Ine Bay is located in the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture, where fishing has been thriving since ancient times. Along the coast, there is a row of buildings called "Funaya," whose first floor is connected to the sea as a storage area for boats used for fishing. The landscape of about 230 boathouses lined up for about 5km is rare in all of Japan and has been selected as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
Funaya (boathouse) was initially built to pull wooden boats out of the sea after they got wet from fishing, dry them, and protect them from rain, wind, and insects. The first floor was used to store boats, and the second floor was used for drying nets and storing fishing equipment. In recent years, the size of ships has increased, and many houses are moored in front of the boat shop without pulling up the boat. Nowadays, they are used for various purposes, such as preparing for fishing, caring for fishing gear, drying fish, and storing agricultural products. There used to be no people living in Funaya (boathouses) but lived in the main house across the street, but now more people are using them as their homes, and some are operating them as inns or restaurants.
If you want to take a relaxing stroll and enjoy the scenery, go to "Ineura Park." The park is located in the middle of a group of Funaya (boathouses), and you can see the boathouses up close. Some cafes and restaurants have been converted from Funaya, so be sure to stop by.
If you take a Sea Taxi or Ine bay cruise ferry, you will see the unique scenery of the boathouses from the sea. The Sea Taxi (small sightseeing boats): Fishermen guide you Ine Bay along the coast of Ine on a cruise in their boat. Ine bay cruise ferry (large sightseeing boat): the cruise takes you on a tour of Ine bay for over 25 minutes. You can also feed the seagulls that fly by. There is also an observatory at the "*Michi no Eki Funaya no Sato Ine'', which is located on a hill and offers a panoramic view of the Funaya-boat houses, Ine Bay sightseeing.
*"Michi no-Eki" is a roadside rest area (stop) that include local farmer, fisherman's markets, serve local specialties restaurants, souvenir stores, and lounges.
Funaya (boathouses) of the Ine area is only a place for the residents to live. They are private property and cannot be invaded without permission. If you want to see the inside of a boathouse, take a guided tour of Ineura or visit a boathouse that offers tours. There are also accommodations in renovated Funaya−boathouses, so you should check them out.
Highlights
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The first floor of the building, which is used as a shipyard, is connected to the sea.
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It has been selected as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
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There are sightseeing boats and sea cabs that allow you to visit the sea.
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The view from "Ineura Park" and "Michi no Eki – Funaya no Sato Ine" is also recommended.
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It is a residential area, so it’s important to be considerate when we take a walk.
