SHIKOKU · PREFECTURE GUIDE

Kochi

For travelers drawn to rivers, markets and rugged coast.

BASEKochiIDEAL STAY3–5 daysPRIMARY GATEWAYKochi Ryoma Airport (KCZ)

STARTER ROUTE · 3 DAYS

DAY 01

Kochi City

Base plan: Kochi City for markets; Shimanto for river landscapes. Explore Kochi City on foot, then order katsuo no tataki, sawachi cuisine and yuzu for your first regional dinner.

DAY 02

Shimanto River

Start early for Shimanto River. Keep the afternoon flexible for a local workshop or food stop, and look for Tosa knives, paper and yuzu.

DAY 03

Cape Muroto

Use the final day for Cape Muroto. Check the last return connection before departure and send large luggage ahead when buses are involved.

HOW TO ARRIVE

Airport buses connect Kochi Ryoma Airport with Kochi Station and Harimayabashi. The Shimanto area needs JR plus local transport.

EAT THIS

katsuo no tataki, sawachi cuisine and yuzu

WHEN TO GO

March–May and October–November; August for Yosakoi

WHERE TO BASE

Kochi City for markets; Shimanto for river landscapes

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Make the route
work in real life.

A simple decision layer for first-time visitors: how long to stay, whether a car helps, what to reserve and what to do when the weather changes.

TIME3–5 days

CARRecommended

NEXT STOPEhime or Tokushima.

ROUTE LOGIC

Move in one direction

Use Kochi City for market and food, then choose either Shimanto west or Muroto east.

GETTING AROUND

Know the final leg

JR covers the center; the long coastline is slow without a car.

BOOK AHEAD

Protect the hard parts

River activities, rural stays and festival-period rooms.

BAD-WEATHER PLAN

Keep one useful fallback

Hirome Market, museums and Tosa paper/knife workshops.

ARRIVE

Kochi Ryoma Airport (KCZ)

Airport buses connect Kochi Ryoma Airport with Kochi Station and Harimayabashi. The Shimanto area needs JR plus local transport.

MOVE

Rail + local connection

IC cards cover many urban trips; regional buses and rural lines may need cash or a separate ticket.

PACK

Travel one bag lighter

Use hotel-to-hotel luggage delivery when your route includes stairs, small trains or buses.

Find a longer itinerary ↗Set budget & booking order ↗Plan what to buy ↗Check travel basics ↗