Kochi in 2 Days: Castle Town, Hirome Market & Ryoma's Coast
Shikoku's open-hearted south coast in two days. Day one tours one of Japan's few surviving original castles, the roaring Hirome Market, and the Godaisan hilltop gardens; day two heads to Katsurahama Beach and the legacy of local hero Sakamoto Ryoma.
Daily itinerary
Places are grouped by day so the whole route stays easy to scan.
Castle, Hirome Market & Godaisan
4 places
Climb Kochi Castle, one of Japan's twelve original keeps, then graze the lively Hirome Market for straw-seared katsuo tataki. Afternoon on Godaisan hill: the Makino Botanical Garden and Chikurinji Temple.
Kochi Castle
One of only 12 original castles remaining in Japan, with both the tenshu (main keep) and honmaru palace surviving in their original form — extremely rare. The hilltop location offers clear views across Kochi city.
1-chōme-2-1 Marunouchi, Kochi, 780-0850, Japan
Hirome Market
Hirome Market is an indoor food court-style market in central Kochi with about 60 restaurants and shops. Famous for straw-grilled katsuo tataki (seared bonito), it offers an authentic taste of Kochi's lively drinking culture.
2-chōme-3-1 Obiyamachi, Kochi, 780-0841, Japan
Makino Botanical Garden
Named after Tomitaro Makino, the 'father of Japanese botany,' this garden features 3,000+ plant species across 8 zones. The greenhouse and surrounding forest trails are wonderfully peaceful. Featured as the backdrop for NHK drama 'Ranman' (2023).
4200-6 Godaisan, Kochi, 781-8125, Japan
Chikurin Temple
Chikurin-ji, meaning 'Bamboo Forest Temple,' stands near the summit of Mount Godai in Kochi and is the 31st temple on the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, believed to have been founded in 724. A moss-covered approach leads to a graceful five-storied pagoda built entirely from hinoki cypress, alongside a 14th-century Chinese-influenced garden registered as a National Place of Scenic Beauty. The temple sits right next to the Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden, and its maple trees make it a standout autumn foliage destination.
3577 Godaisan, Kochi, 781-8125, Japan
Katsurahama Beach & Sakamoto Ryoma
2 places
Out to the Pacific headland of Katsurahama, where Sakamoto Ryoma's statue gazes over the sea, and the memorial museum tells the story of the man who helped end the samurai era. Back in town, dinner is a Tosa-cuisine feast.
Katsurahama Beach
Kochi's iconic crescent-shaped beach, famous for the Sakamoto Ryoma statue. Pine-lined shores backed by dramatic cliffs create a stunning landscape. Swimming is prohibited due to strong currents, but it's Kochi's signature view.
6 Urado, Kochi, 781-0262, Japan
The Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum
The Kochi Prefectural Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum sits on a hill above Katsurahama Park overlooking the Pacific Ocean, housing Japan's largest collection of Ryoma's personal letters. Completely renovated in 2018, it features interactive exhibits, a reconstructed model of the inn where Ryoma was assassinated, and a life-size Ryoma statue.
城山８３０ Urado, Kochi, 781-0262, Japan