Top 12 things to do in Kochi according to TripAdvisor
Kochi is the main city of Kochi prefecture, it is known for it's delicious slightly seared and salted tuna dish. There are other interesting things also there, for example, the Kochi castle which has stood in Kochi since 1601 which is one of the few Japanese castles that are still on their pre-restored form. Other interesting places in Kochi are the Ryugadou Cave, which is a limestone cave 4km in length. And of course, Kochi also has its own festival, called Yosokoi festival where thousands of dancers come together to dance for the festival.
A famed castle known for its spectacular view of the keep from the main gate. It is a valuable cultural asset with a 400-year history, which survived many crises during that time.
This is a famous tourist area symbolizing Kochi Prefecture. Facing the Pacific Ocean there is a statue of the hero of Kochi, Ryoma Sakamoto, a Bakumatsu Era warrior. Inside the park, there is the Ryoma Sakamoto Memorial Museum, an aquarium, and a dog fighting arena so it is a place you can enjoy yourself all day.
A market that stretches for 1.3 km along the Main Otesuji Street that leads to Kochi Castle. It is visited by as many as 15,000 people weekly as a popular tourist spot where you can get a taste of the famous products and specialty dishes of Kochi.
A “yatai” (food stand) village with 60 lively shops operating from morning to night. This is a popular tourist destination where you can stop and have a bite of something delicious to eat at the various shops.
This garden recreates the world of Monet’s “Water Lilies”. Blue water lilies that cannot be seen even in Giverny and a beautiful landscape of the mountains, rivers, and ocean of Kitagawa Village can be enjoyed here.
A picturesque point with a chalk white lighthouse that stands on a 80 m high cliff. From there you can have a 270 degree view of the blue ocean down below. Feel the dynamic pull of the Kuroshio current.
An art museum where you can see the original pictures and sketches of Anpanman, the incredibly popular children’s character. You will be able to appreciate the world of Anpanman here.
A procession of 20,000 dancers parade down the streets in an elaborate pageant of costume and dance. From day to night, the entire city is engulfed in the powerful mood of the vivid Yosakoi Festival.
Plenty of impressive sights of stalactites of various shapes and even artifacts of life from the Yayoi Era. Joining the adventure tour and going through the cave with a headlight is also popular.
Chikurin-ji is the 31st temple along the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage. Located at the top of Mt. Godaisan, it is known as a study temple where scholar priests and celebrated priests have congregated. The garden which is said to have been created by the 14th-century Zen Buddhist monk, Soseki Muso, is considered to be one of the three famous gardens in Kochi Prefecture and has been highly honored as a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty.
This observatory is located on the small Mt. Godaisan just outside of Kochi City. From here, you can get a full view of a panorama merging nature with the city including Kochi Harbor and the Kagami River. The beauty of its nightscape from the evening hours has earned praise as Kochi’s premier night view.
Makino Botanical Garden gives tribute to the achievements of Tomitaro Makino, the Kochi-born scientist who has been called “the father of Japanese botany”. Within the garden’s 6 hectares, approximately 3000 kinds of flora including wild plants associated with Dr. Makino are cultivated so that visitors can view these valuable plants as living examples.