24 HOURS IN…

KYOTO BY THE SEA

From exploring iridescent blue caves to sampling the catch of the day — a day in Kyoto by the Sea is both bracing and invigorating

MORNING

The fishing village of Ine in the Yoza District is a sleepy place. Sheltered by mountains on one side and an island on the other, Ine is largely cut off from the rest of the country. Get there for the daily fish market between 7-8am in the summer, and 8-9am in winter, where fishermen sell their catch straight off the boats. Then head for Mukai Brewery — out of all the sake breweries in Japan, this is one of the few with a female master brewer. Be sure to try the speciality sake, made from ancient red rice.

AFTERNOON

Drive to San’in Kaigan Geopark in Kyotango on the coast. From here, you can take to the water to surf, try standup paddleboarding with Kyotango135east, or take a boat to the Blue Cave, where the water glows aquamarine due to the region’s underground volcanic activity. The coastline has several incredible sites including the gigantic Tateiwa rock and ancient Onaru Burial Mound, plus Kotohikihama beach where the quartz sand squeaks underfoot.

EVENING

Stop for food at Hisami, a seafood restaurant on a hill overlooking the Sea of Japan.

It’s known for the snow crab it serves in winter, but during summer the menu features locally caught fish and homegrown vegetables — try the Seafood Rice Bowl to get a real taste of the region. Finish the day with a visit to a traditional onsen. The spa at Centrale Hotel has a natural hot spring and is a local favourite for its open-air hot tub, small cold tub, sauna and Japanese garden.