Ine with Kids: Visiting Kyoto by the Sea
Last Updated on September 18, 2025 by Kay
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Ine is a cozy and quiet fishing town located in the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture and is famed for its 230 traditional boat houses (funaya) dotting the bay.
I know, I know — when you think of Kyoto, the last thing that might come to mind is the sea (I certainly didn’t think of it for years), but this is exactly why the area is known as, “Kyoto by the Sea”.
In this article, I’ll share my family’s honest experience visiting Ine so that you can decide whether it’s worth adding to your Kyoto Itinerary.
Table of Contents
How to Get to Ine
Ine is very accessible from both Kyoto and Osaka. However, it can be quite the trek if you’re taking public transport with children.
We drove from our home in Osaka to Ine, which took about two hours, but if you’re taking public transportation, here’s how to get there.
From Kyoto: It takes about three hours to get to Ine from Kyoto Station.
Take the JR Sanin Line OR the Kyoto Tango Railway to Amanohashidate Station. From there, take the bus from Amanohashidate to Ine. You can also ride the JR Hashidate Line to Nishi Maizuru Station, switch to the Tango AKA-MATSU train (which will give you a stunning view of the ocean), and then get off at Amanohashidate Station before taking a bus to Ine.
From Osaka: It takes about 3.5 hours to get to Ine from Osaka Station.
Take the JR Fukuchiyama Line to Fukuchiyama Station. From there, switch to the Kyoto Tango Railway until you reach Amanohashidate, and then take a local bus to Ine.
You can also book a tour that will take you straight from Osaka’s Dotonbori area to Ine as well as Amanohashidate, which is super convenient when you are traveling with kids.
When to Visit Ine with Kids
I think Ine is lovely to visit throughout the year. If you’re lucky, in winter you’ll be able to see the fishing village covered in snow.
Although it’s typically a few degrees cooler than Kyoto city, Ine is very humid, so if possible, try not to visit during the summer. My family went at the beginning of September, and my daughter almost passed out despite being born and raised in Japan (and fairly used to the heat). It was also only around 28 degrees that day!
Ine with Kids Itinerary: What My Family Did
We visited Ine as a day trip from Osaka. Now, many people combine a visit to Ine with Amanohashidate, which I’ll explain later, but we had already visited Amanohashidate a while back, so we wanted to focus on just Ine this time.
One thing that had spurred this day trip was a message from my friend Lisa, who lives in Kyoto. She had visited Ine at the end of June, and her son had loved it so much that she urged me to go with my daughter. My husband had wanted to visit Ine for a while as well, so we figured it was about time we went!
Arriving at Ine
(10:40 AM)
We arrived at Ine at around 10:40 AM. Since we came by car, we parked at the Shichimensan Parking Lot, which has reasonable rates of 100 yen per 30 minutes or 200 yen per 30 minutes.
The best part about this parking lot is that many sightseeing boats leave from this area. We had no idea and stumbled on a small boat that was just about to leave.
Sightseeing Boat Ride in Ine
(10:45 AM-11:10 AM)
To ride the boat (or sea taxi), we paid 1000 yen in cash per adult, which is the standard rate for all small sightseeing boats in this area. Our child was free since she was a kindergartener. As far as I know, these boats only accept cash.
You can also take a larger sightseeing boat that will cruise Ine Bay. I don’t believe you need to book tickets in advance unless you’re traveling during summer vacation.
The sea taxi we took only held another family, as well as two couples. We sat in the middle and were able to move around the boat easily when we wanted to take photos from one side or another.
However, if the boat is completely filled with passengers, this might be more challenging. So I recommend sitting on the left side if you can, as this will give you the best view of the boat houses.
Before the boat took off, children were fitted with life jackets and adults were given life belts to wear around their waist.
As the boat operator took us around Ine Bay, he told us about the particularly famous boat houses that have existed since the Edo period, and also regaled us with other facts about the area. However, it’s important to note that this was entirely in Japanese. As far as I know, there aren’t any English-speaking boat tours in the area.
You don’t need to understand what the boat operator is saying to have a good time, though. The main part of the ride is to see the beautiful boat houses up close, as well as the stunning scenery.
This shot is particularly well-known in Japan as it was featured on NHK.
I enjoyed everything about the boat ride, but the best part was when we were each given a small bag of shrimp chips to feed to the seabirds.
The captain told us to toss each chip into the air and see if the seabirds would capture it, and some of them did! It was really fun, and naturally, the kids absolutely loved it.
As you can see from the photo below, I tried to get a shot of all the birds, but I completely failed and somehow only got one!
(I personally don’t recommend holding a chip between your fingers for the seabirds to take because their talons can cut your finger, which my husband found out the hard way on another trip.)
Lunch at Ine Cafe
(11:20 AM to 12:30 PM)
After our boat ride, we headed to Ine Cafe for lunch.
This is probably the most famous cafe and restaurant in Ine because it offers beautiful views of Ine Bay and funaya lining the waterfront. When we arrived, there was already a line of people waiting.
We considered going to Wadatsumi, which is a sushi restaurant next door, but I didn’t want the grilled fish in the set lunch menu. Also, only half of the tables were next to the window looking out to the bay, so we decided to wait for Ine Cafe.
While we were waiting outside, my daughter started to feel a bit sick as it was quite humid and sunny. There was cooling mist spraying from the ceiling, which helped a little, but honestly, it didn’t do much against the heat.
My husband asked a staff member if there was anywhere to wait inside and he said no, but then he noticed my daughter crouched down and quickly guided us to a small rest area across the cafe that had air conditioning. I waited there with my daughter while my husband continued to wait in line.
The staff member also very kindly brought my daughter an electrolyte drink, which I really appreciate.
We didn’t have to wait long before we were seated inside the cafe, so in total, we waited about 20 minutes. We didn’t get a window seat, so I asked about it and was told that we would move to a window seat if it opened up.
There are two floors at Ine Cafe. We were originally seated on the first floor, but while my husband was ordering, I quickly headed up to the second and found some window seating available. I asked a staff member on the second floor if we could move. She confirmed with the first floor, and everything was okay!
The view was absolutely stunning. I loved watching all the boats along the bay, the boat houses, and all the seabirds.
In terms of food, Ine Cafe only offers desserts and one set meal for lunch, which has limited quantities. On this particular day, it was a Poke Bowl filled with fresh local sashimi.
I’m quite picky when it comes to sashimi because I don’t like anything that tastes fishy, but this was absolutely perfect. Everything was delicious, and they don’t skimp on the fish.
My husband and I had each ordered a bowl, which we shared with our daughter. The fish was a little too thick for her, but she liked the avocado and rice, as well as the miso soup.
I had a lemon squash carbonated beverage, but I found it too sour for my liking. My daughter also enjoyed a seasonal blueberry cheesecake dessert that they had, especially since she could pour honey on it. (She felt like a patissier!)
When we were done eating, we made sure to check out Ine Cafe’s deck on the first floor.
To our surprise, my daughter spotted some sea urchins! (Can you spot them too in the image below?)
After taking many photos, including with the famous INE CAFE sign, we headed to our next destination in Ine.
Self-Guided Boat House Tours
(12:35 PM-13:40 PM)
My friend Lisa recommended visiting this boathouse because you can lift a basket from the water that’ll contain fish. She said her son really enjoyed it, so I wanted my daughter to give it a try since she loves sealife.
It cost only 200 yen for each adult, and our daughter was free.
Inside, there were pictures outlining the history of Ine and its fishing culture, as well as little aquariums with fish and crabs in them, which my daughter loved.
There was also a more modern fishing boat, and at the far right end was a secured rope that was attached to a basket in the water.
My husband pulled it up and revealed lots of wriggling fish inside! I gave it a try too and was surprised by how heavy it was. It was definitely going to be too hard for our six-year-old to lift, and she declined anyway.
I also liked all the handmade souvenirs offered at this boathouse, such as coasters and tissue cases, which were super affordable. Make sure to check them out for yourself or a loved one!
Afterwards, we decided to check out two more boathouses.
One of them, called Tomobutoya, offered ice cream, which you could purchase alongside the 200 yen entry fee. We decided to get a cup of chocolate ice cream and ate it inside the boathouse while looking at the view of the bay.
This boathouse was far less impressive than the prior one, especially because there was no boat and no fishing basket. However, it was nice to be able to sit down and rest, which the other house didn’t offer.
When we were done, we continued to walk around town. My daughter suddenly had to go to the washroom, so we made a quick stop at the Ine Town Information Center to use their toilet.
Once done, we walked around some more, enjoying looking at the old houses, and then decided to get something to drink from Hakuzu Coffee Stand. Paying customers are allowed to enjoy their drinks inside the funaya across the road, which is what we did.
I got a matcha latte, which was okay. I wouldn’t get it again, and even my daughter (who does tea ceremony at her kindergarten) didn’t want it. My husband got an iced coffee, which tasted amazing and I regret not getting it! The cafe doesn’t offer any caffeine-free drinks, so keep that in mind if you’re visiting.
You can also board a sea taxi from here if you like, although it looks like you need to make reservations in advance.
At this point, our daughter started getting bored. I was surprised because she loves the ocean, but she couldn’t see any fish from that particular boathouse, so she was bored and asked when we would go home so she could play with her LEGO.
So, we finished up our drinks and headed back to the car.
Along the way, we took a family photo at Ineura Park, which has beautiful views of the bay and the funaya along it.
After getting into our car, we made a quick stop at Road Station Funnaya no Sato Ine, which is located up the mountain and offers stunning views of Ine Bay.
There’s a restaurant here as well, where you can eat and enjoy the view, but we were too full to even consider having a meal.
My only complaint is about the souvenir shop. Ine is famous for seafood but the smell of the dried seafood in the shop was so overpowering that I almost threw up and had to run out. If you’re sensitive to strong smells, I suggest not going inside.
In total, we spent about three hours in Ine, which is why I recommend trying to visit Amanohashidate as well if you have the energy.
Where to Stay in Ine with Kids
Ine is quite a quiet village that takes about three hours or so to see. However, there is some merit to staying overnight, especially if you plan to visit Amanohashidate first. By staying overnight in Ine, children can rest and be ready to explore Ine the next day. You can also enjoy the quietness of the village in the early morning when there aren’t many tourists.
However, many of the accommodations in Ine are fully booked months in advance, and boathouses usually do not allow children under the age of 12. This is why my friend stayed overnight in Amanohashidate when she visited with her young son.
If you’re wondering where to stay in Ine with your children, here are my picks.
Seikaiha
Seikaiha is one of the few boathouses that allow young children to stay. The boathouse was built in 1913, carrying a rich history. Note that this stay does not come with meals, but if you contact the boathouse three days in advance, you might be able to order a meal to be delivered to your room.
CAFE & BB guri
This isn’t one of the famous boathouses that you can stay in, but CAFE & BB guri is highly rated due to the kind owners, cleanliness, excellent breakfast, and a huge projector in the room where the whole family can watch a movie and unwind.
Final Thoughts: Our Take on Visiting Ine with Kids
When we drove home, my husband kept talking about how wonderful our trip to Ine was, and when I asked my daughter what she would rate it on a scale of one to ten, she said 11! She really liked the boat ride and the fish basket.
For us, visiting just Ine for half a day was perfect because we weren’t too tired and could get home at a reasonable time. When my friend visited with her family from Kyoto, they stayed overnight in Amanohashidate and then visited Ine the following day.
It’s quite easy to get to Ine from Amanohashidate, and there are even combo tickets so you can see the highlights of both areas in one day. The Ine part will just be a boat ride, though, you won’t be able to get off and see the village. If you want to see the village, you’ll need to travel by bus.
If you’re doing a day trip to both Ine and Amanohashidate, make sure to arrive as early as possible so you can enjoy the sights in both areas.