Framed by the Pacific and the green ribs of the Shikoku Mountains, Kochi is where samurai lore and sea air meet. Once the Tosa Domain, it’s the birthplace of reformer Sakamoto Ryoma and home to Kochi Castle—one of the rare original keeps that survived earthquakes and wars.

Nature is the headline: cliffs at Muroto Geopark, the glassy “Niyodo Blue” river pools, and broad beaches like Katsurahama. In town, Hirome Market hums with chatter and straw-smoke from warayaki (straw-seared) bonito, the city’s proudest bite.

Expect a laid-back pace, walkable core, and friendly market culture. Trains and buses work, but a car unlocks the best scenery. Summers can be hot and typhoon-prone (Aug–Oct); winters are mild. Bring cash for markets and try local yuzu in everything from ponzu to soft-serve.

Kochi (Shikoku, Japan)

Kochi City is compact, easygoing, and stuffed with good food. Start at Kochi Castle for a rare intact feudal keep and sweeping views; then graze at Hirome Market, a communal food hall where locals share tables and travelers make friends fast.

Top sights include the hilltop precinct of Godaisan with Chikurin-ji Temple (Shikoku Pilgrimage Temple 31) and the Makino Botanical Garden, dedicated to plant-hunter Tomitaro Makino. Along the coast, Katsurahama Beach offers sunset drama and a wave-battered promenade beneath the statue of Ryoma.

• Don’t miss: Kochi Castle, Hirome Market, Chikurin-ji & Makino Botanical Garden, Katsurahama Beach, and if time allows, a coastal run to Muroto Geopark.
• Food to try: Katsuo no tataki (straw-seared skipjack), sawachi-ryori (big feasting platter), and yuzu-forward sauces and sweets. Pair it with local sake like Suigei (“Drunken Whale”).
• Good to know: Kochi excels at rivers and coastlines. Lakes are fewer—but the scenic Sameura Lake (a reservoir in the mountains) is a beautiful day-trip target.

Where to stay: For walkable dining and nightlife, base in the Obiyamachi/Hirome Market area. Business hotels (like Dormy Inn Kochi or Hotel Nikko Kochi Asahi Royal) are reliable; boutique inns and family apartments are scattered around the tram lines.

• Search vacation rentals on VRBO (Kochi, Japan)
• Search hotels on Hotels.com (Kochi, Japan)

Getting to Kochi: Fly into Kochi Ryoma Airport (KCZ) from Tokyo (about 1h35) or Osaka (about 50–60 minutes). The rail alternative connects via Okayama and the Limited Express Nanpū (about 2.5 hours Okayama–Kochi; ~3.5–4 hours from Osaka). Expect flights from ~$90–$200 one-way; rail from ~$55–$85.

• Check flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com
• Check trains in Japan on Trip.com

Day 1: Kochi Castle, Hirome Market, and Katsurahama Beach

Morning: Travel to Kochi. If you arrive earlier than check-in, drop bags at your hotel and ride the tram to Kochi Castle. Climb the wooden donjon—its creaky floors and arrow slits are the real thing—and read the displays about the Tosa domain and everyday samurai life.

Afternoon: Wander to Hirome Market for a graze-lunch. Queue at Myojinmaru’s stall for katsuo no tataki torched over blazing straw, add a bowl of saba mackerel sushi, and chase it with yuzu highballs. Coffee and a sweet finish? Terzo Tempo does excellent pour-overs and seasonal baked goods a short walk away.

Evening: Taxi or bus (25–30 minutes) to Katsurahama Beach for surf-thunder and a Pacific sunset beneath Ryoma’s statue. Dine oceanside on grilled local fish at the beach rest house, or return to town for a sit-down at Myojinmaru Obiyamachi (warayaki specialties) or an izakaya serving sawachi feasting platters. Nightcap with Tosa sake—look for Suigei—at a cozy standing bar near Obiyamachi.

Optional guided intro (great for cruise arrivals): Port Pick-Up: Kochi Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle

A flexible half-day that covers castle, market, and coastal viewpoints—ideal if you want history and city basics without navigating on day one.

Day 2: Godaisan Temples, Makino Garden, and the Muroto Geopark Coast

Morning: Head up Godaisan for Chikurin-ji Temple—stone lanterns, a five-story pagoda, and quiet halls on the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Next door, stroll the Makino Botanical Garden: camellias, native oaks, medicinal beds, and greenhouse galleries celebrating plant explorer Tomitaro Makino.

Afternoon: Point south along the Pacific to the lava-carved promontories of Muroto Geopark. Take short walks to sea caves and wind-shaped pines; watch fishing boats beat back to harbor. Lunch on the way at a roadside market for rice bowls topped with local tuna or kinmedai (splendid alfonsino) when in season.

Evening: Return to Kochi for dinner. Try an izakaya specializing in charcoal or straw grilling—order seared bonito, local eggplant with miso, and seasonal citrus salads. If you’re up for a soak, detour to Tosayama Onsen in the hills for a relaxing bath before bed.

Prefer a driver-guide to weave nature, history, and food? Book Explore Kochi: Nature, Samurai, and Food Wonders by Car.

You’ll cover coastal cliffs, castle lore, and tasty stops in one smooth, full day—great if you’re not renting a car.

Day 3: Lake Sameura, Rivers, and (If Sunday) Kochi’s Legendary Street Market

Morning: If it's Sunday, start at the Kochi Sunday Market (over a kilometer of vendors since 1690). Snack as you stroll: inaka-zushi (mountain-vegetable sushi), yuzu sweets, fresh citrus, and skewers. Alternatively (or after an early market visit), travel toward the mountains for a nature day.

Afternoon: Aim for Sameura Lake (about 1.5 hours by car; by train on the Dosan Line to Tosa-Iwahara ~60–75 minutes then taxi/bus 20–30 minutes). This broad, mountain-wrapped reservoir is the calm “lake” fix Kochi lacks on the coast—bring a picnic, take easy shoreline walks, and photograph reflections. With extra time, detour to a stretch of the Niyodo River or Nakatsu Gorge to see the famed “Niyodo Blue” pools.

Evening: Back in Kochi, toast your trip with one final platter at Hirome Market or a reserved table for a wider sawachi spread. For a cozy cultural finish, book a local home-cooking session and learn why Kochi’s flavors lean bright and citrusy.

Make it guided (Sunday option): Experience the energy of Kochi: Sunday Market Tour includes Kochi Castle

to meet producers, sample specialties, and revisit the castle with context.

Hands-on dinner idea: Home Meal Experience

for a relaxed, home-style menu that shows how locals actually cook with yuzu, bonito, and seasonal vegetables.

Breakfast & coffee picks (sprinkled through the trip): Terzo Tempo for pour-overs and cakes; a classic kissaten near Obiyamachi for thick toast and eggs; and stalls at the Sunday Market for fresh fruit and imokenpi (sweet potato crisps).

Lunch & dinner ideas: Hirome Market’s Myojinmaru (straw-seared bonito), a counter-only udon shop near Harimaya-bashi for quick bowls, and an izakaya specializing in warayaki for smoky local vegetables and seafood. Look for chinmi (local delicacies) boards and ask staff to pair Tosa sake flights.

About elephants: Kochi Prefecture excels at mountains, rivers, and beaches; elephant encounters are not a local specialty. If seeing elephants is essential to your trip, consider adding a future day in another Japanese city with a large zoological park, or check the current roster at regional zoos beyond Kochi.

Getting around locally: Trams and buses cover the city core; taxis and car rentals are best for Muroto, Sameura Lake, and Nakatsu Gorge. For intercity rail and local trains (e.g., to Noichi or the Dosan Line): Trip.com trains.

In three days, you’ll taste Kochi’s best: a living castle, a legendary street market, mountain temples, the “Niyodo Blue,” and a wave-hammered coast. It’s an easygoing slice of Shikoku where nature, history, and great food come standard—perfect for travelers who like their itineraries balanced between city buzz and open air.