Journeys in photographs and words.

Places we stopped along the way

Ine, Kyoto

Ine no Funaya Miyabi

From: Living with the sea in the boathouses of Ine

Standing at a waterside seat beneath glass-float lamps
Standing at a waterside seat beneath glass-float lamps

A Japanese-style cafe in a boathouse built about 80 years ago and renovated in the manner of a teahouse. At a seat open to the sea, I had mitarashi dango made with Kyoto rice and a cup of green tea. It also operates as an inn.

552 Hirata, Ine, Yosa District, Kyoto

Sources: rurubu.jp mapple.net

This moment in the journey

A cafe in a renovated boathouse

Let's drop in at the coffee shop in a renovated funaya. Past the noren curtain, lamps made of glass fishing floats hung from the ceiling, and beyond the floor was the open sea.

Handmade mitarashi dango made with Kyoto rice: how could I say no? I carried the tray of green tea and the plate of dango to a seat at the water's edge. Aoshima floated at the mouth of the bay, and all I could hear was the sound of the waves.

Watch this scene on YouTube1:16

Read this scene in the full journey

The entrance of the cafe with purple noren curtains
The entrance of the cafe with purple noren curtains
Setting a plate of mitarashi dango beside a tray of green tea
Setting a plate of mitarashi dango beside a tray of green tea
A cup of green tea on a wooden tray
A cup of green tea on a wooden tray
Looking out over the bay from a seat open to the sea
Looking out over the bay from a seat open to the sea
Wooden INE letters, a teacup, a hand holding the dango plate, and Aoshima beyond
Wooden INE letters, a teacup, a hand holding the dango plate, and Aoshima beyond