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…