Recommendations for Kochi, Shikoku

Hi folks. I am going to visit Kochi for 2 whole days and would like to hear your opinion about recommendations (sightseeing, nature spots, personal tips) in Kochi or near surrounding area. Up till now I have intended to see Kochi-jo, Godaisan and Katsurahama-Beach. Thank you!

Some out-of-town destinations worth considering:
Anpanman Museum
http://www.anpanman-museum.net/

Ryuga-dou
http://www.ryugadou.or.jp/

Resort Hotel Villa Santorini
http://www.villa-santorini.com/

Haruno no Yu
http://www.harunonoyu.co.jp/

While in Katsurahama pay respect to Kochi's famous son - Sakamoto Ryoma in his memorial museum.
http://www.ryoma-kinenkan.jp/

Minor sights besides the lovely coastal view in Katsurahama are miss-able Tosa Dog Centre and Katsurahama Aquarium.
http://www.tosa.or.jp/index.html
http://www.katurahama-aq.jp/

Staying in Kochi, don't forget to try out its popular dish of Katsuo no tataki in Hirome Market.
http://www.hirome.co.jp/
https://picasaweb.google.com/117006987794372147390/Shikoku?noredirect=...
https://picasaweb.google.com/117006987794372147390/Shikoku?noredirect=...
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5606.html

Hi William,

thanks a lot for your recommendations. I will check your posted weblinks soon. Yes of course, I have put it on my list to try Katsuo-no-tataki dish. Looks very delicious :)

Thank you!

Kochi is a great city.

Some other places worth considering:

IN KOCHI CITY:
-Sakamoto Ryoma Birthplace Museum (they have an English audio guide that you can use, so you can actually learn from the museum). This area also has the marker of Ryoma's actual birthplace, the Ryoma Post Office, and other sites related to him.

-Former Yamauchi Samurai Residence - It's an important cultural property and surprisingly free. The Yamauchi Family Treasures Museum is nearby as well.

-Katsurahama is mostly for the view of the ocean. I actually disagree that the Tosa Dog Center is not worth it. I think it depends on your personal views on dog fighting, but the dog fights are an interesting part of Kochi's culture/history. The Tosa dogs were bred specifically for this purpose, so dog fighting is the only reason they exist at all. If you are interested, make sure you find out what time they will be held the day you will visit.

OUTSIDE KOCHI CITY:
-Ryugado Cave, This is a really interesting cave. To get the most out of it, you may want to purchase the small book at the visitor center upon arrival prior to going up to the cave. It has English descriptions and is a good way to make sure you don't miss any of the interesting features.

-Aki city: Nice for walking or bike riding (bike rentals are free). It's a former castle town with some remaining buildings, a famous clock tower, and the former home of Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of Mitsubishi

-Kitagawa town: A town famous for its Monet garden and Nakaoka Shintaro, friend and ally of Sakamoto Ryoma who was fatally wounded in the same attack that killed Ryoma.

-Ekingura: This is a museum in Konan about a specific type of art:
http://www.ekingura.com/

The west part of the prefecture is dominated by the famous Shimanto River. There are bike rentals in the area if you prefer to see some nature.

The two tips of the prefecture (Muroto and Ashizuri) are famous for their lighthouses and ocean views. Ashizuri appears to be more interesting, but I haven't been to either and they probably take too much time to reach to make it worth it for a two-day trip.

As for food, whale is also famous in Kochi. The famous area for whale is the eastern portion however, the restaurant Suigei-tei in Kochi city is famous for the whale in the region.

For Katsuo no Tataki, two of the famous places are: Issyun and Fujinoya, but there are many other places that serve it.

Thank you very much for your detailed information about places of interest in Kochi and near surrounding area. How I reported I am going to stay there for only 2 days and so I have to balance what I want to see...

What's refering to Katsuo-no-tataki, is it actually served with rice or a pure meat dish? What's about your listed Restaurants 'Issyun' and 'Fujinoya' - are both Izakaya-Restauranst and where are they located exactly? Maybe near Obiyamachi? Thank you very much !

I know you only have 2 days, but I figured it can't hurt to list a variety of options so you can choose from the widest range possible. There is a paper museum in Ino (neighbor of Kochi city) where you can see the process of paper-making and even make your own paper, as well, if that interests you.

Katsuo is fish (bonito). There is usually nothing served with it unless you order other items.

Issyun had the best katsuo no tataki that I tried in Kochi (I went to 3 places while I was there). It is izakaya, but the look is classy. It is izakaya Here is good information about it, and yes, it is located in the shopping arcade:
http://r.gnavi.co.jp/s352200/lang/en/

Fujinoya is marked on the map here. I didn't eat here but it is recommended in Japanese guidebooks:
http://www.mapion.co.jp/phonebook/M01009/39201/G0888850015-001/

Thank you very much for your information's, especially what's referring to the local Izakaya and Katsuo-no-tataki dish. I try to find a compansation to enjoy Kochi' cultural activities as well hiking in the near surrounding.

Therefore I found a quite nice web-source for suggested hiking routes: http://de.everytrail.com/search.php?q=kochi&sent=true

Thank you very much again !!!!

Good evening Rabbit and William,

today afternoon I have investigated via Google map again which hiking course I can take on my second day of stay there in Kochi. Finally I have found an interesting hike up to Mount Kuishi(yama) (工石山). Unfortunately I depend on public transports and now I am looking for a bus-line which I can use till this point 33.676796,133.516861 (google map coordinates).

I hope you can help me to find an appropriate bus (bus schedule). Thank you so much guys !!!

I have found a bus company but doubt that they operate further north. Or am I wrong (I can read Kanji, etc...) ?


http://www.tosaden.co.jp/bus/timetable_map/map_top.html

Where I must hop off?

I am not familiar with the public transport in Kochi as we drove ourselves. Below is the bus service in the area and I think you should look at those going north to Tosayama 土佐山 (section 3) which seems to be closest to Kuishiyama.

http://accesskochi.com/routeinfo/index.html?cmpCd=17

If your coordinates mark the trailhead of the hike, then from the bus stop given by William (which does appear to be the closest), it will take 2 hours just to get there in order to start the hike, according to Google:
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E9%AB%98%E7%9F%A5...

Good evening guys,

thank you very much for further comments yesterday. Yes of course, you are completely right Rabbit. The last bus stop, which is displayed under http://accesskochi.com/routeinfo/index.html?cmpCd=17 is not even close to Mount Kuishi and a 2 hour hike to the begin of the trail head is surely time consuming as well energy-sapping. But up till now I see no possibilities and haven't found other chances to access there. Maybe I shall ask this specific question to other members in this forum-section ( create a new post). Maybe they know an answer...

Nevertheless: Thank you guys!

Hopefully you can find another option, but in Shikoku and many other rural places there are many places that are simply impossible to reach with public transportation.

If this trail is a must-do, you could see if there is an affordable small tour van/bus company that can provide the services to drive you there and back for the day. I've never reserved them so I have no idea about the logistics (or viability) of it but it could be worth looking into.

Hopefully you can find another option, but in Shikoku and many other rural places there are many places that are simply impossible to reach with public transportation.

If this trail is a must-do, you could see if there is an affordable small tour van/bus company that can provide the services to drive you there and back for the day. I've never reserved them so I have no idea about the logistics (or viability) of it but it could be worth looking into.

Hi Luebzer, why don't you make enquiry to the following to see whether they can help:

Online email webpage of Kochi Visitors & Convention Association : http://japan.kochi.tourism.web.transer.com/bb_url_ej.php?ctw_=sT,eCR-J...

Email address of Kochi International Association: info_kia@kochi-kia.or.jp

Email address of Kochi Prefecture International Affairs Division: 140201@ken.pref.kochi.lg.jp

BTW, you get us interested in this and would appreciate if you can follow up on your quest and keep us inform on your hiking trip. Hopefully one of these days we will get the chance to go back to Kochi and follow your foot steps. Thanks a lot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3bGGWhYSUY

Hello William, Hallo Rabbit,

I have checked my E-Mail account today afternoon an received an reply from the Promotion Organization of Tourism in Shikoku, which I won't withhold you guys:

'... Thank you for your e-mail.

I will infrom you how to get to Mount Kuishi from Kochi city. Unfortunately, there is no public transportation from the downtown of Kochi city to the entrance of mountain trail.

However, you are able to take a bus until Tosayama brunch office of Kochi city government (土佐山庁舎) where is on the way to the entrance of trail. It is operated by Kochi Hokubu Kotsuu.

http://accesskochi.com/routeinfo/index.html?cmpCd=17

After the stop of Tosayama Buranch, you should walk around 10km in order to get the entrance of trail.... '

That's actually how you have already mentioned: Either I accept a time-consuming 10km-walk or I have to take a taxi / private mini-van to reach the trailhead. To be honest: I am a bit confussed after this message and have to think about my one-day-hike once more again! Thank you very much that you both have followed and answered to my posts here.