05 AM at Exit 2 of Nippombashi Station in Osaka and depart at 7:20 AM in an air-conditioned vehicle. This roughly 10-hour itinerary takes you to Ine, Amanohashidate and Miyama Kayabuki no Sato in northern Kyoto before returning to the starting point. It is a group tour with travelers from many countries, and the guide speaks English, Japanese and Chinese.

Explore Ine Bay, lined with funaya over the water

After about 2.5 hours on the road, arrive at the first stop, Ine, and spend about 40 minutes there. In this coastal village, some 230 traditional funaya (boathouse homes) stand right on the water, and locals still live alongside the sea. See the two-story funaya with a boat garage below and living space above, quiet lanes and views of the bay, and you can stop by a seaside café.

View Amanohashidate, one of Japan's Three Scenic Views, from above

A 40-minute drive from Ine brings you to Amanohashidate, where you will spend about 2 hours. This 3.6 km sandbar lined with more than 8,000 pine trees stretches across the bay, and by taking the cable car up to View Land you can enjoy the famous "flying dragon view." Try the traditional way of viewing the scenery upside down between your legs, and visit Chionji's Monjudo Hall, where people pray for academic success, the swing bridge that rotates to let boats pass, Amanohashidate Shrine and Isoshimizu, one of Japan's 100 Exquisite Waters.

Walk the thatched-roof village of Miyama Kayabuki no Sato

Drive about 1.5 hours to Miyama Kayabuki no Sato, deep in the mountains of northern Kyoto, and spend about 40 minutes there. The village has more than 40 Edo-style thatched-roof houses. Look at traditional architectural features such as the crossed roof beams (chigi) and snow poles (yukiwari), and peek inside a preserved thatched house. You can also enjoy local ice cream at Café Gallery Saika while looking out over the village. Then drive about 2 hours back to Nipponbashi in Osaka.

※ The cable car and boat are included only in the "Cable Car + Boat Included" option.
※ On weekends, holidays and in peak season, the order or timing of visits may change due to traffic. Main stops will not be skipped.
※ Scenery varies with the season and weather.