Last Updated: Dec 29, 2023

Amanohashidate & Ine

My Visit to “Kyoto by the Sea”

This story was originally published on donnykimball.com and has been syndicated here on Medium

These days, it would be hard to find anyone who hasn’t heard of Kyoto.. That said, there’s so much more to the prefecture than just what most people envision when they think of the ancient capital. Today we’ll be taking a look at a pair of allures that are known as Amanohashidate and Ine. Located along the coast of the Sea of Japan, this set of secluded locations is about as far removed from the solemn temples and shrines that typically characterize Kyoto as you can get.

If Amanohashidate and the fishing village of Ine have yet to pop up on your radars, know that you’re likely not alone. The duo comprise two of the hallmarks of an area that is regularly referred to as “Kyoto by the Sea.” Along with a handful of other “Kyoto by the XYZs,” this section of the prefecture rarely welcomes western visitors to Japan. Thankfully though, the rise of social media has started to chip away at this lack of awareness overseas. Alas, given how many people flock to Kyoto every year, there’s still a lot of room for improvement.

While it is true that Amanohashidate and Ine are indeed getting a bit more recognition these days than they used to, that doesn’t mean that they are easy to get to. Despite being located within the bounds of Kyoto Prefecture, it takes about as long to get to Amanohashidate from Kyoto Station as it does to travel from Tokyo to Japan’s former capital. Seeing as that journey is made on the bullet train, this should give you some sense of just how far the pair of attractions is from the more urban areas.

Despite requiring a multi-day excursion, a trip to Amanohashidate and Ine hits the perfect sweet spot between a sightseeing area chock full of attractions and an obscure hidden gem. The twin locales have seen just enough foreign visitors that you can get around with little to no Japanese language ability while also maintaining their authenticity. In a stark contrast to the inner city areas of Kyoto, Amanohashidate and Ine still retain their original charm and have yet to be desecrated by the evils of overtourism.

If you’re looking to experience a different side of Kyoto, I cannot more highly laud these two locations. With that said, let’s dive on into the logistics…