After a month travelling through Japan on a site visit, there are always a few places that stay with me longer than the rest.
Ine was one of them.
I first came across this fishing village years ago through a documentary. It stayed somewhere at the back of my mind, quietly waiting for the right moment. When I finally had the chance to visit, I knew I did not want to treat it as just another stop on the itinerary.
I wanted to experience it properly.
To be honest, Kyoto city itself has not held the same appeal for me in recent years. The crowds have grown, and many parts of it now feel overly commercialised. What I look for when I travel is something different. I want to see how people actually live, not just what is presented to visitors.
Ine offers exactly that.
It is not the easiest place to reach. We drove close to three hours from Nagoya airport, and that distance is precisely what has preserved its charm. Places that require effort tend to reward you in ways that are difficult to replicate elsewhere.
Staying in a Traditional Funaya
One of the main reasons for visiting Ine is to stay in a funaya.
These are traditional wooden boathouses built along the waterfront, and they reflect the village’s deep connection to the sea. Many of them are privately owned, and those that are available for stays, especially the ones facing the water, are limited and tend to be booked quickly.
Interestingly, just a week before my trip, I had arranged a funaya stay for one of my clients. He shared photos with me, and I could already sense how special the experience was going to be.
For my own stay, I chose Minagi Funaya, which had been carefully restored by the local tourism board.
The house was simple but thoughtfully designed. It had two levels, with a living space and kitchen on the lower floor, and bedrooms above. The main bedroom faced the water, while the second room looked out towards the quiet village street.
What impressed me was not just the structure, but the intention behind it. It felt authentic without trying too hard.
There is something grounding about sitting by the water, letting your legs hang over the edge, and watching the day pass slowly. In that moment, all the travelling, the planning, and the long drives fade into the background.
Dining in a Small Coastal Village
Food in Ine works differently from larger cities.
It is a small village, and meals are not something you decide on the spot. Most restaurants require advance ordering, which means you need to plan ahead.
We arranged for a sukiyaki dinner, and it turned out to be one of those quietly satisfying meals. There was nothing extravagant about it, but it was well prepared and deeply comforting.
Good food, a calm environment, and no rush to move on. That combination is rare.
A Morning with the Locals
The next morning, we woke early and walked through the village.
A short distance from our stay, we came across the local market. It was already active. Fishermen had returned with their catch, and locals were gathering to purchase fresh seafood. There were small conversations, exchanges, and even bits of informal bidding happening.
It was not staged or curated for visitors. It was simply daily life.
Moments like these are often what define a place more than any attraction.
Why Ine Stays With You
Leaving Ine was harder than expected.
Perhaps it was because it was one of the first places on the journey. Perhaps it was the contrast with the busier parts of Kyoto. Or perhaps it was simply the feeling of being somewhere that still operates at its own pace.
There are not many places left where you can experience this kind of quiet authenticity without interruption.
Ine is one of them.
How We Incorporate Places Like Ine Into a Japan Journey
Ine is not a destination you simply add into a standard itinerary.
It requires careful structuring. Travel time needs to be considered. The pacing of the journey needs to allow for stillness, otherwise the experience loses its meaning.
This is where our Travel Planning approach comes in.
We look beyond individual destinations and focus on how each part of the journey connects and flows.
For travellers who are looking to explore beyond the usual routes, Ine can be a meaningful addition when designed properly within a wider itinerary.
You can start here:
👉 Japan Travel Planner
About the Author
Best Teo is the Chief Travel Designer behind Epic Travel Designer.
She specialises in designing thoughtfully structured journeys across Japan, focusing on destinations and experiences that go beyond the typical tourist routes. Her work centres on creating travel that feels seamless, immersive and grounded in real local experiences.