Ine Funaya
Ine Bay, in northern Kyoto Prefecture, has long supported a thriving fishing industry. Along the waterfront stand rows of buildings called funaya, whose ground floors open directly onto the sea and serve as boat garages. The unusual sight of approximately 230 funaya stretching for about 3.1 miles has been nationally designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
Ine Bay in Kyoto is truly the kind of place you fall in love with at first sight! The row of funaya boat houses built along the sea reflects on the calm water like a painting. It was so beautiful I didn’t want to leave.
There weren’t many visitors on a weekday, so I could take a leisurely walk, enjoy the fishing village scenery, and feel a slow-paced atmosphere completely different from downtown Kyoto.
If you have time, I recommend taking a sightseeing boat to view the funaya from the water. You can also try feeding the seagulls, which makes for an unforgettable memory. If you like getting away from the crowds and enjoying peaceful views, you’ll definitely fall in love with this dreamy little fishing village known as the “Kyoto by the Sea.”
