2025 Takaoka District Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in May)

The 196-kilometer-long Shimanto River, with a total of 48 Shenxia Bridges, is known as "Japan's last clear stream", with beautiful scenery and emerald-like water like a mirror. When you come to Shimanto River, of course you have to stay better! Recommend everyone ~ Matsuba River Onsen ~ This is one of the sightseeing attractions of Shimanto River! The reason we chose to stay here in the first place was because many Japanese recommendations and good reviews! Matsubagawa Onsen is about a 1.5 hour drive from Sada Shenshita Bridge, we came over after playing the main attractions of Shimantogawa, so it was a bit rushed! It was almost 8pm when we arrived at the hotel! Because we have booked dinner here to catch up with dinner time, so hurry up to check in and drop off your luggage, and then immediately return to the restaurant next to the hotel lobby to dine! Because of this, I was a little hasty when shooting the room😂 Also forgot to shoot the location of the toilet, however the location of the toilet really only has the toilet, the room we chose is no bathtub, because we will go to the big bath and hot spring anyway! The hotel has 4 floors, the 1st floor is the location of the check In counter at the door, there is a restaurant next to it, breakfast and dinner are eaten there! The 2nd floor is where the large bath and hot springs are located, and the 3rd floor is where we stayed! We chose the Japanese room 8 stacks - Japanese style non-smoking room by the river, with toilet and no bathtub! Once you open the door one side is the shoe cabinet and a row of cabinets, the other side is the wash basin and placed some toiletries, in front of a sliding door, open is a very typical traditional Japanese room design! Maybe because we checked In late, the quilt has been laid; I remember going to some hot spring hotels before, usually after dinner back to the room, the quilt will be moved out! Japanese-style hotels often see many large cabinets and sliding doors, often think of "Doraemon" or like the built-in mechanism in a ninja house! In the cabinet you will find yukata, towels and disposable toiletries for soaking in the hot springs and more! On the table are the souvenirs of Matsubagawa Onsen - ginger pancakes and Japanese sencha! The room has a mini fridge, flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi, with traditional Japanese low tables, tatami floors and Japanese mattresses, and a furnished balcony with river views. Then we returned to the restaurant next to the hotel lobby to dine! As I remember the dinner was chosen at the time of booking, we chose a set of rice pork no ginger pot (pork pot), the menu may change depending on seasonal changes and purchase, details can be found on the official website or the booking website! Then we went back to our room to rest for a while and then went to the big bath to rinse and soak in the hot spring! Hotels in Japan are always very courteous, with detailed maps indicating the location of the large baths and the layout of each floor! It is said that Matsubagawa Onsen has been famous for its Shikoku Spirit Spring from the Edo period (17th ~ 19th century), gushing in the valley of the source flow of 40,000 Tokawa, Hinochi River, its "beauty's soup" is one of the three "beauty's soup" in Tosa. The Japanese "indication" is translated into Chinese as "the healing effect of the hot spring corresponding to the disease", divided into two categories: "general indication" and "spring quality specific indication" "Indications" refers to "the special ingredients of the hot spring will produce a unique healing effect on various conditions", but note: if the selected hot spring category does not match the disease, sometimes have adverse effects on the disease, so if you have physical discomfort, special attention when soaking in the hot spring! Therefore, the special ingredients of Matsubagawa Onsen’s “Beauty No Yu” will produce unique healing effects on chronic skin diseases, chronic gynecological diseases, cuts and diabetes! The large bath has indoor and outdoor hot spring baths, bathing time: 15:00-23:00 / 6:00-9:00, because the environment is too comfortable, and completely no one (and dominate the hot spring XD), so we took a dip this evening and morning! I didn't expect that there would be multiple massage chairs outside the big bath. After soaking in the hot spring, press it again. It's great! At that time I was soaking at about 10:30 pm and 8:30 am, which is about half an hour from closing time, so there was no one in the whole place and could completely dominate the entire hot spring! The semi-open-air hot spring is superb, facing the mountain view, it feels like being surrounded by mountains in the forest! After soaking in the hot spring, remember to use the beautiful spring from the local spring! There are also creams for joints! The second morning after soaking in the hot spring, about 9:00 for breakfast, breakfast is Japanese cuisine from Shimantogawa, main dishes have grilled mackerel, tofu pot and Shimantogawa unique bibimbap sauce, etc. For self-drive tours, Matsuba River Onsen is indeed a good choice. The scenery here is beautiful and quiet, and there are many picnic and mountaineering routes nearby. The environment of soaking in the hot springs is very comfortable. No wonder many Japanese recommend it! 🏨Matsuba River Onsen♨️ Address: 〒786-0097 605-1 Hinochi, Shimanto-cho, Takaoka-gun, Kochi Check in time: 15:00 Check-out time: 10:00 Dinner: starts at 20:00 Breakfast starts at 9:00am The hotel provides free parking If you are not coming by car, there is a bus stop in front of the hotel. Get off from JR Kubogawa Station to "Matsuba River Onsen Mae", which is about 35 minutes away! #JapanHotel #JapanShikoku #Shimantogawa #Shimantogawa Accommodation #Matsubagawa Onsen #Japan Onsen Hotel #Japan Onsen

📍Location: Yusuhara Town, Kochi Prefecture 🚊Access: 1.5 hours by car from Kochi City ⭐︎Enjoy nature on your trip to Kochi, but have a plan B ready for rainy days ⭐︎Want to get out of Kochi City and experience the local atmosphere ⭐︎Love architecture and photography For those people, we highly recommend Yusuhara Town, a hidden gem. The town is home to works by Kengo Kuma, who designed the New National Stadium for the Tokyo Olympics, among others. 📍Library Above the Clouds A library designed by Kengo Kuma. A unique and eye-catching building made from wood from Yusuhara, it is a place of relaxation for locals. There are many ways to take off your shoes and relax. 📍Yusuharaza This is the place that inspired Kengo Kuma to focus on architecture using wood. He was apparently impressed by the beauty of the wooden timber frame here. It is always open to the public for free when there is nothing going on, and it is a lovely retro space. 📍Shinko Bridge and Mishima Shrine The unique Shinko Bridge is made with plenty of wood from Yusuhara Town. Beyond that, Mishima Shrine has a sumo ring on its grounds! Please come and visit. #domestictravelguide #introducingdomesticspectacles #domestictransport #kochi #kochitrip #domestictravel #japan #japantrip #japantravel #kochi #library #library #spectacularview #040photo

#Spring0yenTrip I visited "Wakai Submerged Bridge" in Shimanto Town! This submerged bridge is a concrete bridge over a tributary of the Shimanto River, and is unique in that it is submerged when the water level rises. There are no handrails, so I was a little nervous at first, but the view from the bridge was amazing, and the flow of the river and the surrounding greenery were soothing. The surrounding area has a quiet and peaceful atmosphere, and it feels like time is flowing slowly. It was a wonderful spot where you can feel the nature of the Shimanto River up close. It is rarely crowded with tourists, and you can see local people passing by on bicycles and in cars. It is a photogenic view, so it is recommended to take a stroll with a camera in hand. It is convenient to access by car, but it is also within walking distance from Wakai Station, so it is also perfect for stopping by during a train trip. This is a hidden gem recommended for those who want to be soothed by the nature of the Shimanto River!

📍Kainokawa Rice Terraces Under the owner system, rice grown with love by owners from inside and outside the town shines golden in autumn. The Candle Festival is held in October, and the scenery changes from daytime to a fantastic one. The photo shows the Kainokawa Rice Terraces when I visited in late July. The beautiful undulating shape of the rice terraces, which resemble contour lines, is a view built by the local residents and their ancestors. You can see it at the highest observation point in the village. As you head north from Tsuno Town Hall, there are guide maps and signs everywhere, so don't miss them! Why not visit the Kainokawa Rice Terraces, which are beautiful no matter when you visit them all year round? #0yentravelFebruary2025

📍Genjigadaba This is a limestone plateau at an altitude of 1100m to 1400m. Long ago, when the remnants of the Heike clan saw the countless white limestones, they mistook them for a large number of Genji on white horses surrounding them, and retreated from the area in a panic. It is said that since then, this plateau has been called "Genjigadaba". Nowadays, instead of white horses, dairy cows are grazed here, and it is a popular spot for those who want to see the pastures of Onogahara. The contrast between the cows grazing leisurely without worrying about humans in the majestic scenery of Onogahara and the countless white limestones makes an interesting sight. There is also a first-class triangulation point in Genjigadaba, which is marked by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan as "1402.8m above sea level." #Free hotel stay

📍Kochi Prefecture, Sagawa Naumann Karst A park established in honor of geologist Edmund Naumann, who made Sagawa Town known to the world as a geological mecca. A giant Naumann's elephant sculpture and limestone like a flock of sheep cover the valley. It is located about 30 minutes by car from Kochi city, and has recently become a popular spot because you can easily enjoy the karst scenery. The park was built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Dr. Edmund Naumann, the founder of Japanese geology, who visited Sagawa twice and made it known to the world as a "geological mecca." A giant Naumann's elephant sculpture is placed in a limestone valley like a flock of sheep. #0yentravelJanuary2025

Go up the mountain, set up a tent, and try being a camper. This is my first time sleeping in a tent in Japan. And the first time I had to wake up at 4:30 to set up a tent. But let me tell you, it was sooo worth it. The view is a billion. For this trip, I have to thank my coworker, Sa, for inviting me. Otherwise, we would never have gone. And as a child of God, we planned to go for several weeks before it ended up being a week before. In the end, everyone had other commitments, so we canceled. Luckily, we canceled because it was really rainy that week. And my child, the day we went was sunny and the weather was sooooo nice. The sun was so hot that I came back dark. I spent so much time making my skin white. 🥹 But it was worth it. The pictures were sunny and the weather was nice. The cows were cute and didn't smell at all. They really didn't smell. Plus, their fur was so beautiful that I was jealous. Anyway, I selected the pictures, but they weren't in order, like before. 555555 Some of the pictures were stolen from others. Take some photos myself, put them together 5555555 But the real thing is a million times more beautiful than in the picture. And the place that I went to this time is Shikoku Karst. Has anyone been there? If anyone has been there, raise your hand and tell me if you were impressed as well. If anyone wants to know where it is in Japan, click on the GPS. https://maps.app.goo.gl/dNkNbfsByPh75VCGA?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy#sunset spot

Shikoku Karst spreads along a ridge that spans Ehime and Kochi prefectures. It is a place where you can see the unique scenery of karst, such as the Karenfeld, where white limestone looks like a flock of sheep, and the bowl-shaped depression called Doline. The panoramic scenery and rare highland plants that spread from an altitude of 1000m to 1500m are a must-see! The vast land, the endless blue sky, and the herds of grazing cows are an idyllic landscape. Prefectural Route 383 is also known as the "Sky Road" and is a driving course that runs east to west through Shikoku Karst. If you want to drive to the highlights of Shikoku Karst, make the "Shikoku Karst Transverse Line" your main route. This smooth road with magnificent scenery has been selected as one of Japan's 100 Famous Roads.

📍Seaside Sweets Shop Kazekobo A sweets shop located inside a roadside station that mainly serves strawberries🍓. You can eat them on the spot or take them home. The interior of the shop is so cute! 【INFORMATION】 Seaside Sweets Shop Kazekobo 📮8645-2 Kure, Nakatosa-cho, Takaoka-gun, Kochi Prefecture 789-1301 🕑10:00-17:00 #0 Yen Trip November

📍Kuroshio Kobo If you're having lunch in Kochi, this is the place to go! You can eat delicious bonito tataki and dried fish! They grill it right in front of you, so it's fun to watch! 【INFORMATION】 Kuroshio Kobo 📮8009-11 Kure, Nakatosa-cho, Takaoka-gun, Kochi Prefecture 789-1301 🕑10:30-14:00 #0 yen trip November

A sweets shop next to the Nakatosa Roadside Station The sweets and jams made by strawberry farmers are delicious!

At the foot of a mountain 356m above sea level⛰️, the private onsen inn closest to the source of the Shimanto River at the foot of the Shikoku Karst♨️ This time we stayed in a family room👪 A large room like a secret base with four private-style dormitory beds⛺️ A family-friendly room with a Japanese-style room with a sunken kotatsu, children's toys, baby guards, a step stool, etc. A 2-3 tatami mat playpen and pets are allowed🐕♬ The hot spring is a private bath by the hour♨️ The "Hinoki no Yu" and "Hanare no Yu" are private and reservation-only The Hinoki no Yu in particular is a healing bath surrounded by the scent of sulfur and cypress, with the gentle babbling of the river as background music♨️ There is also a healing room with a foot massage👣 Dinner is a kaiseki meal🥢 A two-tiered o-ju style meal filled with Kochi-style cuisine! BBQ plans also available [Goroku Onsen] Address: 8308 Kitagawa, Tsuno-cho, Takaoka-gun, Kochi Prefecture, 785-0502 Access Approximately 2 hours by car from Kochi Ryoma Airport 40 minutes from Susaki IC on R197 towards Yusuhara 2 minutes by car on R439 towards the target area #Travel with me #Accommodation report #Moments started #Kochi #Kochi trip #Hot spring

#Sign up for a cruise test seat Toyama Takaoka City Doraemon 【Takaoka Fairy Tale Forest Park】 Completely reproduce the comic scene Walk into the open space where Doraemon and Nobita play Childhood memories