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Prefecture capital and Core city in Shikoku, Japan
Photo: 663highland, CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Kōchi (高知) is the eponymous capital of Kochi prefecture on the Japanese island of Shikoku.
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高知城
Kochi Castle is one of the few original white castles in Japan. Uniquely among Japanese castles, it is the only one in which both the main keep and palace buildings have survived. Access to the castle grounds is free, and the entrance fee to enter the castle is well worthwhile. The views from the castle are spectacular.
高知県立美術館
Art by Japanese and foreign artists, including Marc Chagall. Noh plays are held in the museum hall.
土佐神社
The shrine's origins are unknown but it was mentioned in both the Kojiki and Nihon-shoki, the first written records of Japanese history.
善楽寺
It was built as a temple-shrine by Kobo Daishi, encompassing nearby Tosa Shrine, but the temple structures were all torn down in 1868 when the Meiji government ordered Buddhism and Buddhist iconography to be removed from Shinto sites. The temple wasn't rebuilt until 1929. It was not among the 88 temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage until 1990. Anraku-ji also claimed to be the 30th temple until it was made the okunoin of Zenrakuji, allowing Zenrakuji to be given the official title.
龍馬の生まれたまち記念館
The 2-floor museum features information and artifacts from Sakamoto Ryoma, his family, and Kochi city during the days when he lived here.
はりまや橋
A bridge made famous by a story that took place here; a young monk had a secret affair with a woman but one day he was seen by the bridge buying a hairpin which was a telltale sign that he had a lover. Because monks were not allowed to be romantically involved with anyone, he and the woman fled together before he could be punished. The Yosakoi song, played by each dancing group in the famous Yosakoi Festival (see "Do" section), is about this event and directly names the bridge in the lyrics. The bridge is very small so it's probably only worth visiting if the story interests you.
地球33番地
This monument was constructed at 133*33'33" East Longitude, 33*33'33" North Latitude, marking the unique spot where 33 appears consecutively in all six markers. Its name roughly means "Earth house number 33". There are only 9 other places in the world where such a thing occurs and this is the only one that can be easily reached by public transport.
自由民権記念館
A museum with information about liberty and freedoms in the Tosa Kingdom and the world.
浜口雄幸生家記念館
The house of Japan's 27th prime minister, Hamaguchi Osachi, who served from 1929 to 1931.
雪蹊寺
The 33rd temple of the Shikoku Pilgrimage.
竹林寺
The 31st temple along the 88 Temple Pilgrimage. The temple features a quiet garden, treasure house, and iconic pagoda.
高知県立牧野植物園
Celebrating the life and career of Dr. Makino Tomitarou, this botanical garden covers six acres with more than 1,500 plants.
桂浜水族館, katsurahama suizokukan
A small aquarium with a variety of fish, water birds, seals, and dolphins. They also host dolphin and seal shows, along with other animals.
坂本龍馬像
This statue of Kochi's local hero was erected in 1933 with funding from local citizens. Because of the statue, Sakamoto Ryoma is strongly associated with Katsurahama however, in spite of dubious claims that he loved Katsurahama, there is little evidence that the place had any real connection to Ryoma.
高知県立坂本龍馬記念館
Located in Katsurahama, this museum has exhibits related to Sakamoto Ryoma. It contains many written documents, including a letter written by him just two days prior to his assassination. There are also special exhibitions.
浦戸城
Urado Castle was once the castle of the Chosakabe family. After the Battle of Sekigahara, the castle was supposed to be handed over to the Yamanouchi family, but some Chosakabe loyalists refused to leave and fought the Yamanouchi for 3 months before being forced to surrender. The Yamanouchi only stayed here until they finished construction of Kochi Castle, after which Urado Castle was abandoned. There are very few remnants of the castle. Much of the former castle grounds are now occupied by the Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum and its parking lot. There is a small memorial monument below the museum.
よさこい祭り
Along with the Awa Odori in Tokushima, the Yosakoi Matsuri is Shikoku's other famous festival and was actually formed out of the Awa Odori as a more modern version in 1954. The Yosakoi festival is highly energetic and all of the dance teams perform using naruko (click-clacks) which is part of the Yosakoi tradition. They also must include the Yosakoi song.
日曜市 nichiyō-ichi
Every Sunday rain or shine, Kochi's skilled farmers and fisherman flock to the capital to present their goods. At the market you will find friendly vendors offering everything from antiques to zucchini.
酔鯨亭
This restaurant specializes in all Kochi dishes. They serve the famous katsuo no tataki and other katsuo dishes, as well as foods from other regions of the prefecture, but what this restaurant is really known for, are its whale (kujira) dishes. They offer whale steaks (¥1575), whale bacon (¥1050), and kujira no tataki (¥1365) to name a few.
藤のや
Rated as one of the top katsuo no tataki restaurants by Japanese patrons.
一旬
A classy restaurant with excellent katsuo no tataki.
ラ・ヴィータレストラン
An Italian restaurant with a variety of pastas and pizzas.
Halfway down the arcade is Hirome Market, an indoor collection of food stalls selling everything from Indian curry to fresh fish to big pitchers of beer. Patrons sit on long communal wooden tables, so it's a great place to converse with the locals.
Serves all the typical beers, chuhai, etc. The ramen dishes are also quite popular.
Serving a nice variety of whiskey, cocktails, brandy, wine, and beers.
コンフォートホテル高知
高知グリーンホテル はりまや橋
ホテル南水
Located near many of the Sakamoto Ryoma sites, the hotel contains a life-size replica of one of Sakamoto Ryoma's robes in the lobby.
ホテルエリアワン高知
An excellent place to stay, run by a former sake brewer who will, for ¥500, provide a sake tasting workshop. It's a 5-minute walk from JR Engyoujiguchi Station.
プチホテル高知
リッチモンドホテル高知
A modern Western-style hotel, with clean rooms. Internet access is available at the desk or in the rooms (wired LAN). It's a 15-minute walk from JR Kochi Station.
三翠園
A nice hotel complete with its own onsen. The onsen costs ¥900 to use, and it is open to people who are not staying at the hotel. Just outside the hotel is the historic Yamauchi Residence, which is free.
サウスブリーズホテル高知海月
ウェルカムホテル高知
By train
The JR Dosan Line (土讃線) runs down from Okayama on Honshu via Takamatsu and the Oboke gorge, passing through Kochi on its way to the terminus Kubokawa.
By bus
Highway buses depart for Kochi daily from Fukuoka (¥9200), Hiroshima (¥7500), Okayama (¥4100), Osaka (¥6000), Kyoto (¥6500), Nagoya (¥6600), and Tokyo (¥10200).
By bus
The My-Yu Bus (MY遊バス) service runs from the north side of JR Kochi Station. Day passes are ¥1000. The bus stops at 3 locations on Mt.
By tram
Kochi has trams running south from Kochi Station and east-west along Route 32. Within the downtown area, it costs ¥200 per trip.
By bicycle
The streets are wide and traffic fairly light compared to most Japanese cities. Watch out for cyclists riding the wrong way into traffic.
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Nankoku · International · KCZ
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