Sights in Kōchi
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Kōchi-jō
Kōchi-jō is one of just a dozen castles in Japan to have survived with its original tenshu-kaku (keep) intact. The castle was originally built during the first decade of the 17th century by Yamanouchi Katsutoyo, who was appointed daimyō by Tokugawa Ieyasu after he fought on the victorious Tokugawa side in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. A major fire destroyed much of the original structure in 1727, and the castle was largely rebuilt between 1748 and 1753.
The castle was the product of an age of peace – it never came under attack, and for the remainder of the Tokugawa period it was more like a stately home than a military fortress.
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Sakamoto Ryōma Memorial Museum
The Sakamoto Ryōma Memorial Museum tells the life story of this local hero in miniature dioramas.
Although it was the progressive samurai class of Kagoshima and Hagi that played a major part in the dramatic events of the Meiji Restoration, the citizens of Kōchi claim it was their hometown hero Sakamoto who brought the two sides together. His assassination in Kyoto in 1867 at the age of 32 cemented his romantic yet tragic image, and he appears - looking distinctly sour - on countless postcards and other tourist memorabilia in Kōchi.
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Kōchi Prefectural Makino Botanical Gardens
On the south side of Godaisan-kōen east of the city centre are the Kōchi Prefectural Makino Botanical Gardens, which features more than 3000 different plant species. Frequent buses from the Harimaya-bashi bus terminal run directly to Godaisan (around ¥150, 10 minutes).
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Sakamoto Ryōma Statue
In addition to the Sakamoto Ryōma Memorial Museum, there is also an impressive statue of Sakamoto Ryōma by Katsura-hama beach. Frequent buses run from Kōchi station to Katsura-hama (around ¥610, 30 minutes).
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Chikurin-ji (Temple 31)
At the top of the hill in Godaisan-kōen is Chikurin-ji, Temple 31 on the 88 Sacred Temple Circuit, which has pleasant gardens, a five-storey pagoda and a small Treasure House.
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Godaisan-kōen
Several kilometres east of the city centre on a stand-alone hill is Godaisan-kōen, which has excellent views over the city from its tenbōdai (viewpoint).
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Katsura-hama Beach
Katsura-hama is a popular beach 13km south of central Kōchi at the point where Kōchi's harbour empties out into the bay. Unfortunately, strong currents prohibit swimming. Just before you get to the beach itself is Sakamoto Ryōma Memorial Museum, where the exhibits are dedicated to the life of a local hero who was instrumental in bringing about the Meiji Restoration in the 1860s. Born in Kōchi in 1835, Ryōma brought about the alliance between the Satsuma (modern Kagoshima) and Chōshū (Yamaguchi) domains that eventually brought down the Tokugawa shogunate. He was killed in Kyoto in 1867, aged 32.
There is an aquarium on the beach, and a small shrine on the hillside. B…
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Tosa Washi Paper Museum
Make your own Japanese paper for ¥300. At Ino, about 10km west of Kōchi.
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Sunday Market
Our favourite street market in Shikoku, 300 years old, takes place every Sunday along the main road leading to the castle. Colourful stalls sell fresh produce, tonics and tinctures, knives, flowers, garden stones and wooden antiques.
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Godaisan Park
Several kilometres east of the town centre is the mountain of Godaisan, where there are excellent views out over the city from a lookout point (展望台) in a park. A short walk away at the top of the hill is Chikurin-ji (竹林寺), Temple 31 of the 88, where the main hall was built by the second Tosa daimyō, Yamanouchi Tadayoshi, in 1644. The extensive grounds also feature a five-storey pagoda and thousands of statues of the Bodhisattva Jizō, guardian deity of children and travellers. The Treasure Househosts an impressive collection of Buddhist sculpture from the Heian and Kamakura periods; the same ticket gets you into the lovely late-Kamakura-period garden opposite…
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