Kochi Things to Do

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Kochi Castle as you see it today dates back to 1748, making it one of the few original castles in Japan. It is particularly great because all of the structures are original and intact, which is not the case for most of the other original castles. Kochi Castle belonged to the feudal lords of the Tosa Kingdom, the former name Kochi Prefecture, and the lord actually lived in this castle which is quite unusual.

Although the main keep (donjon) may look small, don't be deceived. Upon entry, you will find that the castle is actually 5 stories high! Inside there are exhibits and replicas of the castle and surrounding area as it was in the feudal times. As you look at the inside of the castle and ascend the stairs, do take the time to look out the windows, because the view of the city amidst the surrounding mountains is beautiful!

Outside the castle, the castle walls and main gate are all intact and well-preserved. You can roam around the castle grounds for free. Entrance to Kochi Castle is only 400 yen.

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Harimayabashi Bridge is esentially just a small red bridge but the story associated with it is what makes it a nice attraction. It is said that long ago a monk from Godaisan fell in love with a woman, which was strictly forbidden for holy men. They kept their relationship a secret until one day someone saw the monk buying a hairpin by Harimayabashi Bridge. Because a monk would have no reason to purchase such a thing, everyone then knew he had relations with a woman. In order to avoid punishment the two lovers fled the city together.

The Yosakoi Bushi (song of Kochi's famous Yosakoi festival) begins with a reference to this story, mentioned seeing a monk buying a hairpin.

The bridge is free to see and the park around the bridge is actually quite pretty.

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We just got back from our 3-week trip to Japan. Of course we had a great time checking out temples in Kyoto and all that Japanese stuff. However the best thing we did on our trip was Rafting in Shikoku. It was such a beautiful place and the river was absolutely awesome. We did the one-day trip with this company called happy raft. Check out their homepage at www.happyraft.com
The guide Mezza was such a laugh. We had a wicked time going over the biggest rapids with him. We also did this massive cliff jump into the river.

After the trip we stayed at the guesthouse, which was so cheap for Japan, only like 3000 yen or something. It was up on the mountain with this killer view. We had a bbq and just chilled out. It was one of the best experiences we have ever had. We really recommend doing this if your going to Japan this summer.

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Kochi prefecture in Shikoku Island is famous for its beaches and has some good surfing spots. While most of the beaches are covered in garbage there are some jewels down in the south west corner of the island. You can swim at these beaches unlike many of the beaches near Kochi city which are dangerous due to the strong rips. This beach like several others is almost garbage free. You almost feel like you are on a tropical island looking down the beach as its one of the few places in Japan where you don't see any buildings. Summer is hot in Japan so go early, I suggest getting to the beach at about 8 am. As for the surf its generally small. You can find some great beach breaks for beginners. Swell is fickle except in summer when typhoons create swells that can last for a few days. Enough said. If you plan on getting here you need to hire a car and take a few 100 yen coins so you can have a shower and buy a cool drink from a vending machine when your done.

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The botanical gardens has an extensive network of gardens for a small city. Its a great place to relax, enjoy nature and escape from city life. As the gardens sit high above the city of Kochi a walk through the gardens offers spectacular views of the surrounding areas. If you are in Kochi its well worth a visit in spring and early summer.

A must do if you are in Kochi is to try Katsuo tataki, or bonito which has been very lightly cooked on the outside.

Just awesome!

You should be able to get this delicacy just about anywhere in Kochi.

Here's a photo of me enjoying dinner with katsuo being part of the meal.

This beach is dotted with signs saying 'No Swimming'. It is nevertheless a popular tourist destination in Kochi. There is a statue of Sakamoto Ryoma a local hero, an aquarium right on the beach and a demonstration on dog and long-tailed rooster fights. (We didn't see this but Kochi is well known for it).
On the cliff edge to the right of the beach is this beautiful shrine pictured here.

You will find lots of food on the market. I grabbed little snacks here and there. And I bought some cooking knives - Japanese style. The knives just look awesome with the Japanese characters on the blade. They are sharp as hell!