Ine Bay Sightseeing Boat

In short

A sightseeing boat operated by Tango Kairiku Kotsu. On a cruise of about 25 minutes, you can take your time viewing, from the sea, the distinctive scenery of the Ine-no-Funaya Boathouses lining the water's edge of Ine Bay. The boarding point is Hide Station, in Hide, which sells tickets for the boat as well as local specialty souvenirs from Ine Town. Operations may be suspended in rough weather.

• ​The fronts of the Funaya, seen only from the sea​​: From the boat, you can see the neat rows of Funaya openings where boats actually go in and out, which cannot be seen from land
• ​Feeding the seagulls​​: Feeding the seagulls that fly alongside the boat is a popular experience. Seagull food is sold at Hide Station and on board. Watch out for black kites
• ​A two-story boat​​: A two-story catamaran, with an air-conditioned indoor cabin on the first floor and restrooms

History and Highlights

The ​Ine Bay Sightseeing Boat​ is a scenic tour boat operated by Tango Kairiku Kotsu. From the water, visitors can enjoy a relaxing view of the distinctive scenery of the Ine-no-Funaya Boathouses standing along the shore of Ine Bay. During the approximately 25-minute cruise, you can view the Funaya boathouses built right at the water's edge from sea level, allowing you to experience firsthand the wisdom embedded in living in a Funaya.

Ine Bay is an inlet surrounded on three sides by mountains, with Aoshima Island floating at the mouth of the bay that opens to the south. It is a calm bay with minimal tidal variation.

The boarding point is Hide Station, located in Hide. In addition to selling cruise tickets, Hide Station offers local specialty souvenirs from Ine Town. The station building was renovated in 2019, adding a terrace where visitors can rest.

Viewing and Experience Points

• ​The Front of the Funaya Visible Only from the Sea​​: The original entrances to the Funaya boathouses are situated on the sea side. From on board the boat, you can view the fronts of the Funaya, which cannot be seen from land, featuring an orderly row of openings where boats actually enter and exit.
• ​Feeding the Seagulls​​: Once the boat departs, many seagulls gather and fly alongside the vessel. Seagull food is sold at Hide Station and on board, making feeding them a popular activity. Please be mindful of black kites.
• ​Two-Story Boat​​: The sightseeing boat is a two-story catamaran equipped with an air-conditioned indoor area on the first floor and restrooms. Because of its large size, it is also well-suited for group travel.

Travel Tips

When traveling by bus, getting off at the "Ine-wan Meguri Hide" bus stop brings you right in front of the boarding point. From the elevated roadside station Michi-no-Eki Funaya-no-Sato Ine, the boarding point is about a 5-minute drive. Operations may be suspended in rough weather. As an alternative for viewing the Funaya from the water, small sea taxis guided by local boat captains on their own vessels are also available. After disembarking, viewing the Funaya straight-on from around Ine-ura Park or looking down over the bay from Michi-no-Eki Funaya-no-Sato Ine lets you enjoy the Ine-no-Funaya Boathouses from both sea and land perspectives.