Kochi

Located in the delta of the Kagami River (the Mirror River, named for the purity of the water), the city of Kochi, capital of the prefecture of the same name, is dominated by its 17th century castle. It is famous among gourmets for its specialties of bonito, fish in the high seas, among which the katsuoboshi, a dry bonito widely used in Japanese cuisine, stands out. It is also famous for its tropical festival, Yasakoi-Matsuri. Between August 9 and 12, 20,000 colorfully dressed dancers invade the city in yukata with their lively traditional dances.

Places to visit

Kochi Castle

Built in the 17th century, later destroyed and rebuilt in the 18th century, Kochi Castle is the symbol of the city and a witness to its historical past. The keep, the gates and the warehouses have been classified as important cultural assets.

• 4 minute walk from Kochijo Mae tram stop, 20 minute walk from Kochi station.

Harimayabashi Bridge

The townspeople attach special importance to the red lacquered bridge where a tragic love story between a monk and a woman took place.

• Harimayabashi tram stop.

Kochi Prefectural Museum of Fine Arts

In addition to its rich collections of works by Marc Chagall and other Japanese and foreign artists, this museum, located at the confluence of two rivers that run through the city, is particularly interesting for its architecture, which integrates water as one more element.

• A 3 minute walk from the Kenritsu Bijutsukan Dori tram stop.
  http://www.kochi-bunkazaidan.or.jp/~museum/previous/english_page/welcome.htm

Sakamoto Ryoma memorial museum

Born in 1835, Sakamoto Ryoma was an important figure in the Meiji Restoration and modernization of Japan. In Kochi, his hometown, there is a museum dedicated to him that reconstructs his life and the history of his time in a building with amazing architecture overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Also, you can visit the house where he was born.

• 40 minutes by bus, Ryoma Kinen-kan Mae stop.
  http://www.ryoma-kinenkan.jp/
• http://www.ryoma-kinenkan.jp/

Katsurahama

This magnificent beach is unique, as it has 5 types of sand of different colors. Bordered by pine trees and rocks sculpted by the elements, it is a popular place to walk, especially to admire the moon in autumn.

40 minutes by bus from Kochi Station.

Ryugado Cave

With a length of 4 km, Ryugado is one of the three largest limestone caves in Japan. It has impressive stalactites and utensils were also found inside, proof that it was a prehistoric refuge (Yayoi period), some of which are today imprisoned in the rock. These remains are exhibited in the adjacent museum.

• 50 minutes by bus from Kochi station, 20 minutes by bus from Tosa Yamada station.

Near Kochi

Cape Ashizuri

At the southern tip of Shikoku Island, in the Ashizuri-Uwakai Natural Park, this cape offers beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean, in an environment with rich subtropical vegetation. A hiking route and observation points were prepared.

• 1 hour 45 minutes by bus from Nakamura Station (2 hours by train from Kochi).

Tatsukushi Coast

Erosion from the wind and the sea carved the rocks off the coast of Tatsukushi, giving them the shape of huge veins sinking into the sea.

• 1 hour by bus from Cape Ashizuri.

Minokoshi Beach

Literally “invisible beach”, this beach surrounded by reefs, as in Tatsukushi, was named for its extremely difficult access. Today, it is possible to go admire this exceptional landscape on a boat that departs from Tatsukushi.

• 30 minutes by boat from Tatsukushi.

Transport

Haneda Airport (Tokyo)> (1 hour and 25 minutes flight)>
OR
Ltami airport (Osaka) or Kansai airport> (45 minute flight)>
Kochi Airport> (37 minutes by bus> Kochi Station
Tokyo Station> (3 hours and 20 minutes to 4 hours and 10 minutes by train via Shinkansen Nozomi or Hikari)>
OR
Kyoto Station> (from 1 hour and 5 minutes to 1 hour and 25 minutes by train via Shinkansen Nozomi or Hikari)>
Okayama Station> (2 hours 35 minutes with Limited Express Nanpu)> Kochi Station