Kochi in two nights and three days: Coast or valley?
Take MY Yu on day two for the museum and Katsurahama. For Nikobuchi’s water colours, choose the rental-car valley trip instead. Both routes visit Kochi Castle on the final day. Reaching the valley by bus requires separately matching Ino departures and return services.
Choose a 3 days, 2 nights itinerary
A — City, with a day for the coast and memorial museum
Stay two nights in Kochi for a day combining exhibits and a coastal walk. Visit the Ryoma memorial museum and Katsurahama on day two and the castle on the final day, leaving day one for a market meal and city walk.
A — City, with a day for the coast and memorial museum →3 days, 2 nightsB — A rental-car day at Nikobuchi
Stay two nights in Kochi and visit Nikobuchi by rental car on day two if its water colours interest you more than the coast. Walk around the city on day one and visit Kochi Castle on the final day. Budget for the car booking separately from facility fees.
B — A rental-car day at Nikobuchi →A — City, with a day for the coast and memorial museum
Stay two nights in Kochi for a day combining exhibits and a coastal walk. Visit the Ryoma memorial museum and Katsurahama on day two and the castle on the final day, leaving day one for a market meal and city walk.
Day 1 · Market meal and shopping-street walk
Stay two nights in Kochi: market and shopping street on day one, museum and coast on day two, then Kochi Castle on the final day. First check that you have time to visit the castle before leaving.
- JR Kochi Station → Hirome Market entrance
The tourism association gives a walk of about 15 minutes from JR Kochi Station to Hirome Market. By tram, get off at Ohashidori and walk about 2–3 minutes. Use the market’s official map for direct access from Obiyamachi or Ohashidori.
Official market access and walk from tram stopKochi tourism association: Station walk, communal dining and closures
- Hirome Market entrance → Market stalls and communal dining area
Check stall menus and prices, order your food and eat in the communal dining area. Market-wide hours differ from individual stall hours. If arriving late, check your chosen stall’s last-order time. On market or stall closure days, choose another open restaurant in the city.
Official market stalls and menusKochi tourism association: Station walk, communal dining and closuresMarket hours and closures
- Hirome Market → Obiyamachi shopping street
Explore Obiyamachi shopping street if you want another walk after eating. Use the market’s official access map and your accommodation address to plan the return.
Day-one food and transport between your accommodation and market are excluded from the subtotal. The castle visit is on day three, so use this day for a market meal and shopping-street walk.
Day 2 · Memorial museum first
Visit the Ryoma memorial museum and Katsurahama, then return to Kochi.
- JR Kochi Station → MY Yu boarding point at Kochi Tabihiroba
Board the MY Yu Bus inside Kochi Tabihiroba south of JR Kochi Station. Buy the ¥1,500 adult Katsurahama one-day ticket before boarding and check the day’s boarding location and services in official guidance. Regular seats are not reserved. If the bus is full, adjust your visits and return around the next service.
- MY Yu boarding point at Kochi Station → Ryoma Kinenkan-mae stop
Take a Katsurahama-bound MY Yu Bus and get off at Ryoma Kinenkan-mae. Visiting the museum in the morning helps divide your time between the exhibits and coast. Choose actual departures from the official weekday or holiday timetable.
Bus and accessibility guideApril 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2Boarding changes by date
- Ryoma Kinenkan-mae stop → Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum
Walk uphill from the stop to the museum and allow about 90 minutes for the exhibits. Adult admission is ¥500 or ¥900 depending on the exhibition that day. Walking to the museum, visiting and meals take time in addition to the bus journey.
- Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum and Ryoma Kinenkan-mae stop → Katsurahama Park
After the museum, return to Ryoma Kinenkan-mae stop and take a Katsurahama-bound MY Yu Bus. The museum and beach do not share an entrance, so allow separately for the visit and walk back to the stop. Coastal park entry is free and swimming is prohibited.
April 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2Park visitor information
- Katsurahama stop → JR Kochi Station
After the coast, take a Kochi Station-bound MY Yu Bus from Katsurahama stop. Choose the return from the official weekday or holiday timetable. The final service on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays arrives at the north-side bus terminal, separate from the south-side boarding point.
April 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2Bus and accessibility guide
Day 3 · Castle visit and departure
Visit Kochi Castle’s paid buildings, then leave. You need time to finish both sightseeing and city travel before your departure.
- Kochi-Ekimae tram stop → Kochijo-mae stop and Kochi Castle Park
Take a Harimayabashi-bound tram from Kochi-Ekimae, then change at Harimayabashi for an Ino-bound tram. Get off at Kochijo-mae and walk to the castle park. When changing with cash tickets, follow the first tram’s transfer-ticket conditions at the designated stop. From Obiyamachi or Ohashidori, compare walking directly to the park.
- Kochi Castle Park → Castle keep and Kaitokukan
Climb the park’s steps and buy your ticket at the keep and Kaitokukan entrance. These paid buildings open 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m.; admission is ¥500 for ages 18 and older. Closed December 26–January 1. Allow time to walk from the stop and climb the steps to the entrance.
Current prices and closuresKochi Castle approach, steps and slopes
- Kochi Castle → JR Kochi Station
After the castle, take a Harimayabashi-bound tram from Kochijo-mae. Change at Harimayabashi for Kochi-Ekimae and return to JR Kochi Station. If staying longer in the city, you can also walk down towards Obiyamachi and Ohashidori.
Included items: Kochi Castle ¥500 + museum ¥500/900 + MY Yu Katsurahama ticket ¥1,500
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, airport or onward travel, journeys between accommodation and boarding points, luggage storage, city trams outside the MY Yu ticket day and optional paid facilities cost extra.
The subtotal varies with the museum exhibition. Apply MY Yu facility discounts only after checking ticket and visiting-date conditions. These subtotals use regular prices before discounts.
Current prices and closuresMuseum prices and exhibitionsBus and accessibility guide
B — A rental-car day at Nikobuchi
Stay two nights in Kochi and visit Nikobuchi by rental car on day two if its water colours interest you more than the coast. Walk around the city on day one and visit Kochi Castle on the final day. Budget for the car booking separately from facility fees.
Day 1 · Market meal and city walk
Stay two nights in Kochi with a rental-car trip to Nikobuchi on day two. The memorial museum and Katsurahama are excluded. If you cannot rent a car, separately match bus or sightseeing-taxi services, reservations and return travel.
- JR Kochi Station → Hirome Market entrance
The tourism association gives a walk of about 15 minutes from JR Kochi Station to Hirome Market. By tram, get off at Ohashidori and walk about 2–3 minutes. Use the market’s official map for direct access from Obiyamachi or Ohashidori.
Official market access and walk from tram stopKochi tourism association: Station walk, communal dining and closures
- Hirome Market entrance → Market stalls and communal dining area
Check stall menus and prices, order your food and eat in the communal dining area. Market-wide hours differ from individual stall hours. If arriving late, check your chosen stall’s last-order time. On market or stall closure days, choose another open restaurant in the city.
Official market stalls and menusKochi tourism association: Station walk, communal dining and closuresMarket hours and closures
- Hirome Market → Obiyamachi shopping street
Explore Obiyamachi shopping street if you want another walk after eating. Use the market’s official access map and your accommodation address to plan the return.
Day-one food and transport between accommodation and market are excluded from the subtotal. If the castle will not fit on the final day, compare its admission deadline and closure dates with your actual arrival at the entrance to see whether it can move to day one. If timing does not work, omit the castle and keep the valley visiting day.
Day 2 · Drive to Nikobuchi’s entrance
Spend today on the vehicle trip to Nikobuchi.
- Kochi City → Marked parking spaces at Nikobuchi
The tourism council gives a drive of about 70 minutes from Kochi City to Nikobuchi. Vehicle pickup, parking and walking the trail take extra time. Set your navigation towards Green Park Hodono, then follow on-site Nikobuchi parking signs. Guidance identifies five marked parking areas and temporary spaces when they are full; do not park on unmarked roadsides. Check travel time from your actual pickup branch and parking availability and fees for your visit date.
Nikobuchi car, parking, trail and sightseeing-taxi guideCurrent location, crowd and transport links
- Marked parking spaces at Nikobuchi → Valley and the same parking area
Follow the trail down to the valley from where you parked. The first section slopes and the later section has low steps, which may be difficult in rain or poor surface conditions. Do not enter the water or eat or drink in the valley. Retrace the path to your parking area afterwards. The ¥100 per person requested at the entrance is a voluntary contribution towards environmental conservation.
Current location, crowd and transport links¥100 contribution guidanceNikobuchi car, parking, trail and sightseeing-taxi guide
- Nikobuchi parking area → Kochi City
Eat outside the valley, then drive back to Kochi City. Return your rental car to the booked branch by its deadline and follow the fuel conditions. Omit the valley if access restrictions prevent the visit that day. Switching to buses requires separately matching departures from Ino Station and return connections.
Current location, crowd and transport links¥100 contribution guidanceNikobuchi car, parking, trail and sightseeing-taxi guide
Day 3 · Kochi Castle and departure
Visit the castle before leaving. Decide whether it fits around your departure time.
- Kochi-Ekimae tram stop → Kochijo-mae stop and Kochi Castle Park
Take a Harimayabashi-bound tram from Kochi-Ekimae, then change at Harimayabashi for an Ino-bound tram. Get off at Kochijo-mae and walk to the castle park. When changing with cash tickets, follow the first tram’s transfer-ticket conditions at the designated stop. From Obiyamachi or Ohashidori, compare walking directly to the park.
- Kochi Castle Park → Castle keep and Kaitokukan
Climb the park’s steps and buy your ticket at the keep and Kaitokukan entrance. These paid buildings open 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m.; admission is ¥500 for ages 18 and older. Closed December 26–January 1. Allow time to walk from the stop and climb the steps to the entrance.
Current prices and closuresKochi Castle approach, steps and slopes
- Kochi Castle → JR Kochi Station
After the castle, take a Harimayabashi-bound tram from Kochijo-mae. Change at Harimayabashi for Kochi-Ekimae and return to JR Kochi Station. If staying longer in the city, you can also walk down towards Obiyamachi and Ohashidori.
Included items: Kochi Castle ¥500; rental car excluded
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, airport or onward travel, journeys between accommodation and boarding points, luggage storage, city trams outside the MY Yu ticket day and optional paid facilities cost extra. Car rental, insurance, fuel, tolls and parking also cost separately. Nikobuchi’s ¥100 request is voluntary and excluded from mandatory fees.
The ¥500 only counts castle admission. Add the vehicle costs required for the valley return trip according to your booking terms; this is not a total trip budget.
Checks before departure and on the day, plus FAQs
Does the Nikobuchi vehicle route’s ¥500 include the rental car?
The ¥500 only covers Kochi Castle admission. Rental car, insurance, fuel, tolls and parking cost extra. Nikobuchi’s ¥100 contribution request is also excluded from mandatory admission. Without a rental car, check bus services from Ino and return connections separately.
Current prices and closures¥100 contribution guidanceNikobuchi car, parking, trail and sightseeing-taxi guide
Official sources and check dates
- Boarding changes by date ·
- Current prices and closures ·
- Check tram routes ·
- Market hours and closures ·
- Park visitor information ·
- Museum prices and exhibitions ·
- Bus and accessibility guide ·
- Nikobuchi car, parking, trail and sightseeing-taxi guide ·
- Current location, crowd and transport links ·
- ¥100 contribution guidance ·
- October-revised weekday timetable ·
- Weekend and public-holiday timetable ·
- April 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2 ·
- Tram transfer guide ·
- Check JR services ·
- Official market access and walk from tram stop ·
- Official market stalls and menus ·
- Kochi tourism association: Station walk, communal dining and closures ·
- Kochi Castle approach, steps and slopes ·