Three nights in Kochi, Japan: stay in the city or spend one night in Ino?
Keep a central Kochi base and visit the coast and valley on different days, or spend two nights in Kochi before moving to Ino for one night and taking the valley bus. The Ino option connects a JR train with the valley bus on the moving day. For a less rushed move, compare the four-night itinerary with two nights in Ino.
Choose an itinerary for 4 days / 3 nights
A: city, coast and gorge on separate days
Spend three nights at one Kochi base, visiting the coast and valley on different days. Visit the Ryoma museum and Katsurahama on day two, drive to Nikobuchi on day three and see the castle on the final day.
A: city, coast and gorge on separate days →4 days / 3 nightsB: one night in Ino
For Nikobuchi without a car, spend two nights in Kochi followed by one in Ino. Move after the coastal day and take the valley bus. Choose this option only if an early JR train connects with the bus.
B: one night in Ino →A: city, coast and gorge on separate days
Spend three nights at one Kochi base, visiting the coast and valley on different days. Visit the Ryoma museum and Katsurahama on day two, drive to Nikobuchi on day three and see the castle on the final day.
Day one: city meal
Stay three nights in Kochi. Take the bus to the museum and coast on day two, then drive to Nikobuchi on day three. Add the final-day castle only if your departure time allows.
- JR Kochi Station → Hirome Market entrance
The tourism guide lists the walk from JR Kochi Station to Hirome Market as about 15 minutes. By tram, get off at Ohashidori and walk about two to three minutes. The market's official map also shows access from Obiyamachi and Ohashidori.
Official market access and stop walksKochi tourism station walk, shared dining and closures
- Hirome Market entrance → Market shops and shared dining seats
Choose dishes from individual shops' menus and eat in the shared dining area. Shop hours differ from the market's overall hours. For a late arrival, check last orders at your chosen shop. On market closure days, choose another open city restaurant.
Official market shops and menusKochi tourism station walk, shared dining and closuresMarket hours and closures
- Hirome Market → Obiyamachi shopping street
For more walking after eating, explore Obiyamachi. Plan your accommodation return using the market's official access map and your address together.
Day-one meals and transport between accommodation and the market cost extra. If the final-day castle visit does not fit, check whether you can reach its entrance before last admission on arrival day, allowing for closures. Otherwise, omit the castle and keep the coast and valley on their planned dates.
Day two: Ryoma museum and coast
Visit the museum first, then the coast. Leave time to return to the bus stop after viewing.
- JR Kochi Station → Kochi Tabihiroba MY-YU boarding point
Board MY-YU at Kochi Tabihiroba, south of JR Kochi Station. Buy an adult JPY 1,500 Katsurahama day ticket beforehand and check today's boarding point and services. General seats are unreserved; if the bus is full, adjust your sightseeing and return plans around the next service.
Bus and accessibility guidanceDated boarding-point change notices
- Kochi Station MY-YU boarding point → Ryoma Kinenkan-mae stop
Take Katsurahama-bound MY-YU to Ryoma Kinenkan-mae. Compare morning services and the next bus in the official timetable for onward coastal travel after viewing.
Bus and accessibility guidanceApril 2026–March 2027 timetable, page twoDated boarding-point change notices
- Ryoma Kinenkan-mae stop → Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum
Walk uphill from the stop and allow about 90 minutes inside. Adult admission is JPY 500 or JPY 900, depending on the day's exhibition. Allow time for walking, viewing and meals in addition to bus travel.
- Ryoma museum and Ryoma Kinenkan-mae stop → Katsurahama Park
After the museum, return to Ryoma Kinenkan-mae and take MY-YU towards Katsurahama. The museum and beach have different entrances; allow separate time for viewing and walking to the stop. Coastal park entry is free and swimming is prohibited.
- Katsurahama stop → JR Kochi Station
After exploring the coast, return from Katsurahama on a Kochi-bound MY-YU bus. Use the weekday or holiday timetable for your date. The last service on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays reaches the north bus terminal, rather than the south-side boarding point.
April 2026–March 2027 timetable, page twoBus and accessibility guidance
Day three: Nikobuchi by car
Visit the gorge by car and return to Kochi.
- Kochi city → Marked Nikobuchi parking areas
The tourism guide lists about 70 minutes by car from Kochi to Nikobuchi. Allow extra time for collection, parking, walking and viewing. Set navigation to Green Park Hodono, as advised in the official guide, and follow the Nikobuchi parking signs. Check parking fees and availability for your date.
Nikobuchi driving, parking, trails and sightseeing taxisCurrent location, crowding and transport links
- Nikobuchi parking area → Gorge and the same parking area
Descend the trail from your parking area, allowing for slopes and steps. Do not enter the water or eat or drink in the gorge. Return by the same path and eat outside the gorge. Check access notices for your date; water colours vary with rain, light and water levels.
- Marked Nikobuchi parking areas → Kochi city
Eat outside the gorge, then drive back to Kochi. Return the hire car to the booked location before its deadline, following refuelling conditions. Omit the gorge if dated access restrictions prevent visiting. Bus travel requires separate connections from Ino and back.
Nikobuchi driving, parking, trails and sightseeing taxisCurrent location, crowding and transport links
Day four: Kochi Castle and departure
Visit the paid castle buildings before departure only with time for viewing and later transport.
- Kochi-Ekimae tram stop → Kochijo-mae stop and castle park
Take a Harimayabashi-bound tram from Kochi-Ekimae and change at Harimayabashi towards Ino. Alight at Kochijo-mae and walk to the park. For cash transfers, follow first-tram transfer-ticket conditions at designated stops. From Obiyamachi or Ohashidori, compare walking directly to the park.
- Kochi Castle park → Keep and Kaitokukan
Climb the park steps and buy admission at the keep and Kaitokukan entrance. The paid buildings open 09:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:30. Admission is JPY 500 for visitors aged 18 and over. Closed 26 December–1 January. Allow time for the walk and stairs from the tram stop.
Current fees and closuresKochi Castle ascent, stairs and slopes
- Kochi Castle → JR Kochi Station
After the castle, take a Harimayabashi-bound tram from Kochijo-mae and change towards Kochi-Ekimae for JR Kochi. For more city time, you can walk down towards Obiyamachi or Ohashidori instead.
Included items: Castle JPY 500 + museum JPY 500/900 + MY-YU Katsurahama ticket JPY 1,500
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, airport or intercity travel, travel between accommodation and boarding points, luggage storage, city trams outside the MY-YU day and optional paid facilities are extra. Hire, insurance, fuel, tolls and parking are extra. Nikobuchi's voluntary JPY 100 contribution is not included as a mandatory fee.
Museum exhibitions change subtotals; car costs are excluded. Nikobuchi's JPY 100 is a voluntary environmental contribution.
Current fees and closuresMuseum fees and exhibitionsBus and accessibility guidanceJPY 100 voluntary contribution guidance
B: one night in Ino
For Nikobuchi without a car, spend two nights in Kochi followed by one in Ino. Move after the coastal day and take the valley bus. Choose this option only if an early JR train connects with the bus.
Day one: Kochi city
Stay two nights in Kochi then one in Ino. To visit the gorge on moving day, connect an early train and bus. For less rushing, compare two Ino nights dividing the days.
- JR Kochi Station → Hirome Market entrance
The tourism guide lists the walk from JR Kochi Station to Hirome Market as about 15 minutes. By tram, get off at Ohashidori and walk about two to three minutes. The market's official map also shows access from Obiyamachi and Ohashidori.
Official market access and stop walksKochi tourism station walk, shared dining and closures
- Hirome Market entrance → Market shops and shared dining seats
Choose dishes from individual shops' menus and eat in the shared dining area. Shop hours differ from the market's overall hours. For a late arrival, check last orders at your chosen shop. On market closure days, choose another open city restaurant.
Official market shops and menusKochi tourism station walk, shared dining and closuresMarket hours and closures
- Hirome Market → Obiyamachi shopping street
For more walking after eating, explore Obiyamachi. Plan your accommodation return using the market's official access map and your address together.
Day-one meals and transport between accommodation and the market cost extra. If the final-day castle visit does not fit, check whether you can reach its entrance before last admission on arrival day, allowing for closures. Otherwise, omit the castle and keep the coast and valley on their planned dates.
Day two: museum then coast
Visit the museum and coast, then return to Kochi. Move to Ino tomorrow.
- JR Kochi Station → Kochi Tabihiroba MY-YU boarding point
Board MY-YU at Kochi Tabihiroba, south of JR Kochi Station. Buy an adult JPY 1,500 Katsurahama day ticket beforehand and check today's boarding point and services. General seats are unreserved; if the bus is full, adjust your sightseeing and return plans around the next service.
Bus and accessibility guidanceDated boarding-point change notices
- Kochi Station MY-YU boarding point → Ryoma Kinenkan-mae stop
Take Katsurahama-bound MY-YU to Ryoma Kinenkan-mae. Compare morning services and the next bus in the official timetable for onward coastal travel after viewing.
Bus and accessibility guidanceApril 2026–March 2027 timetable, page twoDated boarding-point change notices
- Ryoma Kinenkan-mae stop → Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum
Walk uphill from the stop and allow about 90 minutes inside. Adult admission is JPY 500 or JPY 900, depending on the day's exhibition. Allow time for walking, viewing and meals in addition to bus travel.
- Ryoma museum and Ryoma Kinenkan-mae stop → Katsurahama Park
After the museum, return to Ryoma Kinenkan-mae and take MY-YU towards Katsurahama. The museum and beach have different entrances; allow separate time for viewing and walking to the stop. Coastal park entry is free and swimming is prohibited.
- Katsurahama stop → JR Kochi Station
After exploring the coast, return from Katsurahama on a Kochi-bound MY-YU bus. Use the weekday or holiday timetable for your date. The last service on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays reaches the north bus terminal, rather than the south-side boarding point.
April 2026–March 2027 timetable, page twoBus and accessibility guidance
Day three: move to Ino and bus to Nikobuchi
Move to Ino by JR, then take the bus and walk to the gorge. If the train and bus do not connect, compare two nights in Ino to separate the days.
- JR Kochi Station → JR Ino Station
Take a Dosan Line train from JR Kochi Station that stops at Ino. To visit the gorge that day, compare JR departures with the weekday or holiday bus timetable for your date and choose an early train that connects.
- Ino Station bus stop → Hodono-Iriguchi bus stop
From Ino, take a Hodono-Iriguchi · 程野入口 or Nagasawa · 長沢-bound bus and alight at Hodono-Iriguchi. Adult fares are JPY 1,430 one way or JPY 2,860 return. Choose dated outward and Ino-bound return services from the operator's timetable first.
Ino tourism bus guideOctober revised weekday tableWeekend/public-holiday tableCurrent linked fare table
- Hodono-Iriguchi bus stop → Nikobuchi
Walk about 2 km from Hodono-Iriguchi to Nikobuchi, around 30 minutes one way. The trail down to the gorge has slopes and steps. Do not enter the water or eat or drink there. Allow time for the return walk and bus wait.
Ino tourism bus guideNikobuchi driving, parking, trails and sightseeing taxis
- Nikobuchi → The same Hodono-Iriguchi stop
Retrace the route to Hodono-Iriguchi. Tourism guidance gives about 30 minutes for the return walk. Consider surface conditions and your pace to reach the chosen bus early; identify the Ino-bound boarding position.
- Hodono-Iriguchi bus stop → Ino Station bus stop
Take an Ino-bound bus from Hodono-Iriguchi to Ino Station. Use the weekday, weekend or public-holiday timetable for your date. JPY 2,860 covers the two bus rides between the station and Hodono-Iriguchi; transport to accommodation costs extra.
October revised weekday tableWeekend/public-holiday tableReturn stop timetableCurrent linked fare table
Allow time after arriving in Ino to reach the valley bus stop. If leaving luggage at accommodation, confirm storage availability and allow time for that stop. If the train and bus do not connect, omit today's gorge visit or compare four-night option B, which separates the move and valley outing.
Day four: return to Kochi for the castle
Return from Ino to Kochi before departure. Check whether train arrival leaves castle time.
- JR Ino Station → JR Kochi Station
Take a Kochi-bound train from JR Ino Station. Check its arrival time and your onward departure for the travel date. If the castle visit and city transport will not fit, omit the castle and continue to your departure point.
- Kochi-Ekimae tram stop → Kochijo-mae stop and castle park
Take a Harimayabashi-bound tram from Kochi-Ekimae and change at Harimayabashi towards Ino. Alight at Kochijo-mae and walk to the park. For cash transfers, follow first-tram transfer-ticket conditions at designated stops. From Obiyamachi or Ohashidori, compare walking directly to the park.
- Kochi Castle park → Keep and Kaitokukan
Climb the park steps and buy admission at the keep and Kaitokukan entrance. The paid buildings open 09:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:30. Admission is JPY 500 for visitors aged 18 and over. Closed 26 December–1 January. Allow time for the walk and stairs from the tram stop.
Current fees and closuresKochi Castle ascent, stairs and slopes
- Kochi Castle → JR Kochi Station
After the castle, take a Harimayabashi-bound tram from Kochijo-mae and change towards Kochi-Ekimae for JR Kochi. For more city time, you can walk down towards Obiyamachi or Ohashidori instead.
Included items: Castle JPY 500 + museum JPY 500/900 + MY-YU Katsurahama JPY 1,500 + return gorge buses JPY 2,860
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, airport or intercity travel, travel between accommodation and boarding points, luggage storage, city trams outside the MY-YU day and optional paid facilities are extra. Return JR Kochi–Ino is extra. Nikobuchi's voluntary JPY 100 contribution is not included as a mandatory fee.
Return JR Kochi–Ino costs extra. For a car instead of gorge buses, subtract JPY 2,860 return buses and add actual vehicle-contract costs.
Current fees and closuresMuseum fees and exhibitionsBus and accessibility guidanceCurrent linked fare tableJPY 100 voluntary contribution guidance
Before departure, on the day and FAQs
Can I visit Nikobuchi on the day I move to Ino?
Yes, if an early JR train gets you to Ino in time for the valley bus. Compare the train and bus timetables for weekdays or holidays on your date. If they do not connect, omit the valley that day or compare four-night option B, which separates the move and valley outing.
JR operationsOctober revised weekday tableWeekend/public-holiday tableJR Kochi departures, revised 14 March 2026
Official sources and check dates
- Dated boarding-point change notices ·
- Current fees and closures ·
- Check tram routes ·
- Market hours and closures ·
- Park operation ·
- Museum fees and exhibitions ·
- Bus and accessibility guidance ·
- Nikobuchi driving, parking, trails and sightseeing taxis ·
- Ino tourism bus guide ·
- Current location, crowding and transport links ·
- JPY 100 voluntary contribution guidance ·
- October revised weekday table ·
- Weekend/public-holiday table ·
- Return stop timetable ·
- Current linked fare table ·
- April 2026–March 2027 timetable, page two ·
- Tram transfers ·
- JR operations ·
- Official market access and stop walks ·
- Official market shops and menus ·
- Kochi tourism station walk, shared dining and closures ·
- Kochi Castle ascent, stairs and slopes ·
- All Shikoku Rail Pass terms, 1 October 2026 ·
- JR Kochi departures, revised 14 March 2026 ·