Kyoto Winter Illumination Tour - Ine Funaya & Amanohashidate & Miyama Thatched Village Winter Lantern Corridor (Including Special Experience) Day Trip (Departing from Osaka)
- Stroll through Ine Funaya, admire the traditional fishing village architecture built along the coast, and experience the unique bay scenery.
- Take an Ine Bay sightseeing boat to admire the Funaya from the sea up close, and even have the chance to interact with seagulls.
- Visit Amanohashidate, one of Japan's three scenic views, stroll along the pine-lined coast, and overlook the vast natural scenery of Miyazu Bay.
- Ascend to the Amanohashidate View Land observation deck to admire the unique sandbar landscape from above, resembling a dragon soaring into the sky.
- During winter, visit Miyama Thatched Village to enjoy the tranquil winter scenery of the snow-covered ancient village and traditional thatched-roof houses.
- Participate in the annual Winter Lantern Corridor lighting event, where snow lanterns and the lights of thatched-roof houses intertwine, creating a dreamy snowy night.
- Experience limited-time activities such as mochi pounding, red bean soup, and carrying LED paper lanterns. On February 3rd, you can also enjoy traditional dedication dances.
What to expect
This itinerary focuses on a winter-limited atmospheric experience, and the illumination of the Winter Lantern Corridor in Miyama Kayabuki no Sato is undoubtedly the most gentle and anticipated highlight of the entire trip ✨❄️.
- Ine Funaya | Kyoto’s “Venice of the Sea” Stroll along Ine Bay and admire the unique scenery of approximately 230 funaya (boathouses) built along the sea. You can also take an Ine Bay sightseeing boat at your own expense to view the funaya from a different perspective from the sea, and if you’re lucky, you might even encounter flocks of seagulls.
- Amanohashidate | One of Japan’s Three Scenic Views Come to Amanohashidate, one of Japan’s Three Scenic Views, and freely stroll between the coast and the pine forest. You can also take a cable car to View Land, depending on your chosen package, to overlook the beautiful sandbar extending like a “flying dragon” from above.
- Miyama Kayabuki no Sato | Winter-Limited Snow Scenery Step into the quaint village surrounded by white snow and admire the preserved thatched-roof houses and traditional streetscapes. The evening is even more spectacular – the annual “Miyama Winter Lantern Corridor” limited illumination event officially begins, with snow lanterns, flower lanterns, LED lanterns, and house lights reflecting each other, as if stepping into a real-life winter fairy tale.
- ✨ Don’t miss the limited experiences! During the event, you can experience mochi pounding and red bean soup hospitality, feeling the warm and traditional Japanese winter time; on February 3rd, there will be a limited performance of the Hachiman Shrine Harunoryu Dedication Dance, adding a unique traditional cultural ritual to the snowy night. There are also food stalls, portable LED paper lanterns, and other winter-limited experiences, making this trip not just about sightseeing, but a true winter Kyoto journey.
* Enjoying the sea and snow, from the bay charm of Ine Funaya to the illuminated snowscape of Miyama Kayabuki no Sato, this trip brings together the most special winter scenery of northern Kyoto. ✨




















Reviews
I highly recommend everyone to try it! Our tour guide, Mr. Hu, was very attentive and funny. He also proactively added us on messaging apps to stay in touch, which is a first for me among the many day tours I've joined. We went to Amanohashidate, Ine, and the Miyama illumination spot. The itinerary was well-planned 👍. Hope to see you again!
Unexpectedly encountered heavy snow, the scenery was beautiful, but unfortunately due to the heavy snow, Miyama-cho mountain was closed and we couldn't go, leaving a small regret. The tour guide and driver were both very professional, thumbs up 👍
During our trip to Japan, we participated in a total of 3 day trips. This day trip, led by tour guide Hu Jun, was the most well-arranged, and the introduction was very detailed, including the mastery of time, and after obtaining the consent of the entire group, the slight adjustment of the itinerary time and the reasonable arrangement made the most of the time. A fantastic trip!
Tour guide Xiao Zhao was very friendly and lovely, and also explained things very well. We had a very enjoyable time. We were very lucky that the weather cooperated, allowing us to visit all three attractions smoothly.
We ran into heavy snow this time, which meant we couldn't make it to the Miyama light-up event that I really wanted to go to, but fortunately we were able to do the other things on the itinerary. Looking forward to going again next time!
There were many people at the morning meeting point, so I suggest remembering the tour guide's name and the tour bus number (the tour guide will email it the day before), which will make it easier to find the bus. The tour time is about 11 hours. The section of the road to My Son is a mountain road, and I got a bit carsick. The stops at each attraction were mostly for the time listed on the itinerary. The tour guide will give a meeting time after arriving at each destination, and then it's free time. I suggest looking up information beforehand so you won't be at a loss when you get to the attractions.
The whole trip was amazing. The only thing is the seat i was seated (last row solo seat) had a bump on the floor so i had to sit sideways which made it uncomfortable. Maybe just not have that seat be used because its really uncomfortable.
This Ine and Miyama tour only includes a 25-minute round trip seagull feeding experience on the sightseeing boat. There may be a lot of people, and the tour time, including waiting for everyone to finish using the restroom before departure, may feel a bit short.
The tourist destination was beautiful, and I was lucky enough to see a beautiful snow scene, although I visited all the attractions. However, at almost every attraction, I only had time to take a few pictures before having to leave immediately. Also, luckily I heard a "tour guide from another group" introduce the Miyama Donuts, and I was fortunate enough to get to eat one.
Xiao Liu is a girl with a sweet smile. She's very friendly, and her explanations are thorough. She also interacts well with children. We completed all the scheduled activities. The experience of feeding seagulls from the boat while it was snowing was fantastic. Our whole family had a great time. Thank you, Xiao Liu.
Good to know
- 【Important Notice】 Please be aware that there are many eagles in the Ine no Funaya (Boat Houses of Ine) area. When taking the sightseeing boat, if you spot any eagles, please immediately stop feeding the seagulls and put away your feed to avoid being pecked.
- Snowfall and accumulation are affected by weather conditions. After the tour is confirmed, it will proceed as scheduled regardless of snowfall or accumulation. Thank you for your understanding.
- 【Seasonal Activities】 Seasonal activities such as cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, special flower seasons, snow scenes, illuminations, and festivals are susceptible to weather and other unforeseen circumstances. Tours will proceed as scheduled unless official cancellation notices are received. Please note that refunds will not be issued if the flowers or scenery are not as expected.
- 【Notice for Elderly and Pregnant Travelers】 To ensure your safety and rights, participants aged 70 or older, or pregnant women, are required to sign a waiver. Please indicate this in the "Special Requests" section when booking. We will send the agreement to you by email after receiving your order. Please sign and return a photo of the signed document to complete the registration process.
- 【Luggage Allowance】 Each traveler is allowed one free piece of luggage (carry-on size recommended). Please specify this in the "Special Requests" section when booking. If you bring extra luggage without notifying us at least one day in advance, the tour guide may refuse boarding due to crowded conditions and safety concerns, and no refund will be issued.
- 【Notice for Infants】 If you are traveling with infants under 3 years old who do not require a seat, please be sure to indicate this when booking. Even if the infant does not occupy a seat, they must be included in the vehicle's passenger count. The tour guide reserves the right to refuse boarding if prior notice is not given.
- 【Notification Time and Method】 We will send an email with the tour guide and vehicle information between 20:00 and 21:00 the day before the tour. Please check your spam folder, as the email may be misidentified as spam. During peak season or under special circumstances, the email sending time may be delayed. The final email shall prevail.
- 【Meeting and Lateness Policy】 This is a shared tour, so please be sure to arrive at the meeting point on time. We cannot wait for latecomers, and no refunds will be issued. You will be responsible for any consequences and expenses incurred as a result of your lateness. Thank you for your understanding.
- 【Vehicle Type and Language】 We will arrange the vehicle type based on the number of participants on the day. We cannot guarantee a specific type of vehicle. You may be traveling with guests who speak other languages. Thank you for your understanding.
- 【Departure Time Adjustment】 During peak season or under special circumstances, the departure time may be earlier or later than scheduled. Please refer to the email notification you receive the day before for the confirmed departure time, and please prepare accordingly.
- 【Seating Arrangement】 Seating on shared tours is generally on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have special needs, please indicate this when booking, and we will do our best to accommodate you. However, the final arrangement is at the discretion of the tour guide on-site.
- 【Itinerary Adjustment】 Due to strict regulations in Japan regarding the operating hours of commercial vehicles, the attractions, transportation, and time spent at each location included in the itinerary will be flexibly arranged based on the conditions of the day. In the event of traffic jams, weather changes, or other special circumstances, the tour guide will consult with the majority of the group and reasonably adjust the order or omit some attractions. Thank you for your cooperation.
- 【No Early Departure】 This is a group tour, and early departure or unauthorized separation from the group is not permitted. If you choose to leave the tour early, the remaining itinerary will be considered a voluntary abandonment, and no refund will be issued. You will be responsible for any risks or liabilities arising from leaving the tour.
- 【Estimated End Time】 Due to the long driving distance, the return arrival time may be affected by traffic or weather conditions. We recommend that you avoid scheduling other activities on the day the tour ends. We will not be liable for any losses incurred due to delays.
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