Cape Muroto
室戸岬
A UNESCO Global Geopark and the site where Kūkai meditated in a sea cave and took his name, meaning 'Sky and Sea.'
Cape Muroto is a headland jutting out into the Pacific. Continuous uplift caused by plate movement has left its coastline covered with striking rock formations and subtropical plants, and it was added to UNESCO's Global Geopark network in 2011. At the tip of the cape, Mikuriya Cave is said to be where the young Kūkai practiced asceticism. From inside the cave, only the sky and the sea are visible, which is why he later took the name 'Kūkai.' On the hilltop stand Saki-ji, the 24th temple on the Shikoku Pilgrimage, and the white Cape Muroto Lighthouse. Along the shore is a rugged reef trail of about 2.6 kilometers. It is about a 2-hour drive from central Kochi City and can be combined with Monet's Garden Marmottan in Kitagawa for a day trip.
Opening hours
Open all day; Yuchuren Cave about 8:00 am–5:00 pm
Nearby sights
- Monet's Garden Marmottan in Kitagawa
- Ryugado Cave
- Anpanman Museum (Yanase Takashi Memorial Hall)
- Katsurahama Beach & Sakamoto Ryoma Statue
- Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum
- Makino Botanical Garden
- Chikurinji Temple & Mount Godai Observatory
- Harimaya Bridge