Kochi travel: Where should I stay and what should I see?

Around Obiyamachi and Ohashidori

Kochi Prefecture · 高知県

Stay around Obiyamachi and Ohashidori for walks to Kochi Castle and Hirome Market. Harimayabashi is convenient for changing between the city’s north–south and east–west tram lines. Check the distance from the market using your accommodation address.

Market hours and closures2026-10-08Check tram routes2026-10-08Tram transfer guide2026-10-08

Around JR Kochi Station · 高知駅

The JR Kochi Station area suits trips connecting to trains for other cities and the MY Yu Bus. The bus normally boards inside Kochi Tabihiroba south of the station. Check official guidance for event-related boarding changes.

Check JR services2026-10-08Bus and accessibility guide2026-10-08Boarding changes by date2026-10-08

Stay in Ino, near JR Ino Station · 伊野駅

If staying in Ino to visit Nikobuchi, plan the bus or vehicle journey from Ino Station to the valley too. You still need to travel into the mountains, so accommodation near the station does not put the valley within a short walk.

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

City walk from Kochi Castle down to the market

Combine the castle interior with a meal at Hirome Market afterwards. Check the steps to the keep and market stall hours together. Distinguish a park walk from paid building admission.

Current prices and closures2026-10-08Kochi Castle approach, steps 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 for time among plants and in the greenhouse. MY Yu reaches both, but the four-night/five-day A route visits them on different days. Swimming at Katsurahama Beach is prohibited.

Park visitor information2026-10-08Garden visitor and access guide2026-10-08Bus and accessibility guide2026-10-08

The valley requires onward travel from Ino Station

Take the valley bus from Ino Station to Hodono Iriguchi, then walk about 2 km to Nikobuchi. First choose the return bus and allow time to walk back to its stop. Japanese Paper Museum in Ino is about a 10-minute walk from the station and can be planned separately from the valley.

Ino tourism association bus guide2026-10-08Current location, crowd and transport links2026-10-08Museum prices, hours and access from JR Ino Station2026-10-08

Airport buses use the north side; MY Yu normally uses the south

Use an airport shuttle bus from Kochi Ryoma Airport · 高知龍馬空港 to the city. At Kochi Station, it arrives at the north-side bus terminal. For MY Yu, walk to the boarding point inside Kochi Tabihiroba south of the station. Tosaden lists north-side bay 6 for airport-bound departures. Check services and arrival notices for your travel date, and add airport bus fares separately to route subtotals.

Tosaden airport bus boarding and alighting locations2026-10-09Tosaden airport bus timetable guide2026-10-09Bus and accessibility guide2026-10-08

Change trams at Harimayabashi for Kochi Castle

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

Check tram routes2026-10-08Tram transfer guide2026-10-08Kochi Castle approach, steps and slopes2026-10-08

Walk to the market or get off at Ohashidori

The tourism association gives about a 15-minute walk from JR Kochi Station to Hirome Market. By tram, get off at Ohashidori and walk about 2–3 minutes. Tram waits and travel from your accommodation take extra time.

Official market access and walk from tram stop2026-10-08Kochi tourism association: Station walk, communal dining and closures2026-10-08

MY Yu normally boards south of Kochi Station

MY Yu normally leaves from inside Kochi Tabihiroba south of the station. It runs via Godaisan towards the garden, Ryoma memorial museum and Katsurahama, unlike the direct regular Katsurahama bus. Check official guidance for event-related boarding changes and your date’s timetable.

Bus and accessibility guide2026-10-08Boarding changes by date2026-10-08April 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 22026-10-08

Order at individual Hirome Market stalls

Choose food from several stalls, each with its own prices and hours. Check your chosen stall’s menu for bonito dishes. The Kochi food and restaurant guide below also lists places to eat.

Official market stalls and menus2026-10-08Kochi tourism association: Station walk, communal dining and closures2026-10-08

Separate JR and city transport for onward journeys

Use the transport guide for your next city. If considering the All Shikoku Pass, check eligibility, included lines and excluded transport in official guidance. Ino-stay routes distinguish JR between Kochi and Ino from valley buses. Budget separately for the ¥2,860 return buses between Ino Station and Hodono Iriguchi, then compare regular rail fares with the pass.

Check JR services2026-10-08Official All Shikoku Pass guide2026-10-08All Shikoku Rail Pass terms, October 1, 20262026-10-09Current linked fare table2026-10-08

Katsuo tataki: Lightly seared bonito

The fish’s surface is briefly seared over high heat. It may be served with garlic, green onions and yuzu ponzu, or seasoned with salt as shio tataki. Seasonings and accompaniments vary by stall, so check the menu.

Kochi tourism guide to katsuo tataki2026-10-09

Keep your city base and visit by rental car

The official tourism council guide gives about a 70-minute drive from Kochi City to Nikobuchi. Parking waits and walking to the valley take extra time. Check marked parking and access notices for your date. Car rental, fuel and parking are excluded from the route’s facility-fee total.

Nikobuchi car, parking, trail and sightseeing-taxi guide2026-10-08Current location, crowd and transport links2026-10-08

Stay in Ino and take the valley bus

Take the valley bus from Ino Station to Hodono Iriguchi and continue on foot. Compare the three-night/four-day B route’s one night in Ino with the four-night/five-day B route’s two nights. The Paper Museum’s planned renovation closure November 16, 2026–March 31, 2027 excludes visits during that period.

Ino tourism association bus guide2026-10-08Current location, crowd and transport links2026-10-08Extended temporary closure notice2026-10-08

Nikobuchi’s water and surrounding trees

The official camera shows the waterfall, pool and surrounding trees. See how sunlight and shade affect the water’s colour. Light and weather during your actual visit may differ from the camera-viewing time. Check visitor guidance and transport notices for trail access and bus services on your date.

Ino tourism association’s official Nikobuchi camera2026-10-09Current location, crowd and transport links2026-10-08