Kochi in 4 days: stay in the city or spend a night in Ino?
Stay in Kochi city throughout and visit the coast and gorge on separate days, or stay two nights in Kochi and move to Ino for one night with a gorge-bus trip. The latter connects JR and the gorge bus on moving day. For less rushing, compare the 5-day itinerary with two nights in Ino.
Choose a 4 days / 3 nights itinerary
A: separate days for city, coast and gorge
Stay three nights at one Kochi hotel to see both the coast and gorge on separate days. Visit the Ryoma museum and Katsurahama on day two, drive to Nikobuchi on day three, and visit the castle on the final day.
A: separate days for city, coast and gorge →4 days / 3 nightsB: one night in Ino
To visit Nikobuchi without a car, stay two nights in Kochi followed by one in Ino. Move to Ino and take the gorge bus on the day after your coastal visit. Choose this itinerary only if an early JR train connects with the bus.
B: one night in Ino →A: separate days for city, coast and gorge
Stay three nights at one Kochi hotel to see both the coast and gorge on separate days. Visit the Ryoma museum and Katsurahama on day two, drive to Nikobuchi on day three, and visit the castle on the final day.
Day 1: a meal in the city
Stay three nights in Kochi, with a bus trip to the museum and coast on day two and a car trip to Nikobuchi on day three. Include the final-day castle visit only if your departure time allows.
- JR Kochi Station → Hirome Market entrance
The tourism association gives a walking estimate of about 15 minutes from JR Kochi Station to Hirome Market. By tram, get off at Ohashidori and walk about 2–3 minutes to the market. The market’s official map also shows approaches from Obiyamachi and Ohashidori.
Market official access and walk from the tram stopKochi Tourism Association: station walk, shared dining and closures
- Hirome Market entrance → Market stalls and shared dining seats
Check menus and prices at the stalls, order your food and eat in the shared seating area. The market building and individual stalls have different opening hours. If arriving late, check your chosen stall’s last orders. If the market or stall is closed, choose another restaurant open in the city.
Market official stalls and menusKochi Tourism Association: station walk, shared dining and closuresMarket opening hours and closures
- Hirome Market → Obiyamachi shopping street
For a walk after your meal, explore Obiyamachi’s shopping street. Use the market’s official access map and your hotel address to plan the journey back.
Day-one food and hotel-to-market transport are excluded from the subtotal. If a final-day castle visit will not fit, check last admission and closed days against your actual arrival at the entrance to see whether day one works instead. If it does not, omit the castle and keep the coast and gorge visit days.
Day 2: Ryoma museum and coast
Visit the Ryoma museum first, then continue to the coast. Leave time to walk back to the bus stop after the exhibitions.
- JR Kochi Station → Kochi Tabihiroba MY Yu boarding point
Board the MY Yu Bus at Kochi Tabihiroba on the south side of JR Kochi Station. Buy the ¥1,500 adult Katsurahama one-day ticket before boarding and check official information for that day’s boarding point and service. Ordinary seats cannot be reserved. If the bus is full, adjust your onward connections, sightseeing and return times.
- Kochi Station MY Yu boarding point → Ryoma-Kinenkan-Mae stop
Take a Katsurahama-bound MY Yu Bus and get off at Ryoma-Kinenkan-Mae. Check a morning departure and onward bus together in the official timetable so that you can continue to the coast after the museum.
Buses and accessibilityApril 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2Boarding-point 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 exhibitions. Adult admission costs ¥500 or ¥900, depending on the exhibition that day. The bus journey does not include the walk to the museum, sightseeing or meals.
- Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum and Ryoma-Kinenkan-Mae stop → Katsurahama Park
After the museum visit, return to Ryoma-Kinenkan-Mae stop and take a Katsurahama-bound MY Yu Bus. The museum and beach have separate entrances, so allow time for sightseeing and the walk back to the stop. The coastal park is free to enter, and swimming is prohibited.
April 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2Park visitor information
- Katsurahama bus stop → JR Kochi Station
After the coastal visit, take a Kochi Station-bound MY Yu Bus from Katsurahama stop. Choose the appropriate weekday or holiday return service in the official timetable. The final return on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays arrives at the station’s north-side bus terminal, rather than the south-side boarding point.
April 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2Buses and accessibility
Day 3: Nikobuchi by car
Visit the gorge by car, then return to Kochi.
- Kochi city → Signposted parking spaces at Nikobuchi
The tourism council gives about 70 minutes by car from Kochi city to Nikobuchi. Allow extra time for car collection, parking, the walking path and sightseeing. Set your navigation to Green Park Hodono as advised officially, then follow Nikobuchi signs to marked parking spaces. Check local information for parking fees and availability on your date.
Nikobuchi driving, parking, paths and sightseeing taxisCurrent visitor information, crowding and transport links
- Nikobuchi parking area → The gorge and the same parking area
From your parking space, follow the sloping path and steps down to the gorge. Do not enter the water or eat and drink there, and return along the same path. Eat outside the gorge. Check access for your date and remember that rain, light and water levels can change the water’s colour.
- Signposted parking spaces at Nikobuchi → Kochi city
Eat outside the gorge, then drive back to Kochi city. Return the car according to your booked branch, deadline and refuelling conditions. If access restrictions prevent the visit, omit the gorge. Switching to buses requires separately planned outward and return connections from Ino Station.
Nikobuchi driving, parking, paths and sightseeing taxisCurrent visitor information, crowding and transport links
Day 4: Kochi Castle and departure
Visit Kochi Castle’s paid buildings before departure only if you have time for sightseeing and the onward journey.
- Kochi-Ekimae tram stop → Kochijo-Mae stop and Kochi Castle Park
From Kochi-Ekimae, take a tram towards Harimayabashi and change there to an Ino-bound tram. Get off at Kochijo-Mae and walk to the castle park. When paying cash, obtain and use the transfer ticket according to the conditions on your first tram and at the designated transfer stops. From Obiyamachi or Ohashidori, you can also consider walking directly to the park.
- Kochi Castle Park → Castle keep and Kaitokukan
Climb the park steps and buy a ticket at the entrance to the keep and Kaitokukan. The paid buildings open 09:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:30. Admission costs ¥500 for visitors aged 18 and over. They close from 26 December to 1 January. Allow time to walk from the tram stop and climb to the entrance.
Current admission and closuresKochi Castle approaches, steps and slopes
- Kochi Castle → JR Kochi Station
After the castle visit, take a Harimayabashi-bound tram from Kochijo-Mae. At Harimayabashi, change towards Kochi-Ekimae to return to JR Kochi Station. If staying 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, transport between your hotel and boarding points, luggage storage, city trams on days without MY Yu use and optional paid facilities cost extra. Car hire, insurance, fuel, tolls and parking also cost extra. Nikobuchi’s ¥100 contribution is voluntary and is not included as a required fee.
The subtotal varies by museum exhibition and excludes vehicle costs. Nikobuchi’s ¥100 request is a voluntary environmental conservation contribution.
Current admission and closuresMuseum admission and exhibitionsBuses and accessibility¥100 voluntary contribution information
B: one night in Ino
To visit Nikobuchi without a car, stay two nights in Kochi followed by one in Ino. Move to Ino and take the gorge bus on the day after your coastal visit. Choose this itinerary only if an early JR train connects with the bus.
Day 1: Kochi city
Stay two nights in Kochi, then move to Ino for one night. To visit the gorge on the moving day, connect an early JR train with the bus. If you prefer less rushing, compare the itinerary with two nights in Ino and separate days for travel and the gorge.
- JR Kochi Station → Hirome Market entrance
The tourism association gives a walking estimate of about 15 minutes from JR Kochi Station to Hirome Market. By tram, get off at Ohashidori and walk about 2–3 minutes to the market. The market’s official map also shows approaches from Obiyamachi and Ohashidori.
Market official access and walk from the tram stopKochi Tourism Association: station walk, shared dining and closures
- Hirome Market entrance → Market stalls and shared dining seats
Check menus and prices at the stalls, order your food and eat in the shared seating area. The market building and individual stalls have different opening hours. If arriving late, check your chosen stall’s last orders. If the market or stall is closed, choose another restaurant open in the city.
Market official stalls and menusKochi Tourism Association: station walk, shared dining and closuresMarket opening hours and closures
- Hirome Market → Obiyamachi shopping street
For a walk after your meal, explore Obiyamachi’s shopping street. Use the market’s official access map and your hotel address to plan the journey back.
Day-one food and hotel-to-market transport are excluded from the subtotal. If a final-day castle visit will not fit, check last admission and closed days against your actual arrival at the entrance to see whether day one works instead. If it does not, omit the castle and keep the coast and gorge visit days.
Day 2: museum, then coast
Visit the museum and coast and return to Kochi. Move to Ino tomorrow.
- JR Kochi Station → Kochi Tabihiroba MY Yu boarding point
Board the MY Yu Bus at Kochi Tabihiroba on the south side of JR Kochi Station. Buy the ¥1,500 adult Katsurahama one-day ticket before boarding and check official information for that day’s boarding point and service. Ordinary seats cannot be reserved. If the bus is full, adjust your onward connections, sightseeing and return times.
- Kochi Station MY Yu boarding point → Ryoma-Kinenkan-Mae stop
Take a Katsurahama-bound MY Yu Bus and get off at Ryoma-Kinenkan-Mae. Check a morning departure and onward bus together in the official timetable so that you can continue to the coast after the museum.
Buses and accessibilityApril 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2Boarding-point 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 exhibitions. Adult admission costs ¥500 or ¥900, depending on the exhibition that day. The bus journey does not include the walk to the museum, sightseeing or meals.
- Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum and Ryoma-Kinenkan-Mae stop → Katsurahama Park
After the museum visit, return to Ryoma-Kinenkan-Mae stop and take a Katsurahama-bound MY Yu Bus. The museum and beach have separate entrances, so allow time for sightseeing and the walk back to the stop. The coastal park is free to enter, and swimming is prohibited.
April 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2Park visitor information
- Katsurahama bus stop → JR Kochi Station
After the coastal visit, take a Kochi Station-bound MY Yu Bus from Katsurahama stop. Choose the appropriate weekday or holiday return service in the official timetable. The final return on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays arrives at the station’s north-side bus terminal, rather than the south-side boarding point.
April 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2Buses and accessibility
Day 3: move to Ino and take the bus to Nikobuchi
Take a JR train to Ino, then a bus and walk to the gorge and back. If the train and gorge bus do not connect, separate the days as in the two-night Ino itinerary.
- JR Kochi Station → JR Ino Station
From JR Kochi Station, take a Dosan Line train that stops at Ino. To visit the gorge on your moving day, compare JR times for your date with the weekday or holiday bus timetable and choose an early train that connects with the gorge-bound bus.
Check JR servicesJR Kochi Station departure timetable revised 14 March 2026
- Ino Station bus stop → Hodono-Iriguchi bus stop
From Ino Station bus stop, take a bus towards Hodono-Iriguchi · 程野入口 or Nagasawa · 長沢 and get off at Hodono-Iriguchi. Adult fares are ¥1,430 one way or ¥2,860 return. First choose your outward and Ino-bound return services from the operator’s timetable for your date.
Ino Tourism Association bus guideWeekday timetable revised in OctoberWeekend and public holiday timetableCurrent connecting fare table
- Hodono-Iriguchi bus stop → Nikobuchi
From Hodono-Iriguchi stop, allow about 30 minutes one way to walk roughly 2 km to Nikobuchi. The path down to the gorge has slopes and steps. Do not enter the water or eat and drink in the gorge. Allow time for the return walk and bus wait too.
Ino Tourism Association bus guideNikobuchi driving, parking, paths and sightseeing taxis
- Nikobuchi → The same Hodono-Iriguchi bus stop
Retrace your route to Hodono-Iriguchi stop. The tourism association also gives about 30 minutes for the return walk. Allow for path conditions and your walking pace to arrive before your chosen bus, and check where the Ino-bound service boards.
Ino Tourism Association bus guideReturn timetable from the stop
- Hodono-Iriguchi bus stop → Ino Station bus stop
Take an Ino-bound bus from Hodono-Iriguchi and get off at Ino Station. Choose the return service from the operator’s weekday or Saturday, Sunday and public holiday timetable. The ¥2,860 return fare covers two bus journeys between Ino Station and Hodono-Iriguchi, excluding transport to your hotel.
Weekday timetable revised in OctoberWeekend and public holiday timetableReturn timetable from the stopCurrent connecting fare table
Allow time after arriving in Ino to reach the gorge-bound bus stop. If leaving luggage at your hotel, confirm storage availability and time to stop there. If the train and bus do not connect, omit today’s gorge visit or compare 5-day itinerary B, which separates moving day from gorge day.
Day 4: return to Kochi and visit the castle
Return from Ino to Kochi before departure. Check whether your train arrival leaves time for the castle.
- JR Ino Station → JR Kochi Station
Take a Kochi-bound train from JR Ino Station. Check the scheduled Kochi arrival and time before your onward service for your date. If you cannot finish the castle visit and city travel in time, omit the castle and go to your departure point.
- Kochi-Ekimae tram stop → Kochijo-Mae stop and Kochi Castle Park
From Kochi-Ekimae, take a tram towards Harimayabashi and change there to an Ino-bound tram. Get off at Kochijo-Mae and walk to the castle park. When paying cash, obtain and use the transfer ticket according to the conditions on your first tram and at the designated transfer stops. From Obiyamachi or Ohashidori, you can also consider walking directly to the park.
- Kochi Castle Park → Castle keep and Kaitokukan
Climb the park steps and buy a ticket at the entrance to the keep and Kaitokukan. The paid buildings open 09:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:30. Admission costs ¥500 for visitors aged 18 and over. They close from 26 December to 1 January. Allow time to walk from the tram stop and climb to the entrance.
Current admission and closuresKochi Castle approaches, steps and slopes
- Kochi Castle → JR Kochi Station
After the castle visit, take a Harimayabashi-bound tram from Kochijo-Mae. At Harimayabashi, change towards Kochi-Ekimae to return to JR Kochi Station. If staying in the city, you can also walk down towards Obiyamachi and Ohashidori.
Included items: Castle ¥500 + museum ¥500/¥900 + MY Yu Katsurahama ticket ¥1,500 + return gorge buses ¥2,860
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, airport or onward travel, transport between your hotel and boarding points, luggage storage, city trams on days without MY Yu use and optional paid facilities cost extra. JR return travel between Kochi and Ino also costs extra. Nikobuchi’s ¥100 contribution is voluntary and is not included as a required fee.
JR return travel between Kochi and Ino is excluded from the subtotal. If you visit the gorge by car instead of bus, subtract the ¥2,860 return bus fare and add your actual vehicle booking costs.
Current admission and closuresMuseum admission and exhibitionsBuses and accessibilityCurrent connecting fare table¥100 voluntary contribution information
Checks before departure and FAQs
Can I visit Nikobuchi on the day I move to Ino?
Yes, if an early JR train reaches Ino in time for the gorge-bound bus. Compare train times for your date with the weekday or holiday bus timetable. If they do not connect, omit that day’s gorge visit or compare 5-day itinerary B, which separates moving day from the gorge day.
Check JR servicesWeekday timetable revised in OctoberWeekend and public holiday timetableJR Kochi Station departure timetable revised 14 March 2026
Official sources and check dates
- Boarding-point changes by date ·
- Current admission and closures ·
- Check tram routes ·
- Market opening hours and closures ·
- Park visitor information ·
- Museum admission and exhibitions ·
- Buses and accessibility ·
- Nikobuchi driving, parking, paths and sightseeing taxis ·
- Ino Tourism Association bus guide ·
- Current visitor information, crowding and transport links ·
- ¥100 voluntary contribution information ·
- Weekday timetable revised in October ·
- Weekend and public holiday timetable ·
- Return timetable from the stop ·
- Current connecting fare table ·
- April 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2 ·
- Tram transfer information ·
- Check JR services ·
- Market official access and walk from the tram stop ·
- Market official stalls and menus ·
- Kochi Tourism Association: station walk, shared dining and closures ·
- Kochi Castle approaches, steps and slopes ·
- All Shikoku Rail Pass terms, 1 October 2026 ·
- JR Kochi Station departure timetable revised 14 March 2026 ·