Kochi Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)

#awesomepic Originally built in 1601, Kochi Castle has a long history as it sits peacefully atop Otakasa Hill as the main attraction of Kochi city, on the southern island of Shikoku. Kochi Castle is a hilltop castle. #awesomepic

Travelogue of Shikoku Island

Are you tired of the big cities in Japan and want to find some different scenery and experiences? Then, Shikoku Island is your ideal choice. Shikoku Island is the smallest of the four major islands in Japan. Here you can find beautiful coastlines🌊, spectacular mountains🗻, ancient hot springs♨, historical castles🏯, modern art🎨, traditional dances💃, delicious udon noodles🍜, and the most famous pilgrimage route in Japan - the Shikoku Eighty-Eight Places. Whether you like nature, culture, history, or food, Shikoku Island can meet your needs. Let's take a look at the wonderful attractions of Shikoku Island together! Awa Dance Festival (Tokushima) The Awa Dance Festival is Japan's largest dance festival, held in Tokushima City every August, attracting millions of tourists and dancers. Awa Dance is a folk dance from the Edo period. During the Awa Dance Festival, you can enjoy a variety of Awa Dance performances, and even join the dance team to experience the fun of Awa Dance.🕺💃 Udon Noodles (Kagawa) If you are a noodle lover, then you must not miss Kagawa's udon noodles. Udon noodles are thin, white noodles made from wheat flour, usually served with soy sauce, broth, and green onions. Kagawa is the birthplace of udon noodles in Japan and the largest producer of udon noodles in the country. Kagawa's udon noodles are known for their chewy texture, delicious soup, and affordable price, making them a simple and delicious Japanese dish.🍜 Kochi Castle (Kochi) Kochi Castle is one of only 12 castles in Japan that still have their original keep. Inside Kochi Castle, you can visit the castle museum to learn about the history and culture of the castle, and you can also climb the keep to enjoy a panoramic view of Kochi City.🏯 Shikoku Eighty-Eight Places (Tokushima) The Shikoku Eighty-Eight Places is the most famous pilgrimage route in Japan and one of the longest pilgrimage routes in the world. It consists of 88 temples on Shikoku Island, with a total length of about 1200 kilometers, passing through mountains🗻, fields🌾, villages🏘, coastlines🌊, and other landscapes. The starting and ending points of the Shikoku Eighty-Eight Places are the Ryozenji Temple in Tokushima, a temple dedicated to Maitreya Bodhisattva. Pilgrims of the Shikoku Eighty-Eight Places are called "Henro", they usually wear white clothes, wear a hat, carry a rosary and a tin stick, and visit each temple along the route to pray for peace and salvation. The Shikoku Eighty-Eight Places is not only a religious activity, but also a cultural and natural experience. Whether you believe in Buddhism or not, you can gain spiritual baptism and enlightenment from it.🙏 Dogo Hot Spring (Ehime) The Dogo Hot Spring is the oldest hot spring in Japan, with a history of more than 3000 years, and is one of the three ancient springs in Japan. The spring water of Dogo Hot Spring contains rich minerals, which are very effective for skin, nerves, joints, etc., and is known as the "Spring of Beauty". The Dogo Hot Spring Main Building is also one of the inspirations for the animated film "Spirited Away" by Hayao Miyazaki. Here you can feel the scenes and atmosphere in the movie. At Dogo Hot Spring, you can enjoy the traditional hot spring culture of Japan, relax your body and mind, and beautify your skin.♨

Kochi Castle

Address: 1 Chome-2-1 Marunouchi, Kochi, 780-0850, Japan. Getting there: You can take a tram to Kochijo-mae tram stop. The Kochi Castle is located a few minutes short walk from the tram stop. Highlights: The Kochi Castle is one of famous Japanese castles to have survived the fires, wars and other catastrophes of the post feudal age. A unique feature of Kochi's castle is that its main tower was not only used for military purposes, but also as a residence. The castle's wooden interior maintains the appearance of it Edo Period origins, and the lookout point from the castle tower's top floor offers nice view of downtown. The castle used to be the seat of the Yamauchi lords, who ruled over the surrounding region, then known as Tosa, during the Edo Period. The castle buildings have since been designated "important cultural properties", and now house local treasures and historical objects. Opening hours: 9am to 5pm daily Admission fee: 420yen #bucketlistreboot #traveljapan #culturewalk

Here is Kochi, Chikoku Island, Japan

Lots of fresh fish, Sushi in local restaurants Shinto Shrines Makino Botanical Garden #timetotravel

Makino Botanical Garden

Address: 4200-6 Godaisan, Kochi, 781-8125, Japan Getting there: The most convenient way is to take the My Yu Bus and stop at Godaison station. Highlights: The gardens opened in 1958 and were dedicated to the "Father of Japanese Botany", Dr. Tomitaro Makino, who was born and raised in Kochi. Six hectares of gardens are home to over 3,000 species of plants that form a green oasis above the city, bay, and plains of rice fields below. The spacious garden includes extensive walking paths, outdoor parks, a greenhouse and several large museum halls with excellent information and displays on Dr. Makino and his field of study. Makino Botanical Gardens can always provide a lovely time, day or night. 🥰 Opening hours: 9am to 5pm daily Admission fee: 730yen #bucketlistreboot #culturewalk #traveljapan

In the summer of Japan, dance festivals to celebrate the festival are everywhere. At the beginning, it was also in the lazy summer, mobilizing everyone's enthusiasm, so that everyone would cheer up in the summer. The yosakoi night festival originated in 1954. At that time, the Japanese economy was in a recession. In order to rejuvenate the spirit of the Kochi people, it was also to fight with the neighboring Tokushima Prefecture, because the neighboring neighbor of Tokushima Prefecture had Abo. In order to create a festival that is no less than Awa dance, Kochi Prefecture invited a Japanese dance master to design a performance, using the "Naruko" used by Kochis local peasants to drive the sparrows in Tanaka as props, with the changing times and full of originality. The Kochi people gradually developed a variety of clothing and dance movements, and the genre was also quite free, achieving a passionate and energetic dance.

I really like the summer in Japan. There are fireworks and yosakoi festivals. The dance teams from various places gather in a small city. Everyone jumps from day to night. There are old people with white hair in the dance team. There are children who can just walk and can't remember the dance. There are young men and women. The whole city is divided into two groups of people, performers and performers. The whole performance is especially exciting. Everyone is showing the dance with strength. They can't see the fatigue and slack on their faces. I don't know how to describe this kind of explosion. It is the kind of special Japanese. feel. In the summer of this season, the dancers wear long-sleeved trousers, and the sweat cant stop flowing. The people watching the show clapped their hands and spontaneously fanned the fans. All the people Participate in this festival. Why do you like the traditional festivals of the world? At this time, you can really feel the sense of ritual of life.

Yasakoi Museum, Kochi 🇯🇵

#cherryblossom2024 🎌 Just had an incredible time at the Yasakoi Museum in Kochi, Japan! The entrance fee was quite affordable, only 500 yen, and it was worth every penny. The museum beautifully showcases the vibrant and energetic world of Yasakoi, a traditional Japanese dance festival. Walking through the exhibits, I was captivated by the colorful costumes, dynamic performances, and the rich history behind this cultural phenomenon. The interactive displays allowed me to learn more about the music, choreography, and significance of Yasakoi in Japanese culture. After exploring the museum, I took a stroll around the charming streets of Kochi, where I found delightful cafes, local shops, and historical landmarks like Kochi Castle and Harimayabashi Bridge. It was a truly immersive experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Kochi! 🎶🏯 #YasakoiMuseum #Kochi #JapaneseCulture #DanceFestival #CulturalExperience #TravelJapan

Chikurinji Temple

Address: 3577 Godaisan, Kochi, 781-8125, Japan. Getting there: The most convenient way is to take the My Yu Bus from Kochi station and stop at Godaison station. Highlights: Chikurinji Temple has become an important stop on the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Chikurinji's temple grounds feature an interesting array of halls and structures, including a beautiful five-storied pagoda. A treasure hall displays several Buddhist statues and scrolls of importance to the temple, and paid entrance to the hondo (main hall) offers a view of the building's interior and a nicely kept garden. 😬 Opening hours: 8.30am to 5pm daily Admission fee: 400yen to visit the Treasure hall and garden #bucketlistreboot #traveljapan #culturewalk