Visit two of Japan’s coastal treasures on this day trip. See the beauty of Amanohashidate, one of Japan’s Three Most Scenic Views, where a pine-covered sandbar stretches gracefully across a sparkling bay. Then travel to the fishing village of Ine no Funaya, famous for its unique waterfront boat houses that appear to float on the sea.
07:30 – Depart From Osaka
09:50 – Ine Funaya Boat Houses
Ine no Funaya is a fishing village located along Ine Bay. It features around 230 traditional two-story wooden boat houses connected seamlessly for nearly 3 miles along the water. The architecture is ingeniously designed: the ground floor opens directly onto the sea, functioning as a private garage for boats and a workspace for handling fishing gear, while the second floor serves as the family's living quarters.
When viewed from the water, the houses appear to be floating directly on the emerald-green bay, earning the village its reputation as the “Venice of Japan.”
(An optional boat Tour cost JPY900)
11:10 – Amanohashidate
Amanohashidate is a pine-covered sandbar. Formed by coastal currents over thousands of years, this narrow 2.2-mile land bridge spans across the bay and is densely packed with roughly 8,000 twisted pine trees. Being considered as one of Japan’s “Three Most Scenic Views”, it is traditionally viewed from the surrounding observatory parks by turning your back to the bay, bending over, and looking at it upside down through your legs.
Here are some places that we recommend you visit.
Amanohashidate View Land
A observatory park located on the peak of Mount Monju, directly behind Amanohashidate Station on the southern side of Miyazu Bay. Accessible via an open-air single-seat chairlift or a smooth monorail car, this elevated park offers the legendary Hiryu-kan (Flying Dragon View).
(You will need to take the ropeway to reach the observatory, which cost 1000JPY per pax.)
Amanohashidate Shopping Street
A shopping street located right outside Amanohashidate Station and stretching towards Chion-ji Temple and the famous sandbar. The traditional wooden buildings in this street creates a nostalgic, classic Japanese resort atmosphere. Here you can find many regional dishes, including fresh seasonal catches from Miyazu Bay, giant flame-grilled chikuwa (fish cakes), and Chie no Mochi (“Wisdom Mochi”)—a sweet red-bean rice cake named after the nearby deity of intellect.
14:40 Miyama Kayabuki-no-Sato
A living rural village renowned for having one of Japan’s highest concentrations of traditional thatched-roof farmhouses. Surrounded by lush forested mountains and the Yura River, this National Important Preservation District features nearly 40 preserved homes—many over 150 to 200 years old—where local residents still reside, practice age-old agricultural traditions.
18:30 (Tentative)– Arrival in Dotonbori, Osaka
