Kochi Hidden Gems
19 spots
Katsuo no Tataki — Straw-Flame Seared Bonito
Katsuo no tataki is the soul of Kochi cuisine — fresh skipjack tuna (bonito) seared over roaring straw flames for 20 sec…
Hirome Market — Drinking Hall of the People
Hirome Market is not a market in the conventional sense — it is a 7,000-square-meter indoor drinking and eating hall whe…
Sawachi Ryori — Banquet on a Platter
Sawachi ryori is Kochi's unique banquet cuisine, served on massive ceramic platters (sawachi) up to 50cm in diameter. Ea…
Nichiyoichi Sunday Market — 300 Years of Commerce
Every Sunday since 1690, the Nichiyoichi Sunday Market unfolds along a 1.3-kilometer stretch of Otesuji Street in centra…
Shimanto River — Japan's Last Clear Stream
The Shimanto River flows 196 kilometers from the mountains of western Kochi to the Pacific, and is famously called 'Niho…
Niyodo River — Miracle Clear Blue Water
The Niyodo River is often called 'Niyodo Blue' (仁淀ブルー) for the surreal, transparent turquoise color of its water — a col…
Muroto Cape — Typhoon Coast & UNESCO Geopark
Muroto Cape is the southeastern tip of Shikoku, a jagged promontory of uplifted rock that juts 15 kilometers into the Pa…
Ryuga Cave — Limestone Cathedral Underground
Ryuga Cave (龍河洞) is one of Japan's three great limestone caves, a 4-kilometer underground system carved over 175 million…
Ashizuri Cape — Southernmost Shikoku
Ashizuri Cape is the southernmost point of Shikoku, a granite headland wrapped in subtropical vegetation and surrounded…
Katsurahama Beach — Crescent Bay & Ryoma Statue
Katsurahama is a crescent-shaped beach on Kochi's southeastern coast, famous for its black sand, pine-covered headlands,…
Makino Botanical Garden — Flora of Shikoku
The Makino Botanical Garden, perched on a hillside in western Kochi, is dedicated to Tomitaro Makino (1862–1957), the 'f…
Kochi Castle — Original Tenshu & Honmaru Intact
Kochi Castle is one of only twelve surviving original castles in Japan — meaning its tenshu (main keep) dates to the Edo…
Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum — Revolutionary Samurai
Sakamoto Ryoma (1836–1867) is one of the most celebrated figures in Japanese history — a low-ranking samurai from Tosa (…
Yosakoi Festival — Dance Explosion in August
The Yosakoi Matsuri, held every August 9–12 in Kochi City, is one of Japan's most energetic and visually spectacular fes…
Tosa Washi Papermaking — 1,000-Year Craft
Tosa washi is handmade paper produced in Kochi using techniques that date back over 1,000 years. The paper is made from…
Monet's Garden Marmottan — Official Reproduction
In the hills of Kitagawa Village, 50 kilometers east of Kochi, there is an unlikely sight: a meticulous reproduction of…
Shimanto Sink Bridges — Drive Over, Not Under
The Shimanto River is crossed by 47 chinkabashi — low-slung, railing-free concrete bridges designed to be submerged duri…
Kashiwajima Island — Diving & Snorkeling Paradise
Kashiwajima is a small island off the coast of Tosashimizu, surrounded by some of the clearest water in Japan. The islan…
Anpanman Museum — Hometown of a Hero
Anpanman — the bread-headed superhero with a heart of gold — is one of Japan's most beloved characters, especially among…