Kyoto Tower (Nidec The Kyoto Tower) | Review by 一個漸漸喜歡上慢旅的人

When visiting Kyoto by the Sea, you can take a sightseeing boat and view this fishing village on the water from offshore, appreciating the full panorama of the funaya houses from a different perspective.

As the boat slowly leaves the pier, Ine Bay is as smooth as a mirror. Wooden funaya houses line the lush green mountains and deep blue coastline, with their dark gray tiled roofs reflected on the water. The expansive view is breathtaking.

Once aboard, don’t forget to buy a bag of the shrimp-flavored crackers sold on the boat. As soon as the boat starts moving, flocks of seagulls circle and follow in the sea breeze. Whenever you hold out a cracker, you can experience the thrill and fun of seagulls swooping down to eat from your hand. Be especially careful because sometimes agile eagles also fly low among them and quickly snatch the food, so protect your fingers while feeding the birds. The entire Ine Bay cruise is accompanied by the sound of waves and birds, making it both relaxing and full of laughter.

I had always dreamed of visiting Kyoto by the Sea, and this time I finally had the chance to visit Ine, known as “Japan’s most beautiful fishing village.” As the bus wound its way along the road, I could see hundreds of traditional funaya boathouses stretching along the bay. It wasn’t until I entered the guesthouse that I discovered the ingenuity of the funaya, with boats docked on the first floor and living quarters on the second, fully preserving the wisdom of the fishermen who once lived in harmony with the sea.

To truly experience the soul of Ine, I highly recommend staying overnight. I especially recommend “Funaya Ichi,” which hosts only one group of guests per day. The privacy of having the entire detached house to yourself lets you enjoy the gentle beauty of the whole bay. After the day-trippers left in the afternoon, the entire fishing village became quiet again. The sea breeze was slightly chilly in early spring, so before setting out, we bought local Tango produce and ingredients at a supermarket near Kasamatsu Park and cooked a steaming hot pot at the guesthouse. Besides warming us up, it gave us a deeper sense of what daily life was like for the fishermen who once lived by the sea.

If you enjoy exploring at a leisurely pace, the next day you can borrow a bicycle from the tourist information center and take a relaxing ride. Along the way, stop by Mukai Shuzo, a brewery with more than 200 years of history, and pick up a bottle of its signature fruity, rosé-like sake, “Ine Mankai,” as a beautiful keepsake from your trip through Kyoto by the Sea. I’ll remember the beautiful view of that bay for the rest of my life.

The famous classic Japanese souvenir, Sugar Butter Tree, features crispy cereal cookies made with layers of baked oats, generously coated with butter and sugar crystals. They are exceptionally crisp and full of rich buttery flavor, making them a souvenir that many people never forget to buy when visiting Japan.

Besides the classic flavor, don't miss the limited-edition fall Muscat grape flavor! With one bite, the grain flavor instantly blends with the Muscat grape's sweet, elegant fruitiness and slight tartness. It's rich without being too heavy, with surprisingly delightful layers of flavor.

They're very easy to find at souvenir shopping areas in major JR stations such as Tokyo Station and Shinagawa Station, as well as major department stores and duty-free shops at international airports such as Narita and Haneda. They're a good choice as a gift or for yourself.