Kyoto by the Sea: Amanohashidate & Ine no Funaya Bus Tour from Osaka

I recently went on the Ine no Funaya, Amanohashidate, and HIRYUKAN bus tour, and it was an incredibly satisfying trip, far exceeding my expectations. Most importantly, thanks to our guide, Jo Jun-young, the trip was much more enjoyable and comfortable. During our travels, he didn't just explain the tourist spots; he also shared fascinating information about Japanese regional culture, history, local restaurants, and travel tips, making even the travel time engaging. His schedule management was particularly excellent, and he guided us efficiently through crowded tourist areas, allowing us to explore comfortably. His kind and thorough answers to every question truly showed his professionalism. The tranquil and atmospheric scenery of Ine no Funaya was wonderful, and the breathtaking views from Amanohashidate and HIRYUKAN are still vivid in my memory. It was my first time visiting these areas, and thanks to our excellent guide, it became an even more special memory. If I ever take another bus tour in Japan, I would love to join a tour led by Jo Jun-young again. Thank you so much for making it such a wonderful trip!

I hastily booked this tour just a day before, and in conclusion, I was extremely satisfied! I'm so grateful to Guide Jo Jun-young for being incredibly kind and meticulously taking care of all the travelers. 😊 It was also great that the tour was small-group, allowing us to enjoy it quietly and leisurely. Plus, the weather was perfect, so I even got several once-in-a-lifetime photos! 👍 If you're coming to Osaka, I highly recommend taking a day to participate in this tour!

We had a cozy trip with guide Jo Jun-yeong and a small group of only 8 people: 3 of us, 3 Koreans, and 2 Indonesians. Thanks to the kind guide, my parents loved it, and he even recommended a delicious restaurant for lunch where we enjoyed a Japanese-style shrimp curry, salad, and tea set with a comfortable view of the sea ^^. Seagulls were sitting on the water boats, and there was also a 250-year-old traditional brewery, so I bought a bottle of sake as a souvenir. Thank you for making such pleasant memories! The travel time is a bit long, about 6 hours round trip, but it was quiet and nice. There are only about 230 stilt houses left in this quiet neighborhood. If you come to Osaka with plenty of time, it's a good place to visit!

The tour was extremely beautiful. I wish it was a sunny day, but still, great experience. Our tour guide Jun Young Jo was very friendly and kind, very helpful. We were only 5 of us in total, so it was amazing. I would like to recommend it to experience it. Totally worth of money.

It did take quite a while to get there, but honestly, it was so worth it. Once we arrived, we had enough time to just walk around and really take in the peaceful vibe of the countryside. I loved seeing the small villages blending into nature. The little shops along the way weren’t super commercialized either, which I really appreciated. They had that cozy, old-school charm you don't see much anymore.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I found out I was the only guest that day, but the tour still went ahead and I’m so glad it did. The scenery was absolutely stunning. Amanohashidate and Ine were even more beautiful in person than in the pictures. The guide was super kind and made sure I never felt awkward. He explained everything really clearly, helped take some great photos, and was just really easy to talk to throughout the day. It felt more like traveling with a local friend than being on a formal tour. Definitely one of the best day trips I’ve done in Japan!

If you want a break from the busy city, this tour is perfect. They gave us enough free time at each spot to wander, take photos, or just sit and enjoy the view. It felt very local and peaceful, not touristy. Plus, the seafood lunch was so good. Loved every minute.

I loved how this tour gave us plenty of time at each stop. Nothing felt rushed, and I could really soak in the countryside vibes. Amanohashidate was beautiful but honestly just sitting by the water at Ine and watching the little boats go by was my favorite part. A super relaxing tour!

I came to Osaka to play and went there with a healing mind. And the guide was a young Japanese woman... I think her name was Ayaka? Ayaka told me various stories in the car, so I was able to learn about Japanese culture, and she treated me as if I was talking to a friend, so I wanted to contact her privately?? Hahaha Anyway, the guide was really nice and took good pictures for me, so it was a very satisfying trip. At first, I was going to use public transportation, but when I calculated the round trip, it was cheaper to take a tour and it was also very time-efficient. So I signed up for the tour and I was very satisfied. If you've come to the city to play but want healing, I recommend this place!!

Had a great day thanks to the super friendly guide Jeon Yoon-Cheol, who also knew all the best photo spots. He even took a photo of me and printed it out as a souvenir :)