Kochi City on the picturesque island of Shikoku is the capital of Kochi Prefecture and is quite small in size, with a population of around 300,000 residents, making it a nice place to visit if you want to see a lot in a short space of time. The city is surrounded by mountains, and one of the main attractions here is the dainty Mount Godaisan. Kochi used to be an important agricultural part of Japan, and you can still see this rural side of the city today, with wide open spaces such as parks and botanical gardens. It also has a range of other interesting attractions that are informed by local history and legend, making this a great place to stop if you are in Shikoku.



Getting to Kochi:

Kochi is serviced by a small airport in the form of Kochi Ryoma Airport and links to Osaka, Tokyo, and Fukuoka.
If you prefer to travel by train on the excellent Japanese rail system, then you can take the JR Dosan Line that travels from Okayama on Honshu Island. You can also take the Nanpu Limited Express Train from Okayama which is ¥5990 and will take just over 2 hours.

Tourist Attractions:

Kochi Castle:
Kochi Castle is notable in Japan as it is one of the few remaining white castles in the country. You can walk around the grounds for free or you can pay ¥400 to go inside and take in the splendor. This is highly recommended as the views from the castle that stretch into the distance are stunning, especially in the spring time.



Harimayabashi Bridge:
The Harimayabashi Bridge is known thanks to a local story of a monk who was in love with a local woman. He was spotted by the bridge one day buying her a gift in the form of a Japanese hair pin, and thus his clandestine affair was discovered. The monk decided to elope with his lover, but the bridge has remained famous ever since.



Chikyu 33 Banchi:
Chikyu 33 Banchi is something of a fun and quirky stop if you are in Kochi as it is the place of 133*33’33’’ East Longitude and 33*33’33’’ North Latitude bisect, and as such the number 33 appears 6 times. This is one of only 10 places in the world where this exists, and as such is something of an interesting oddity if you are in the area.

Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden:
If you like plants then consider a trip to the Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden where you will find over 1,500 different specimens. The botanical garden is dedicated to Dr. Tomitaro Makino, a celebrated Japanese botanist, and is spread over 6 beautiful acres of land. Admission is ¥500.

Mount Godaisan:
Mount Godaisan is the name of a mountain that is located in the downtown area of Kochi and is actually named after a mountain in China. There is a famous temple there named the Chikurinji Temple that is known for being a place of pilgrimage as well as a pretty stop off in Kochi.

Shopping and Duty Free:

Local Delicacies:
One of the best souvenirs to buy when you visit Kochi are Katsuobushi or Bonito Flakes as they are called in English. No Japanese table is complete without this delicious condiment of flakes of skipjack tuna which are used as a common topping in Japan, and you can buy these all over the city.

AEON Mall:

If you want to come to a shopping mall in Kochi and find everything under one roof then AEON Mall is a good choice. You will find the usual Japanese brands here like Muji as well as clothes, accessories, shoes, and home furnishings. The mall is open from 9am to 11pm every day.

Deals:

If you want to get around Kochi in the most cost effective manner, then consider the My-Yu Bus which operates from JR Kochi Station. You can get a day pass for ¥900.

Recommended times to visit:

Kochi is one of those places that is blessed with a clear and seasonal climate, meaning that you can acutely feel each of the passing seasons here, so when to visit depends very much on what you prefer.

Spring:
Should you visit in the spring time, you will find the beautiful cherry blossoms for which Japan is famous. This can be a nice time of year to visit as temperatures are moderate and the city bursts into color.

Summer:
A little later in the year, you can travel here in the summer time when the temperatures rise and you can enjoy the dazzling Pacific Ocean as it stretches out in front of you.

Autumn:
In the autumn time, you can enjoy a riot of color in the form of the bronzed glow of autumn leaves that falls on the city. Temperatures are also said to be clement around this time although domestic travel can mean that this is a busier period.

Winter:
In the winter the temperature drops but if you like it when things cool down then this could be the perfect time for a trip. This is especially true if you plan to go into the nearby mountains and enjoy the snow.