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

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...👀

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

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

The works of Japanese architectural master Kengo Kuma have repeatedly become popular spots for photo check-ins. To follow in the master's footsteps, there is a cluster of buildings in the small mountain town of Yusuhara, designed by Kuma himself. There are six buildings in total, allowing visitors to indulge in a photo-taking spree. Yusuhara was originally established due to the lumber industry, and even now, over 90% of its area is forested. Drawing inspiration from the town's history and natural surroundings, Master Kuma has incorporated elements such as Japanese cedar, thatch, and traditional carpentry techniques into his architecture, reflecting the local characteristics. These buildings not only possess Kuma's modern design sensibility but also retain traditional Japanese style, harmoniously blending with the surrounding mountainous landscape. Kengo Kuma's Architectural Designs Address: Yusuhara, Takaoka District, Kochi Prefecture

The Story of the Dawn of the Era in Shikoku Tosa The train named 'The Spirit of Shikoku Tosa' departs from Kochi to Kubokawa, greeting NPCs and passengers at different stops with waves, while serving an exquisite meal. The exterior is a retro mix of steam locomotive and jet engine designs, with a two-tone color scheme. From the front and back, it looks like two different trains: The brown 'KUROFUNE (Black Ship)' car number one, themed after wooden steamships, features an interior with wood and sky blue tones, reviving the late 19th-century art design style that symbolized the 'dawn of a new century' with the Black Ships; The white 'SORAFUNE (Sky Ship)' car number two is conceptualized as a modern space vessel, signifying the pursuit of future dreams. It offers a unique view of the tropical scenery along the Pacific coast, embarking on an unknown new journey. In short, it's a fusion of old and new! The route is the Tosa Kuroshio Line, passing through Ino, Sagawa, Susaki, and Tosa Kure, with a total journey time of 2 hours and 40 minutes. The meal is a Kochi Prefecture specialty 'Sara-bachi style' local cuisine, with hexagonal dishes containing grilled vegetables with tomato jelly, salt-grilled sweetfish, eel rice, stewed octopus, and Shimanto beef grilled with sansho miso.

한국인들에게 잘 알려지지 않는 시코쿠는 일본 본토 중 가장 작은 곳이에요! 저는 제주항공을 이용해 마쓰야마로 인아웃했고, 휴가를 길게 이용해 마쓰야마-구라시키-다카마쓰-고치-마쓰야마 루트로 일정을 짰어요! 시간이 많이 없다면 직항이 있는 마쓰야마나 다카마쓰도 충분히 일본의 소도시를 느낄 수 있지만 저는 한국인 한명 없는 [고치]가 최고였어요! ✔️ 다카마쓰, 마쓰야마에서 기차로 2시간 30분 정도 걸리는 고치는 찐 로컬 시장인 [히로메 시장]으로 정말 유명한데요! 볏짚으로 익힌 참치 타다끼가 정말 맛있습니다! 고치 사람 다 모였나 싶을 정도로 북적거리는 시장 가운데서 찐 로컬 음식 한 상 차려두고 먹는 생맥주는 기가 막힙니다! ✔️ 시장 근처 정말 평화롭고 한적했던 고치성은 고치의 매력을 느끼기에 충분합니다. 노을이 지는 시간 고치성에 올라가 한참을 넋놓고 있었던 추억이 있네요 :) ✔️ 호빵맨 작가가 태어나 ‘호빵맨 도시’ 고치에는 호빵맨 기차도 있으니 놓치지 말고 한번 타보세요! 특별한건 없지만 어렸을때로 잠깐 돌아간 기분이었어요🙂 ✔️ 고치에는 일요일 아침 일찍부터 오후 2시까지 도로 한쪽을 통제하고 일요시장을 오픈해요! 지역 농산물부터 특산물, 로컬 음식까지 시간 가는 줄 모르고 구경했네요 한국인 한명 마주치지 않았던 찐 일본을 느껴보고 싶다면 시코쿠 여행 추천드립니다! 그 중 고치는 도시와 자연이 공존하는 정말 아름다운 곳이라 강추드려요! :)💚 #시코쿠여행 #시코쿠 #고치 #고치여행 #고치현 #일본여행 #찐일본 #무료숙박권이벤트

Driving along the seacoast, watching breathtaking scene of the Pacific ocean. Had desserts at a beautiful cafe. Strolling and had wonderful dinner at a bar in Kochi city to finish off the day. #gooutside #beachlife