Ine Town is in the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture. It is located about 20 minutes by car from the scenic Amanohashidate, one of the three most scenic spots in Japan.

The houses here, known as the "boathouses of Ine", directly front the sea and the first floor is used as a storage place for boats while there are living quarters on the second floor. The houses lining the seafront in the town are of construction unique to this area which is designated an Important Preservation District of Historic Buildings.

Before you look around the town, stop by the Boathouse Village Park first. The view of the boathouses below from atop the hill is excellent. In addition to the observation deck there is also a restaurant and gift shop.

The objects floating in the middle of Ine Bay are different kinds of fish pens. Cultivation of fish, such as yellowtail and red sea bream, is extensive as is evidenced by the many rectangular and round pens in Ine Bay. After enjoying the fine view from the top of the hill, let’s now go down into the town!

I first visited the Ine Tourism Association to learn more about Ine. It was first located in the previously mentioned Boathouse Village Park, but in order to provide better assistance to tourists and disseminate information about the town, it was moved to its present location near the entrance to the town in April 2018.

The building used to house the city’s archives before it was refurbished in a design fusing modern with old-style house that creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The association’s Mr. Yoshida assisted us in our inquiries. As this was our first time to visit Ine, he kindly offered to show us around.

First, Mr. Yoshida and I walked to the Nishihirata District on the west side. This area is close to the Tourism Association’s parking lot and one in which visiting tourists enjoy strolling about.

Many buildings from the Meiji to Show eras still remain creating a sensation of going back in time when you walk through the area.

The main function of the boathouses fronting the sea is as a garage for boats, as was mentioned earlier. So for that reason, the prevalent style is for the main living quarters to be on the other side of the road.

However, because there are tasks to perform after returning from fishing or when preparing to go out fishing, there are living quarters in the boathouses, too, which is how they are today.

Walking on, we came upon this imposing building. This is the Mukai Brewery, the only brewery in the town of Ine. It has quite a long history having been established in 1754

This brewery is unique among all those in Japan because its master brewer is a woman. This brand has a soft, fruity flavor which even those not partial to sake find quite good. On the day we visited there were quite a few tourists purchasing bottles of Japanese sake presumably for gifts.

And the brewery facing the sea like the boathouses also has a floating dock. I was surprised to learn that this is for customers who come by boat or kayak to buy sake.

The brewery sells snacks, such as fish pickled in rice bran paste, and sweets as well as sake, so when the weather is fine you can sit on the dock and have a small picnic.

The Tourism Association also provides guided walking tours during which the history of the town and its culture are explained. You can also to go inside the boathouses, which normally is not possible; I highly recommend this the first time you visit Ine.

After walking around the town, we took a Tour Association car to a dock where we boarded the Ine Bay Sightseeing Boat. The boat will take you around Ine Bay and give you an explanation of the history of the town and its attractions. There is an open upper deck where you can comfortably enjoy the sea breeze.

Seagulls and black kites flock towards the boat. Snacks are sold in the port and on the boat and you can feed these to the birds if you like. The seagulls hover near the boat and take the food in their bills while the black kites swoop down and take it with their sharp talons, so you need to be careful. During our coverage a black kite nicked my finger with its talons which gave me a bit of a surprise.

It was rather exciting because there were many more birds than I had imagined and I became so engrossed in feeding them that the next thing I knew the tour was over and we were back at the dock. I now regret not paying more attention to the explanation of the boathouses and looking at them.

So, my recommendation to those interested in taking this tour is to not get too carried away feeding the birds.

It was after noon when we got off the boat. As we were hungry, we went to the Funaya Shokudo located on the second floor of the Tourism Association building and had lunch.

This opened in April 2018, the same time as the Tourism Association did. The comfortable interior had a pleasing aroma of trees. The large windows offered an excellent view of the boathouses and town.

Most of the dishes on the menu use fresh seafood taken from Ine Bay and the nearby sea, such as in set lunches like the Kaisendon [seafood bowl] and Sashimi [slices of raw fish]. I selected the Kaisendon (1,500 yen including tax).

The bowl came heaped with fresh seafood including Ine salmon, yellowtail amberjack, Spanish mackerel, and Japanese sea bass. The type of fish used varies according to the season and about 7 or 8 types are offered each season. Time to dig in!

Very delicious! Each slice was fresh and firmly textured. Not only was the fresh fish, but the slices were of just the right size making it very easy to eat.

After lunch I had the chef’s special seasonal dessert (400 yen including tax). On this day it was a three-layer mousse. It was a wonderful blend of seasonal apple, strawberry, and matcha. In addition to the lunch menu, there are also breakfast and cafe menus, so if your travel schedule permits, please stop by.

In addition to the sightseeing boat mentioned earlier, I also recommend taking a maritime taxi to get a closer look at the boathouses from the water. Local boat owners often act as guides taking tourists on their boats.

After a few minutes we came to a spot recommended by the captain. How did you like it? This view apparently is often used on posters for tourism. You can clearly see the garages of the boathouses. Going a short distance over the gentle waves this intriguing view came into sight.

Ine Bay is formed by the sea being closed in by the Tango Peninsula and Kamejima, which juts out like a peninsula from there.

“See how the mountain seems to plunge straight into the sea? Lots of nutrients flow into the bay providing food for plankton which in turn attracts lots of fish,” Captain Shimooka explained.

"Also, due to the geography, the waves in Ine Bay are always gentle, so the bay has never experienced tsunami or other kinds of disaster ever. Without realizing it, the people living in this area built houses that protruded into the bay." That explains how this photogenic scenery came about.

"They are making pens for Iwagaki oysters. Would you like to take a look?" suggested the association’s Mr. Yoshida who was accompanying me. I said that I definitely would and gave him an OK sign. So the boat headed off in that direction.

The fisherman explained, "These oysters are about two years old.” They need to be about three years old until they are of a marketable size. Iwagaki oysters do not have a strong smell because they are raised in clean water and large ones sometimes exceed 500 grams in weight.

The marine taxis do not follow any set routes, but go to places the captains think would be of interest and this may lead to some interesting surprises. If you should say, “I’d like to see this sort of scene!” the captains would certainly oblige, so this is a great way to enjoy sightseeing from the water. There are several other marine taxis in addition to the Marine in Ine. Contact the Tourism Association if you are interested in taking one.

If you are going to spend time in Ine, then you should consider staying in one of the boathouses, too. In this final part of the article, we’ll tell you more about one of them, called Funaya Maruichi.

In May 2018 when this article was written there were 13 boathouses renovated to accommodate lodgers. Maruichi is one of these and has an excellent ambiance as well as top-quality food. It is perfect for young people and couples because the entire building can be rented.

The door on the first floor opens into a specious living room holding a large wooden table. The bay is visible just outside the windows affording an excellent view of boats and other boathouses. This first floor was originally a garage for ships. If you go outside and walk around you can see remnants of it.

The second floor is a bedroom. The well-lit room is spacious and has twin beds. Nights spent here are indeed memorable.

There is a space along the window looking out on the bay where you can sit and relax. Watching the boats lightly bob on the water can lull you into a relaxed and comfortable mood.

In May 2018, when this article was written, only lodging without meals was possible. For meals, you can purchase something at the Funaya Shokudo we mentioned earlier or at other cafes and restaurants. Many places require advance reservations, so you should contact the Tourism Association ahead of time.

The unique scenery and boathouses looking as though they were floating on the sea evoke a lifestyle that has remained unchanged over the years.

Kyoto's Ine Town has a nostalgic feel about it and is like no other place you have visited. It is a great place to go to escape from the hassles of daily life and to relax.