Where should you stay and what should you see in Kochi, Japan?

Near Obiyamachi and Ohashidori

Kochi · 高知県

Obiyamachi and Ohashidori suit walks to Kochi Castle and Hirome Market. Harimayabashi is convenient for changing between the north–south and east–west trams. Check the walk from the market using your accommodation's actual address.

Market hours and closures2026-10-08Check tram routes2026-10-08Tram transfers2026-10-08

Near JR Kochi Station · 高知駅

Stay near JR Kochi Station for intercity trains and MY-YU connections. MY-YU usually departs from Kochi Tabihiroba on the south side; check official notices for event-related stop changes.

JR operations2026-10-08Bus and accessibility guidance2026-10-08Dated boarding-point change notices2026-10-08

Ino stay near JR Ino Station · 伊野駅

Staying near Ino Station still requires a bus or car journey to Nikobuchi. The gorge is farther into the mountains and is not within walking distance of the station area.

Ino tourism bus guide2026-10-08Current location, crowding and transport links2026-10-08

Walk from Kochi Castle down to the market

Visit the castle interior, then have a meal at Hirome Market. Check the stairs up to the keep and your chosen market shops' opening hours. Walking through the castle park is separate from entering the paid buildings.

Current fees and closures2026-10-08Kochi Castle ascent, stairs and slopes2026-10-08Market hours and closures2026-10-08

Katsurahama for the coast, Godaisan for the botanical garden

Choose Katsurahama Park for coastal scenery or Makino Botanical Garden to explore plants and the greenhouse. MY-YU serves both, but the four-night option A visits them on different days. Swimming is prohibited at Katsurahama Beach.

Park operation2026-10-08Garden visiting and access2026-10-08Bus and accessibility guidance2026-10-08

Continue from Ino Station into the valley

Take the valley bus from Ino Station, get off at Hodono-Iriguchi and walk about 2 km to Nikobuchi. Choose the return bus and allow time to walk back to its stop. Ino Paper Museum is about a ten-minute walk from the station, so plan it separately from the valley outing.

Ino tourism bus guide2026-10-08Current location, crowding and transport links2026-10-08Museum fees, operation and JR Ino access2026-10-08

Airport buses use the north side; MY-YU usually uses the south

Use an airport shuttle to reach the city from Kochi Ryoma Airport · 高知龍馬空港. At Kochi Station, it arrives at the north bus terminal; walk to Kochi Tabihiroba on the south side for MY-YU. Tosaden lists stand 6 on the north side for airport-bound departures. Check the timetable and arrival notices for your date, and add the airport fare to the itinerary subtotal.

Tosaden airport-bus boarding and alighting points2026-10-09Tosaden airport-bus timetable guidance2026-10-09Bus and accessibility guidance2026-10-08

Change trams at Harimayabashi for Kochi Castle

Take a southbound tram from Kochi-Ekimae to Harimayabashi, then change to an Ino-bound tram and get off at Kochijo-mae. Walk uphill from the stop through the castle park to the keep.

Check tram routes2026-10-08Tram transfers2026-10-08Kochi Castle ascent, stairs and slopes2026-10-08

Walk to the market or get off at Ohashidori

The tourism association lists Hirome Market as about a 15-minute walk from JR Kochi Station. By tram, get off at Ohashidori and walk about two to three minutes. Allow extra time for tram waits and the journey from your accommodation.

Official market access and stop walks2026-10-08Kochi tourism station walk, shared dining and closures2026-10-08

MY-YU usually departs south of Kochi Station

MY-YU usually leaves from Kochi Tabihiroba on the south side of the station. It runs via Godaisan towards the botanical garden, Ryoma museum and Katsurahama; distinguish it from the direct regular bus to Katsurahama. Check official notices for event-related stop changes and your travel date's timetable.

Bus and accessibility guidance2026-10-08Dated boarding-point change notices2026-10-08April 2026–March 2027 timetable, page two2026-10-08

Order from individual shops at Hirome Market

Choose food from different shops, each with its own prices and hours. Check the shop's menu for bonito dishes. You can also browse the Kochi food and restaurant guide below.

Official market shops and menus2026-10-08Kochi tourism station walk, shared dining and closures2026-10-08

Compare onward JR travel separately from local transport

Browse the transport guide for travel to another city. If considering the All Shikoku Rail Pass, check eligibility, covered routes and exclusions in the official terms. For an Ino stay, distinguish the JR Kochi–Ino journey from the valley bus. Budget JPY 2,860 separately for the Ino Station–Hodono-Iriguchi return bus trip, then compare ordinary rail tickets with the pass price.

JR operations2026-10-08Official All Shikoku Rail Pass information2026-10-08All Shikoku Rail Pass terms, 1 October 20262026-10-09Current linked fare table2026-10-08

Bonito tataki, lightly seared on the outside

The surface of the bonito is briefly seared over high heat. It may be served with garlic, spring onion and yuzu ponzu, or seasoned with salt as shio tataki. Seasonings and accompaniments vary, so check the menu.

Official Kochi bonito tataki guide2026-10-09

Keep your city base and hire a car for the day

The official tourism council lists the drive from Kochi city to Nikobuchi as about 70 minutes. Allow extra time for parking waits and the walk into the gorge, and check marked parking areas and access notices for your date. Car hire, fuel and parking are excluded from the itinerary's attraction subtotal.

Nikobuchi driving, parking, trails and sightseeing taxis2026-10-08Current location, crowding and transport links2026-10-08

Stay in Ino and take the valley bus

Take the valley bus from Ino Station, get off at Hodono-Iriguchi and continue on foot. Compare three-night option B with one night in Ino and four-night option B with two. The paper museum is scheduled to close for refurbishment from 16 November 2026 to 31 March 2027; leave it out during this period.

Ino tourism bus guide2026-10-08Current location, crowding and transport links2026-10-08Long temporary closure notice2026-10-08

Nikobuchi's water and surrounding trees

The official camera shows the waterfall, pool and surrounding trees. Watch how sunlight and shade change the water's colour. Light and weather may differ when you visit. Check visitor information and transport notices for trail access and bus services on your date.

Official Ino tourism Nikobuchi camera2026-10-09Current location, crowding and transport links2026-10-08