2025 Kochi Prefecture Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in April)

Kochi Prefecture in Shikoku. With 87% of its area covered in forests, the highest in the country, I spent four days being soothed by the nature of Kochi Prefecture, surrounded by mountains, rivers, and the sea. [Schedule] Day 1 5:30 Arrive at Kochi Station (night bus) 9:30 Rent a car 11:00 Ryugado Cave 14:30 Yasui Valley (Niyodo River) 18:00 Hirome Market Day 2 All day in Kochi City ☆Kochi Castle ☆Katsurahama Beach ☆Godaisan Observatory ☆Hirome Market Day 3 10:00 Departure 13:00 Arrive at Shimanto Gakusha 13:00 Canoe Touring @ Shimanto River 18:30 Dinner Day 4 10:00 Cloud Library @ Yusuhara Town 13:00 Kochi Station 15:00 Board express bus Return trip 🚎✈️ This was my second visit to Kochi Prefecture. The first time I visited was in my fourth year of university. I visited to take an exam for a company in Kochi as part of my job hunting. After a day of sightseeing in Kochi City, I took the exam and returned to Okinawa. I fell in love with Kochi in that one day. This was my second visit since then. Coming back to the place I fell in love with the first time made me love Kochi even more. Why? Because it's rich in nature! The feeling of the city and nature being close and coexisting is the kind of place I want to live. My desire to visit again is growing. I wish there were direct flights from Okinawa... Next time, I want to visit during the Yosakoi Festival and see the authentic Yosakoi dance...👀

DAY 17: Waking up today to a drizzly, rainy weather, Good weather or bad weather, it's all part of the pilgrimage. I can't change the weather, but I can adjust my journey accordingly. During the pilgrimage, making good use of public transportation is also a great option. From Nakamura Station to Cape Ashizuri, you can take a bus, A one-way ticket costs ¥1900, and the journey takes about 2 hours. Cape Ashizuri is located at the southernmost point of Shikoku, and I personally think the shape of Kochi Prefecture resembles a horizontally placed banana. The 24th temple, Hotsumisakiji, is at the banana's head, while the 38th temple, Kongofukuji, is at the banana's tail. These two sacred sites are 241 kilometers apart. After visiting them, besides checking in at the southernmost point, you must visit the nearby Manjiro Foot Bath to soak your feet, relax your muscles, and admire the granite cave, Hakusan Domon, which has been eroded by the sea waves for years. Visiting Sacred Sites: ◎ 38th Temple Kongofukuji Stone Master Turtle, Shikoku's Southernmost Ashizuri Lighthouse, Manjiro Foot Bath Accommodation: Nakamura Daiichi Hotel, Shimanto City Today's Cycling Distance: 0 km Total Cycling Distance: 1041 km

#June Good Places 2024 #Register for June Hotel Sleeper #Star Writer June vlog #Free lounge change on Member Day 27th of each month Shikoku🗾 is the hometown of Superman author Yanase Tsung, so come four people can ride the Superman train🚄. Different colors 🌈 represent different routes, like my yellow 🟡 is the Tozan Line, between Kochi to Nakamura, my other photo 🖼️ is a rainbow train model, taken at Kochi Station, really have this car 🌈, with the design inspiration of the Rainbow Bridge, to Okayama, Takamatsu, Matsuyama Yuzan Line 🚆8000 series Superman Line Train

Kochi's Shimanto River is known as ''the last clear stream of Japan'', less people and naturally less pollution Son ''Boat Mother Romance'', is the place to board a Japanese-style single-masted sailboat. Consumption: Adult 2500 yen, child 1200 yen Life jacket, bamboo hat provided #400001 River #Boat River

Japan is a perfect place for road trio especially end year where the weather isn't as cold with cool weather from an avg temperature of 15/19 degrees and best of it all, mostly sunny ^^ Kochi is located down south of oksaka where the town faces towards the east China Sea. This little area of Kochi is well known for its many quiet and beautiful scenic nature and of course popular for its yuzu production where you will also able to have a taste of some matcha infused desert here in their many Japanese desert shops. And also when driving around Kochi, don't forget to drop by the Kochi Castle located in the city of Kochi where this was said to be constructed in the 17th century. #celebratewithtrip #japan #roadtrip #kochi #kochicastle #historical #scenic #quiet #village

Kochi City is a city located in the south-central part of Shikoku region in Japan. It is the seat of Kochi Prefecture and the Shimanto River is also located in Kochi Prefecture. Our trip spent most of the time on the Shimanto River and the natural scenery, so we only had one night in Kochi City, mainly to stop by and take a rest! If you are in a hurry like us and only have one night in Kochi, I highly recommend this hotel. The price per night ranges from about HK$180-300, which is very economical! AreaOne Kochi Hotel is located about a 10-minute walk from Kochi Tram Station. It is also about a 15-minute walk from the Hirome Market, which has a lot of authentic food. You can experience the essence of Kochi's nightlife here! Friends who are traveling by car can park at the door when they arrive at the hotel. The staff will provide a parking space when you check in. Parking here is free! There is a "Torii Gate" next to the parking space, which is the Kochi Hachimangu Shrine! The hotel lobby is very small, a typical business/business hotel design! We booked a Single Room - non smoking (2 Adults). As soon as we opened the door, we could see the whole room at a glance! The space is very limited, but the entrance corridor can be opened to the suitcase! There is a relatively narrow double bed in the room, with a built-in work space behind the bed, and a refrigerator, tea set and kettle next to the bed! There is no wardrobe here, only wall-mounted hangers; the slippers are divided into waterproof and paper slippers, which is very thoughtful! The bathroom is designed like most modern Japanese hotels, with a small bathtub, smart toilet, disposable personal care products and toiletries, etc.! In summary, the hotel is small but has everything it needs. The price is very economical and suitable for travelers who are in a hurry and want to save money on a short stay in the hotel! 🏨Hotel AreaOne Kochi Address: 〒780-0822 はりまや町３丁目１８-10, Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture #JapanHotels #JapanJapanShikoku #KochiPrefecture #KochiCityAccommodation #ShikokuKochiCity

#Overseas Travel #Kochi Prefecture #Japan Travel During the trip to Kochi Prefecture, we chose to join the Niyodo Adventure The "Nakatsu Gorge Canyoning Course" focuses on the upper reaches of the Niyodo River and the clear streams of the Nakatsu Gorge Mainly 👉🏻You can jump into the deep pool of the waterfall, swim leisurely between caves and embrace the beauty of the blue water of Rendian 📸️🤩🤩A good activity to cool off in summer. Kochi Prefecture has five unique tourist experiences, whether it is forest adventure in Japan's No. 1 forest prefecture, ziplining in the last clear stream, canoeing in the miraculous clear stream, canoeing in the largest dam lake in Shikoku, or stand-up paddle boarding in the sea in Muroto World Geopark, etc. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 address 450 Nanogawa, Niyodogawa-cho, Gogawa-gun, Kochi Prefecture

#Overseas Travel #Japan #Kochi Prefecture The Kochi Prefecture Noichi Zoological Park in Konan City, Kochi Prefecture, was selected as the number one zoo in Japan by a travel website… Unlike ordinary zoos, this "animal park" in Kochi recreates the natural environment where many animals live, allowing you to freely observe the ecology of the animals in the park.. A great place for parent-child activities, highly recommended place👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 There are more than 100 species of wild animals ✅ There are many facilities in the park, such as restaurants, playgrounds and animal science museums.. A one-day parent-child activity can be arranged at Tateno City Zoo😎😎😎 address 738 Otani, Noichi-cho, Konan City, Kochi Prefecture

#foodie When I was resting at Tosa Saga Michi-no-Eki Station, I found that there were many delicious foods here. I ordered a grilled fish. I watched the waiter light the straw and only grilled the outside of the fish, while the inside remained fresh. It was very delicious.

In the morning, I woke up at the hotel, had breakfast, and headed to Uwajima Castle, one of the 12 remaining castle towers. Although it wasn't a large castle tower, it had a certain charm. After that, I drove to Uwajima Station and boarded the 09:33 local train bound for Kubokawa. It was about a two and a half hour ride to the last stop. At first, the train moved slowly along the poor track. There was no river in sight. However, after about an hour, the situation suddenly changed at Ekawasaki Station! With the beautiful view of the Shimanto River to the side, the train sped along at 85km/h on the high-standard track, which was built using bridges and tunnels through the rugged mountains. It felt very exhilarating. This is because this section was built relatively recently. You can also see the sunken bridges many times. Hanya Station, an intermediate station, is famous for its unusual name. It is unclear how long this line will last. I hope many people will take a ride on it. #Spring0yenTrip

#Spring0yenTrip I went to "Chiba-san Market" next to Aki Station! It's a small market with fresh local vegetables, fruits, and seafood, but the variety is so wide that it was fun just to look around. In particular, there was a wide selection of Kochi's specialty products, such as Aki City's famous eggplants and pomelo, and everything looked fresh and delicious. It's convenient to stop by between sightseeing, and I felt it was a good place to look for local ingredients and souvenirs. It's right next to the station, so it's nice to be able to drop in while waiting for a train. If you're in the Aki Station area, be sure to take a look and you might find something fun!

#Spring0yentrip I stopped off at "Kubokawa Station" in Shimanto Town! It is a connecting station between the Tosa Kuroshio Railway and JR Shikoku, and express trains also stop here, making it a convenient base for the Shimanto area. The station building is small, but the retro and warm atmosphere was impressive. There is a shop inside the station, selling local specialties and souvenirs. Shimanto's specialty river seaweed and yuzu products seem to be particularly popular. There are also restaurants and tourist spots scattered around the station, and I went to Iwamotoji Temple, which is just a short walk away. As it is one of the 88 sacred sites of Shikoku, I saw pilgrims, which further enhanced the atmosphere of the trip. Kubokawa Station is also a station where tourist trains such as the "Shimanto Trolley" and "Shikoku Tosa Jidai no Yoake no Monogatari" depart and arrive, so it is also recommended as a starting point for train trips. With its comfortable, quiet and peaceful atmosphere, it was the perfect station as the starting point for a journey to experience Shimanto's nature and culture.

I ate Kochi Prefecture's bonito tataki! The key to bonito tataki is freshness, so the bonito you eat in Kochi Prefecture had a chewy texture and exceptional flavor! Many restaurants specialize in straw-grilling, and by using straw to quickly roast the fish at high temperatures, they achieve an exquisite balance of "fragrant aroma," "crispy texture on the surface," and "rare inside." In Kochi, salt-grilled bonito is a standard, as well as "ponzu," and with simple seasonings such as salt + garlic + wasabi + yuzu, you can directly taste the flavor of the bonito! Especially if you use sun-dried salt or coarse salt, the sweetness of the bonito stands out. This time, I ate Myojinmaru's bonito! There was no smell of bonito at all, and the aroma and texture of the straw were exceptional and very delicious, so please go! #Spring 0 yen trip

The Shikoku Tosa 'Dawn of the Era' Story is a sightseeing train operated by JR Shikoku, running through Kochi Prefecture, which is associated with the late Edo period patriot Ryoma Sakamoto. The 'Risshi no Sho' is one of the train sets, featuring a design themed around the aspirations of Ryoma's era. • Route and Schedule The train runs one-way from Kochi Station to Kubokawa Station. It departs from Kochi Station, travels via the Dosan Line, and heads towards the Shimanto area. Along the way, passengers can enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean and the Shimanto River. The train operates mainly on weekends and holidays, with specific schedules varying by season. Example Schedule: Departs Kochi Station at 10:54 AM → Arrives at Kubokawa Station at 1:05 PM *Schedules may change depending on the operating day, so please check the latest times. • Train Features The train's design features a chic black and gold color scheme, and the interior is a modern Japanese space with abundant use of wood. The train is decorated with historical exhibits and decorations. Additionally, light meals and sweets made with local ingredients are available on the train (reservation required), and passengers can enjoy explanations about Ryoma Sakamoto and other late Edo period patriots. There are also plenty of sightseeing guides along the route, making it a recommended train for history and travel enthusiasts. • Reservations and Fares All seats on this train are reserved, so advance reservations are required. Reservations can be made through JR Shikoku's 'Shikoku Net' or at station ticket offices. A regular fare ticket and a reserved seat limited express ticket are required to ride. For example, the fare from Kochi to Kubokawa is about 1,800 yen, and the reserved seat limited express ticket is about 1,000 yen. Users of the 'Shikoku Green Journey' can ride without additional charges. • Access Kochi Station is accessible from Okayama, Matsuyama, and Tokushima via the JR Dosan Line. It is also about 30 minutes by airport shuttle bus from Kochi Airport. From Kubokawa Station, transfers are available to the JR Yodo Line (towards Uwajima) and the Tosa Kuroshio Railway (towards Nakamura and Sukumo). • Recommended Points - Enjoy the natural scenery of the Pacific Ocean and Shimanto from the train windows - Perfect for history enthusiasts visiting sites associated with Ryoma - Relax in stylish modern Japanese train cars This special train adds color to your Shikoku trip, so be sure to ride it if you have the time.

📍Location: Fern Colony of Iokido Located in Aki City, Kochi Prefecture, it is not well known, but it is a highly recommended hidden spot! There is a parking lot, so it is easy to get there by car👌🏻 ̖́-︎ At the information center across the road, you can rent boots for free and there are toilets! The entrance is a cave and it feels scary, but once you get through the cave, you can see a mysterious sight with more than 40 types of ferns👀 There seems to be a hiking trail, but the place in the photo is just after the cave, so it is a place that you can enjoy even if you just take a quick look when you have time! The footing is made of stone, so I recommend wearing comfortable shoes that you are used to walking in🌈 #0 yen trip February 2025

📍COFFEE STAND CANS Hutte A coffee stand in Yusuhara-cho, deep in the mountains of Kochi, "COFFEE STAND CANS Hutte" We'd like to introduce you to a special cup of coffee made with natural spring water! A small mountain hut-style takeout coffee stand that carefully hand-drips each cup of coffee using natural spring water from Oku-Shimanto and home-roasted coffee beans. The water and ice are made with natural spring water from Oku-Shimanto, where beautiful nature remains. The spring water is soft and is drawn by the owner himself and used in coffee and baked goods. The original blend has a rich coffee aroma and a refreshing aftertaste! It has a slight acidity and is very easy to drink. Can's bakes such as coffee milk soft serve and handmade muffins made with carefully selected ingredients are also popular. #0 yen trip February 2025

is a luxury resort located in Ashizurimisaki, Tosashimizu City, Kochi Prefecture, Japan, situated within Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park at the southernmost tip of Shikoku. Formerly known as the "Ashizuri Pacific Hotel Hanatsubaki," it was extensively renovated and rebranded as "The Mana Village" in 2019. • The name "Mana" comes from the Kochi dialect word "zamana," meaning "very" or "extremely," and also draws from the Hawaiian word meaning "power of nature" or "life force." Facilities and Services • Guest Rooms: Offers a variety of room types, including traditional Japanese-style rooms and Western-style rooms. Some rooms feature private open-air baths and saunas. • Dining: Serves Japanese Kaiseki cuisine and Italian cuisine, using fresh, local ingredients. The hotel also has a café and bar. • Hot Springs: Features open-air hot spring baths where guests can enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean while soaking. • Activities: Provides electric bicycles, electric scooters, and other modes of transportation for guests to explore the surrounding natural environment. Special Experiences • Natural Scenery: Guests can enjoy magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean from the hotel and participate in stargazing activities to experience the beauty of the Ashizurimisaki night sky. • Cultural Experiences: The hotel's interior is decorated with works by local artists, showcasing the cultural characteristics of Kochi Prefecture.

Kochi Prefecture is located in the southern part of Shikoku and is an area that is attractive for its rich nature and unique culture⭐️ Scenic spots such as Katsurahama and Cape Muroto are places where you can enjoy the beauty of nature. Kochi's food culture is also attractive, and fresh seafood is especially popular🐠 "Katsuo no tataki" is a specialty dish of Kochi that can be enjoyed locally😋 We also recommend dishes made with sweetfish raised in the clear waters of the Shimanto River and local vegetables👍🏻 In terms of culture, there are many places where you can feel the history of Kochi Castle and the Tosa clan, and it is also known as a place associated with Sakamoto Ryoma. Kochi's traditional festival, the Yosakoi Festival, is a lively event that combines passionate dance and music⭐️ Come and visit the charming Kochi #0yentravelFebruary2025 #KochiPrefecture

📍Yokoyama Butcher Shop Shimanto Beef Honpo Yokoyama Butcher Shop is a popular shop for meat lovers, purchasing and selling Shimanto beef. Shimanto Beef Honpo Yokoyama Butcher Shop purchases entire Shimanto beef cattle, of which only about 100 are shipped per year, so they offer not only ribs and loins, but also rare cuts such as offal. Shimanto beef is a Japanese black beef that is raised with care on a directly managed ranch, fed with natural water from the deep mountains, a specially made homemade feed mix, hay, and local rice straw. At Shimanto Beef Honpo Yokoyama Butcher Shop, you can see the huge chunks of meat lined up in the display case on the counter. The barbecue on the banks of Shimanto with the meat we purchased here was amazing. Please stop by! #0 Yen Trip February 2025

📍Mt. Nakatsu Myojin Elevation 1541m. Rising up on the border between Ehime and Kochi Prefectures, Mt. Nakatsu Myojin has no other mountains nearby, and if the weather is good, you can see all the way from Tosa Bay to the Seto Inland Sea. In 2012, a 12km trekking course was developed from Nakatsuyama to Karaike to Mizu no Toge. The summit is also the fourth takeoff point of Agawa Sky Park. If the weather is good, it is also ideal for astronomical observations such as the Perseid meteor shower. The Perseid meteor shower is a meteor shower that appears with the radiant point near the star Gamma Perseus. It appears from around July 20th to August 20th, and reaches its peak around August 13th. It is one of the three major meteor showers of the year, along with the Quadrantids and Geminids. #0yentravelFebruary2025

📍SEA HOUSE (photos 1 and 2) A cafe floating on the seaside with a view of the blue sky and the Pacific Ocean A very popular cafe famous in Kochi. A cafe and restaurant built on a cliff like a container jutting out into the Pacific Ocean. It is so popular that people line up before the opening to get a glimpse of the spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. They offer a wide variety of dishes made with local ingredients from Kochi Prefecture and original sweets. Please enjoy your meal while relaxing and gazing at the beautiful Pacific Ocean and blue sky in the background. 📍Aigo Valley (photo 3) This is the best spot in the Niyodo River area for "Niyodo Blue." This valley is known for its beautiful autumn foliage, the best in Kochi. There are many attractions, such as Hiryu Falls, a two-tiered waterfall with a drop of 30m, named after the way it looks like a dragon twisting its body and taking off, Suisho-fuchi, which changes color to blue or green depending on the season and time of day, and the sand control dam, and Mikaeri Falls, which can be seen from the road. 📍Odo Dam (4th photo) Odo Dam is the largest dam on the main stream of the Niyodo River, and is used for hydroelectric power generation and flood prevention during typhoons. The dam lake is affectionately known as Lake Chagiri, and the surrounding slopes and lakeside roads are some of the best cherry blossom roads in the prefecture. #0yentripFebruary2025

Located in Kitagawa Village, Kochi Prefecture, Marmottan Garden is a beautiful garden that recreates the garden beloved by French painter Claude Monet. It is the only garden in Japan officially recognized by the Monet Foundation, and makes visitors feel as if they are in a painting. The garden is divided into three areas: the Water Garden, the Flower Garden, and the Bordighera Garden. The Water Garden in particular faithfully recreates the world of "Water Lilies," which Monet painted in his later years, with the blue arched bridge and the water lilies reflected on the water surface creating a fantastic atmosphere. The Flower Garden, with its seasonal flowers in full bloom, is also attractive, and you can experience walking through Monet's paintings. The garden also has a cafe and gallery, allowing you to enjoy Monet's works and their worldview in greater depth. The changing of the flowers from spring to autumn is also a highlight, and the attraction is that you can enjoy different scenery every time you visit. #Kochi #Kitagawa Village #Monet's Garden #Water Lilies #Claude Monet #Garden

📍Yasube Yatai After enjoying delicious Tosa cuisine at Hirome Market and the surrounding area, we went to another restaurant. How about trying the Yatai Gyoza, a specialty of Kochi, "Yasube". There is a branch store in Hirome Market, but gyoza is a standard way to end a night of drinking in Kochi, so we recommend a Yatai to change things up. Yatai Gyoza "Yasube" is located about an 8-minute walk from Hirome Market. When we arrived at the restaurant, there were several groups waiting to enter. It's a popular restaurant, just as its reputation suggests. The standard Yatai Gyoza is 500 yen per person (7 pieces), and although we knew it was dangerous to eat them hot and fresh, we started eating them right away. The outside was crispy, and the inside was very juicy with plenty of vegetables. They are just the right size to eat in bites, so we found ourselves eating them one after the other. As expected from Yatai Gyoza, a specialty of Kochi. Please give it a try.

📍Handmade soba Tokiya Excellent firmness and smoothness, the owner's choice soba Handmade soba Tokiya is located along the Nakano River. It is about a 30-minute drive from Nikobuchi, famous for its Niyodo Blue, so it's a great place to stop by after mountain climbing or sightseeing. It takes about two hours by car from Kochi city, but it's a soba restaurant worth the trip. You can dine while looking out at the greenery and the river, and in autumn you can enjoy the autumn leaves. Juwari soba, made with 100% buckwheat flour, is only served cold all year round, so that customers can "fully enjoy the taste and aroma of soba." #Free hotel stay

📍Soan A stylish cafe called "Soan" is located in a renovated old house near Ichinomiya and Kochi IC in Kochi City. It is popular with women, and even on weekdays there is a line at lunchtime. There is only one type of lunch. Another nice point is that you can have as much rice as you want. It is a hidden restaurant away from the main road. The large parking lot is the landmark. The building is divided into the main house and a detached building. The main house is a renovated old house with a calm atmosphere. It fills up quickly at lunchtime, so we recommend making a reservation in advance. It is crowded with a wide range of customers, from single people to families, friends, and couples. #FreeHotelStay

📍Farmhouse Restaurant Kusabuki A relocated Kusabuki house. It is located along the road where Sakamoto Ryoma escaped from his domain, and Tarogawa Park and Kumonoue Hotel are also nearby. This farmhouse restaurant serves dishes made with ingredients unique to Yusuhara, such as pheasant rice, seared eggplant, Yusuhara soba noodles, and wild vegetables. The signature dish, the escape set meal named after Sakamoto Ryoma, includes rice cooked with pheasant meat caught in the mountains of Yusuhara and Yusuhara soba noodles. The original mountain dressing goes perfectly with seared eggplant. It comes in two flavors and can be purchased at the store. #Free hotel stay

📍Katsura Tea Fields May is the season when Tsuno-cho, the town of tea, shines. It's the season for new tea! The tea fields stand out even more against the fresh greenery. The scenery of the tea being harvested is also very beautiful. Starting from the roadside station Fusegasaka, we take a leisurely tour along the old national highway. We pass through roads with almost no traffic (※We will drive a little bit on the national highway at the end.) so you can feel like you're bathing in the forest and feel relaxed! You can enjoy the scenery of the tea fields that stretch out as far as the eye can see. 📍Manten no Hoshi This is the main store of "Manten no Hoshi" in Tsuno-cho, overlooking the popular Shimanto River. We sell the leftovers from the attached factory as outlet sweets at a discount from the regular price. In addition, on the day of roasting at the factory, the store becomes a relaxing space filled with a fragrant aroma, so please stop by. 📍Yusan Shimanto Seiran no Sato This is a small hotel quietly located facing the upper reaches of the Shimanto River. I was impressed by the minimalist and stylish design of both the interior and exterior. It uses a lot of wood, so it blends in beautifully with the surrounding environment. I could feel the uncompromising attention to detail in the amenities and interior, and it was a very comfortable inn. There was a place where you could enjoy the Shimanto River just a short walk away, and I relaxed with my feet in the river. I could see the Shima River from the balcony of my room and the bath, which was very relaxing🖼✨️

📍Ijuen This shop mainly offers takeout and sells Yame tea from Fukuoka. You'll be surprised at the wide variety of menu items, including tapioca, udon, soba, fried sardines, and fried chicken! They have two stores in the prefecture, and this shop, located along the Hiji River, has a great location. People use it as a rest stop on their Ozu drives. But this time, I had the unexpected Hojicha shaved ice. It's addictively delicious. They also sell chestnuts here, so I bought some and made a pie when I got home. What a nice chestnut. If you stop by and see chestnuts for sale, it's a must-buy. #FreeHotelStay