Kochi's latest model itinerary. Enjoy the gourmet food and nature around Ashizuri, Shimanto, and Kochi City in a 3-day, 2-night trip

Day 3: Experience the gourmet food and history of Kochi City

The center of Kochi City, which flourished as a castle town of the Tosa clan, is home to many tourist attractions, including Kochi Castle and Hirome Market.
On the third day, we'll travel a little further out of the city and visit the surrounding areas of Kochi City, including Nikobuchi, where you can see the mysterious Niyodo Blue, and the notable botanical gardens, to visit some fascinating spots that will make for memorable trips.

9:00 Morning activities at Nishinaka Shoten. Experience Kochi's morning culture.

In fact, Kochi Prefecture has a thriving morning culture. There are various theories as to why this is the case, such as the fact that it is a fishing town and people who finished work early in the morning wanted to have a proper breakfast, but in reality, you can find many coffee shops in Kochi that offer a wide variety of morning menus.

Among them, Ochimachi Coffee Stand Nishinaka Shoten in Ochimachi is well-known for its delicious breakfasts. Many people visit the shop for its homemade bread and specialty coffee.

The highly recommended "Three-Color Toast Set" includes three types of toast to choose from, as well as a fresh vegetable salad, hearty soup, boiled eggs, and dessert.

The calm atmosphere and relaxed atmosphere will leave you feeling satisfied with the homely breakfast. You will be able to recharge your energy in the morning and have a great day.

Coffee stand Nishinaka Shoten in Ochi Town

Approximately 40 minutes by car

11:00 Head to Nikobuchi, the waterfall basin where you can see the crystal clear "Niyodo Blue" water

After breakfast, we drove deep into the mountains to Nikobuchi. Nikobuchi is a waterfall basin in the Edagawa River, a tributary of the Niyodo River. In recent years, as the term "Niyodo Blue" has spread, the area has become a popular tourist spot in Kochi, where you can see a beautiful and dreamy blue color.

The water in the pool is so clear you can see the rocks at the bottom, and changes colour to green or blue depending on how the light hits it, creating a fantastic sight. You can see so many different shades of blue that it's said you won't see the same blue all year round. The best time to experience the Niyodo blue is around noon, when the sunlight pours down on the pool.

The area has now been improved and a staircase has been installed leading down to the base of the falls, but there are still some slippery and dangerous sections, so we recommend wearing comfortable shoes and clothes that you don't mind getting dirty.

Nikobuchi

1 hour by car

13:00 "Hirome Market" - Discover local Kochi cuisine to your liking

If you come to Kochi city, Hirome Market is a gourmet spot you cannot miss.
More than 60 unique shops, including restaurants serving Tosa cuisine, lively fresh fish shops, and unique general stores, are gathered here, making it more like a lively "food stall village" than a market. On weekends, when locals gather, the place becomes as lively as a giant banquet hall.

Food purchased inside the market can be eaten freely in the eat-in space, which has approximately 400 seats.

You can soak up the local atmosphere at Hiromede Yasubei, a gyoza stand specializing in Kochi's specialty, or discover new seafood at Chinmidou, which offers a variety of delicacies typical of Kochi.

You can only understand this chaotic and fascinating market by visiting for yourself. If you come here, you are sure to find a Kochi gourmet dish that suits your taste.

Hirome Market

5 minutes walk

14:30 Visit Kochi Castle, a famous castle built by Kazutoyo Yamauchi

Kochi Castle, which is about a five-minute walk from Hirome Market, is known as the "most famous castle on the Nankaido" due to its graceful appearance. Its other name, "Falcon Castle," comes from the fact that its white Tosa plaster walls and gray tile roof resemble the feathers of a hawk.
It is one of Japan's 12 precious remaining castle towers, and in addition to the castle tower, Kaitokukan (Honmaru Palace), Otemon Gate, and 15 other buildings have been designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan.

It took 10 years for the castle to be constructed by Yamauchi Kazutoyo, starting in 1601. Although most of it was destroyed in a major fire, it was almost completely rebuilt in 1753.

It is the only castle in Japan where the entire Honmaru structure, including the castle tower and palace, has survived since the Edo period, and you can see various mechanisms to protect against enemy attacks, such as stone-dropping and ninja guards. From the castle tower, you can get a 360-degree view of Kochi cityscape, so you can feel like you're the lord of the castle.

Kochi Castle

15 minutes by car

15:30 The popular "Makino Botanical Garden." Feel the healing power of vibrant plants

The final stop on the trip is the Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden, which opened to celebrate the achievements of Dr. Tomitaro Makino, a world-renowned plant taxonomist from Kochi Prefecture. More than 3,000 types of plants, including those associated with Dr. Makino and flowers native to Kochi Prefecture, are in full bloom within the garden.

In addition to strolling through the spacious garden, the photogenic greenhouse is a must-see. The tropical interior makes you feel as if you have wandered into a jungle. You can enjoy rare plants collected from Japan and abroad, colorful tropical flowers and trees, and tropical fruit trees all year round.

Another attraction of the Makino Botanical Gardens is their architectural beauty. The main building and exhibition hall of the Makino Tomitaro Memorial Museum were designed by Hiroshi Naito, who also designed the Sea-Floor Museum in Mie Prefecture, and the design blends in with the surrounding landscape and the warmth of the wood gives the space a sophisticated feel.

With plants overflowing with vitality and architectural beauty that blends beautifully with nature, this is a botanical garden that you'll want to visit again and again to see its various expressions that change with the season, weather, and time of day.

Makino Botanical Garden

A trip to Kochi is full of the unique charms of the region, from the magnificent natural scenery to the long history and culture, and the gourmet food of the fishing town. Once you visit, you will be drawn in by its depth.

See, hear, eat, and feel. Use all five senses and enjoy a heart-warming trip to Kochi.

*Some content was updated on August 24, 2022.

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