Amanohashidate (天橋立) is a pine covered sandbar that spans the mouth of Miyazu Bay in the scenic, coastal region of northern Kyoto Prefecture. Viewed from the mountains at either end of the bay, the Amanohashidate Sandbar (which roughly translates to “bridge in heaven”) looks like a pathway between heaven and earth. The scene has been admired for centuries and is ranked among Japan’s three most scenic views.

Ine (伊根) is a town located around the Ine Bay in northern Kyoto Prefecture, about 15 kilometers north of Amanohashidate. This working town has a long and rich history as a fishing village and is regarded as one of the most beautiful villages in Japan. The unique aspect of Ine are its funaya. Literally meaning “boat houses”, these traditional waterfront buildings contain garages for boats on their first floors and residential space on the upper floors. Today they’re over 200 funaya remaining along the bay. Some of them now serve as guest houses where visitors can stay the night and experience the funaya first-hand

An observatory where you can overlook Amanohashidate. Amanohashidate can be seen in the shape of “一”, the Chinese character for “one.” If you turn your back to Amanohashidate and bend over to view the amazing landform from between your legs, it looks like a bridge to heaven. This position is called “Matanozoki” in Japanese. At Kasamatsu Park, you can also meet Kasabo, the park`s cute pinecone mascot character!If you’re lucky, you may even be able to get a picture with him!

Motoise Kono Shrine is an old shrine that has a strong affinity with the famous Ise Shine in Mie Pref. It is said that the goddess of agriculture, Toyouke-Ōmikami, who once resided in this area was called to Ise Shrine by the sun goddess, Amaterasu-Ōmikami, and has since been enshrined at Ise Shrine. Along the railing in front of the main shrine there are five colored suedama, a Shinto motif of which only two shrines in the country are permitted to use – Ise Shrine and Kono Shrine. Within the shrine grounds there is a suikinkutsu, a Japanese garden ornament that produces a beautiful sound like a koto harp, as water drips into an underground cave. Its mysterious tones echo from underfoot and it is as relaxing as it is beautiful.

The beach located on the Monju side of the Amanohashidate sandbar near Chionji Temple. The beach is a popular swimming spot in the summer as well as a famous flower spot in the late spring /early summer(May). Sweetbrier and beach morning glory bloom on the beach. The beach ususally opens for swimming in mid-July.

Amanohashidate View Land is an amusement park in the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture. Amanohasidate Viewland is famous as a Mata-nozoki spot.