Kochi

Hometown of Sakamoto Ryoma, with sea views at Katsurahama, Kochi Castle and straw-seared bonito at Hirome Market, plus the Niyodo Blue gorges and Cape Muroto nearby.

Kochi, capital of Kochi Prefecture, lies on the southern coast of Shikoku, facing Tosa Bay and the Pacific to the south with the Shikoku Mountains behind it to the north. It is the hometown of Sakamoto Ryoma, the famous late-Edo-period revolutionary, and Kochi Castle is one of only 12 castles in Japan with an original keep. The summer Yosakoi Festival is the birthplace of the Yosakoi dance now performed all over Japan. The people of Tosa are known for being boisterous and fond of drink, and the must-eat local dish is katsuo no tataki — bonito seared over an open straw fire.

The city's sights are compact and easily covered on foot and by tram: Kochi Castle, the Otesuji Sunday Market, Hirome Market and Harimayabashi Bridge are all within 1 km of the centre. To the southeast, Mount Godai is home to Chikurin-ji (Temple 31 of the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage) and the Makino Botanical Garden; on the coast to the south, Katsurahama has the Ryoma statue and the Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum. Further afield: about an hour's drive west, the Niyodo River basin has gorges of crystal-clear water known as "Niyodo Blue" — Niko-buchi, Nakatsu Gorge and Ago Gorge. To the east are Ryugado Cave (one of Japan's three great limestone caves), the Anpanman Museum (Yanase Takashi Memorial Hall) and Monet's Garden in Kitagawa Village, with the Cape Muroto Geopark further on. The Shikoku Karst plateau to the northwest is ideal for a summer drive. The Shimanto River and Cape Ashizuri require a separate overnight stay and are not covered here.

Seasons: cherry blossoms at Kochi Castle from late Mar to early Apr; Niyodo Blue is at its clearest Jun–Sep (best at midday on sunny days); the Yosakoi Festival runs Aug 9–12. June is the rainy season, typhoons are common in summer and autumn, and the gorges turn cloudy after rain. Getting there: Kochi Ryoma Airport has flights from Tokyo, Osaka and elsewhere, and the airport bus takes about 30 minutes to the city; from Okayama, the JR Nanpu limited express takes about 2.5 hours. In town, use the Tosaden trams and the MY Yu sightseeing bus (to Katsurahama and Mount Godai); a rental car is recommended for the Niyodo River and Muroto. Allow 2–3 days: one for the city, one for Niyodo Blue, and one for the east or the karst.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries