We left Osaka early morning at 7AM and joined a guided bus tour heading north to the Kyoto coast. The ride took about two hours and included three main stops: Ine, Amanohashidate, and Miyama. While the tour is great if you’re short on time, I’ll be honest, each place deserves much more. If you want a slow, local experience, I strongly recommend renting a car and staying overnight. Buses and trains are limited in this region, especially in summer.

Here's the link to the exact tour I did : Click here.

Our first stop was Ine, a traditional fishing village famous for its funaya houses. We hopped on a 30-minute boat tour that went around the bay. You can feed the birds from the boat and enjoy a great overall view of the town from the sea. That part was cool, but we had no time to walk around or eat. And I’m pretty sure you can swim here, which we didn’t get to do. That’s why I’d suggest at least one full chill day in Ine to enjoy the atmosphere and maybe even sleep in a funaya.

Next up was Amanohashidate, just 20 minutes away. We stayed there for about three hours. First, we went up to Amanohashidate View Land using the chairlift. You can pay for the entrance directly or add it to your bus tour. We brought our konbini lunch to eat at the top with the view. It was really hot but there were shaded areas and mist fans to cool down. Don’t forget to take the famous “upside-down” photo where the sandbar looks like a dragon flying in the sky. The park itself has a few small rides and things for kids, but honestly it’s fun for adults too, especially if you just want to relax and admire the view.

After coming back down, we visited Chionji Temple nearby and bought some omamori. There’s also a short shopping street with souvenirs and food. We stopped at a lovely café called Yoshino Chaya, owned by an elderly couple, and had iced tea and soft serve. The interior is really cozy and felt like a break from the heat. We had a little time left before the bus left, so the guys in our group ran to the beach and swam for a few minutes. The water was beautiful and inviting, another reason why I recommend at least a full day or, ideally, one night here to enjoy everything.

The final stop was Miyama-cho. We only had 45 minutes here, which was not enough. We walked around the village, took some pictures of the thatched roof houses, and visited two local shops. We even had time for another ice cream. The place is peaceful and photogenic. If you have more time, I suggest making this a proper day trip. You can explore the inside of the houses, learn more about the lifestyle, and maybe sleep in a kominka.The final stop was Miyama-cho. We only had 45 minutes here, which was not enough. We walked around the village, took some pictures of the thatched roof houses, and visited two local shops. We even had time for another ice cream. The place is peaceful and photogenic. If you have more time, I suggest making this a proper day trip. You can explore the inside of the houses, learn more about the lifestyle, and maybe sleep in a kominka.

We were back in Osaka around 5:30 PM at Shinsaibashi. The tour is efficient and a good option if you want a quick overview. But personally, I’d rather take my time. This whole coastal area is ideal for a slow road trip, especially in summer. Beaches, cafes, temples, countryside towns. If you have two or three days to spare, it’s 100% worth it.