Day tour of Ine and Amanohashidate
We had Ben as our guide. I am traveling w my daughter and we originally were going to rent a car to do this day trip. Turns out you need an international drivers license to rent a car in Japan if your from California. Best thing we did on our trip was this tour with Ben. He is very knowledgeable and took us on a couple of boats and bike ride etc and he handled everything and gave us all the background. Would have not have been the same without him. I never do reviews but Ben was exceptional.
Private Tour to Amanohashidat e and Ine Bay the Venice of Japan Kyoto (Travel Japan with Ben)
We discovered a private tour on Viator to Amanohashidate and Ine Bay—often referred to as the “Venice of Japan”—and it turned out to be one of the most unforgettable highlights of our trip.
Our day began at Ine Bay, a charming coastal village known for its traditional “funaya” boathouses built right along the water. Seeing these unique homes up close was fascinating and felt like stepping into a quiet, timeless part of Japan. One of the highlights here was the boat ride—feeding the seagulls while cruising through the bay was such a fun and lively experience. Watching them fly close and interact with us made it even more special and memorable.
Along the way, we also visited a local shrine and temple, where we enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere and gained a deeper appreciation of Japanese culture and traditions. These cultural stops added a meaningful touch to the overall journey.
Our guide, Ben, truly made the experience even better. He was patient, friendly, and very knowledgeable, sharing interesting insights about the history, culture, and local lifestyle throughout the tour. He also made sure we were comfortable at all times and helped us capture many beautiful photos to remember the day.
We then made our way to Amanohashidate, one of Japan’s three most scenic views. The sight of the long, pine-covered sandbar stretching across the bay was absolutely breathtaking. We took the chairlift up to the viewpoint, which was both enjoyable and relaxing, and experienced the famous “upside-down” view of the sandbar—something truly unique. After that, we had a peaceful walk along the beach, enjoying the sea breeze and the calm surroundings, which was a refreshing break from the busy city.
Overall, it was a well-organised and enriching experience, combining stunning scenery, cultural insights, and fun activities like the boat ride. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kyoto—if there were a 10-star rating, we would definitely give it a perfect 10! ⭐
