Amanohashidate and Miyama Kayabuki no Sato 1 Day Tour from Osaka

Ine (伊根) is a town located around the Ine Bay in northern Kyoto Prefecture, about 15 kilometers north of Amanohashidate. This working town has a long and rich history as a fishing village and is regarded as one of the most beautiful villages in Japan. The unique aspect of Ine are its funaya. Literally meaning "boat houses", these traditional waterfront buildings contain garages for boats on their first floors and residential space on the upper floors. Today there over 200 funaya remaining along the bay. Some of them now serve as guest houses where visitors can stay the night and experience the funaya first-hand (see external links for a list of lodgings).

Amanohashidate (天橋立) is a pine covered sandbar that spans the mouth of Miyazu Bay in the scenic, coastal region of northern Kyoto Prefecture. Viewed from the mountains at either end of the bay, the Amanohashidate Sandbar (which roughly translates to "bridge in heaven") looks like a pathway between heaven and earth. The scene has been admired for centuries and is ranked among Japan's three most scenic views. Several other attractions can be explored on foot or by rental bicycle at either end of the sandbar. They include a couple of temples, a shrine, a small amusement park and observation decks from which to enjoy the view. Visitors can further take sightseeing cruises around the bay or enjoy the sand beaches along the sandbar.

An observatory where you can overlook Amanohashidate. Amanohashidate can be seen in the shape of “一”, the Chinese character for “one.” If you turn your back to Amanohashidate and bend over to view the amazing landform from between your legs, it looks like a bridge to heaven. This position is called “Matanozoki” in Japanese. At Kasamatsu Park, you can also meet Kasabo, the park`s cute pinecone mascot character!If you’re lucky, you may even be able to get a picture with him!

Miyama (美山) is a remote, rural area in the mountains 30 kilometers north of central Kyoto. The area is famous for its traditional, thatched roof (kayabuki) farmhouses of which over 200 can be seen dotting the countryside. Unlike those found in many other historic towns and districts around the country, the majority of Miyama's old houses survive as residential dwellings where people still live and work. This in turn lends a very nostalgic atmosphere to the area, and gives visitors a chance to experience the traditional, authentic feel of rural Japan.