Kochi in 5 days: how should you fit in the garden and gorge?
Stay in Kochi city, visiting the garden and coast on separate days and Nikobuchi by rental car on another. For the gorge by bus, stay two nights in Kochi followed by two in Ino to separate train travel from the gorge visit. Check the closure period first if you also want to visit the Paper Museum on moving day.
Choose a 5 days / 4 nights itinerary
A: separate days for the garden, coast, gorge and castle
Stay four nights in Kochi to set aside a day for the botanical garden too. Visit Makino Botanical Garden on day two, the Ryoma museum and Katsurahama on day three, Nikobuchi by rental car on day four, and the castle on the final day.
A: separate days for the garden, coast, gorge and castle →5 days / 4 nightsB: two nights in Ino and a bus trip to the gorge
To separate the move to Ino from the gorge visit, stay two nights in Kochi and two in Ino. Move to Ino on day three, with an optional Paper Museum visit, then visit Nikobuchi by bus and on foot on day four. Omit the museum during its extended closure.
B: two nights in Ino and a bus trip to the gorge →A: separate days for the garden, coast, gorge and castle
Stay four nights in Kochi to set aside a day for the botanical garden too. Visit Makino Botanical Garden on day two, the Ryoma museum and Katsurahama on day three, Nikobuchi by rental car on day four, and the castle on the final day.
Day 1: a city meal
Stay four nights at the same Kochi hotel, with separate days for the botanical garden, coast and Nikobuchi. You need MY Yu tickets for each garden and coast visit date, and a booked vehicle for the gorge return trip.
- 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: Makino Botanical Garden
Explore the conservatory and exhibitions at Makino Botanical Garden today. Since the coast is on another date, buy a Godaisan one-day ticket for today.
- JR Kochi Station MY Yu boarding point → Makino-Shokubutsuen-Seimon-Mae stop
From JR Kochi Station, take a MY Yu Bus serving the botanical garden’s main entrance. Buy the ¥1,000 adult Godaisan one-day ticket before boarding and check the boarding point and service for your date in the official information. Get off outside the main entrance and walk in. This ticket cannot be used for a Katsurahama visit on another date.
Buses and accessibilityBoarding-point changes by dateApril 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2
- Makino Botanical Garden main entrance → Garden conservatory and exhibitions
Enter through the main gate and explore the conservatory and exhibitions. Use the garden’s visitor information to choose places for meals and breaks. Standard adult admission costs ¥850, rising to ¥1,700 during the orchid exhibition from 6 to 28 February 2027. The garden closes from 27 December to 1 January and on additional maintenance dates; change your visit date or omit it if closed.
- Bus stop outside the garden’s main entrance → JR Kochi Station
After sightseeing and a meal, return to the stop outside the garden’s main entrance and take a Kochi Station-bound MY Yu Bus. Allow time to walk to the stop and choose a return service in the official timetable. Buy a separate Katsurahama one-day ticket for tomorrow’s coastal visit.
Buses and accessibilityApril 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2Boarding-point changes by date
Day 3: exhibitions and coast
Visit the Ryoma museum and Katsurahama today. You need a Katsurahama one-day ticket for today, rather than yesterday’s Godaisan ticket.
- 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 4: Nikobuchi return trip by car
Visit Nikobuchi 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 5: castle visit and departure
Visit the castle before departure only if sightseeing and the onward journey fit your schedule.
- 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 + standard garden admission ¥850 + Godaisan ticket ¥1,000 + 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.
During the orchid exhibition from 6 to 28 February 2027, garden admission rises to ¥1,700. The subtotal becomes ¥5,200 with the Ryoma museum’s regular exhibition or ¥5,600 with its special exhibition. Vehicle costs are separate.
Current admission and closuresMuseum admission and exhibitionsGarden admission and directionsBuses and accessibility¥100 voluntary contribution information
B: two nights in Ino and a bus trip to the gorge
To separate the move to Ino from the gorge visit, stay two nights in Kochi and two in Ino. Move to Ino on day three, with an optional Paper Museum visit, then visit Nikobuchi by bus and on foot on day four. Omit the museum during its extended closure.
Day 1: Kochi city
Stay two nights in Kochi followed by two in Ino, separating train travel from the gorge day. You can visit the Paper Museum on moving day if it is open; omit it during the extended closure.
- 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 Katsurahama
Visit the Ryoma museum and Katsurahama, then 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, with an optional Paper Museum visit
Take JR to Ino today. If opening dates and travel times allow, visit the Paper Museum’s Tosa washi exhibitions.
- JR Kochi Station → JR Ino Station
From JR Kochi Station, take a Dosan Line train that stops at Ino. Check train times and fares for your date with JR. Today is the move to Ino; the Nikobuchi bus trip is tomorrow.
- JR Ino Station → Ino Paper Museum
The official walk from JR Ino Station to Ino Paper Museum is about 10 minutes. Explore the Tosa washi exhibitions for ¥500 per adult. With a papermaking workshop, admission is ¥400 and the workshop ¥500, totalling ¥900. The museum closes on Mondays, or the following day if Monday is a public holiday, and from 27 December to 4 January. A temporary refurbishment closure is scheduled from 16 November 2026 to 31 March 2027. During the closure, omit the museum and reconsider whether you need two nights in Ino.
Museum admission, hours and access from JR Ino StationExtended temporary closure notice
- Ino Paper Museum → Towards JR Ino Station and your Ino hotel
After the museum, retrace your route towards Ino Station. Stay in Ino tonight and tomorrow night. Continue to your hotel’s actual address and check the route to tomorrow’s gorge-bus stop. Transport to your hotel is excluded from the subtotal.
Choose the Paper Museum only on opening dates. Omit it during the refurbishment closure from 16 November 2026 to 31 March 2027.
Day 4: Nikobuchi by bus and on foot
Take a bus from Ino Station to Hodono-Iriguchi, walk to Nikobuchi and return along the same route.
- Ino Station bus stop → Hodono-Iriguchi stop
From Ino Station, 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. Decide how long to spend at the gorge after checking both outward and return services for your date.
Weekday timetable revised in OctoberWeekend and public holiday timetableCurrent connecting fare table
- Hodono-Iriguchi stop → Nikobuchi path and gorge
Allow about 30 minutes one way to walk roughly 2 km from the stop to the gorge, then descend the sloping path and steps to see the water. Walking there and back alone totals about 4 km. Do not eat in the gorge or enter the water. Work back from your return bus time, allowing for the walk and waiting, to decide when to leave. Check path access for your date too.
Ino Tourism Association bus guideCurrent visitor information, crowding and transport links
- Nikobuchi and Hodono-Iriguchi stop → Ino Station bus stop
Retrace your route to Hodono-Iriguchi stop and take an Ino-bound bus. Distinguish the operator’s weekday and Saturday, Sunday and public holiday timetables so that you do not choose a weekday-only service for a weekend return.
Weekday timetable revised in OctoberWeekend and public holiday timetableReturn timetable from the stop
Include both walks and bus waits in your day’s schedule. Check the operator’s timetable so you do not mistake a weekday-only service for the weekend’s last bus.
Day 5: return to Kochi and depart
Return from Ino to Kochi for departure. Include a final castle visit only if there is enough time before your onward service.
- 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; optional Paper Museum costs extra
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. Optional Paper Museum admission and workshops are separate.
Adding a ¥500 Paper Museum visit makes the subtotal ¥5,860/¥6,260. For a papermaking workshop, add ¥400 admission + ¥500 workshop = ¥900, making ¥6,260/¥6,660. Do not add museum costs on closed dates. JR return travel between Kochi and Ino is separate.
Current admission and closuresMuseum admission and exhibitionsBuses and accessibilityCurrent connecting fare tableMuseum admission, hours and access from JR Ino Station¥100 voluntary contribution informationExtended temporary closure notice
Checks before departure and FAQs
Can I visit Ino Paper Museum on the gorge-bus day too?
With two nights in Ino, visiting the museum on moving day and taking the gorge bus the following day makes it easier to separate the journeys. The official walk from JR Ino Station to the museum is about 10 minutes. Check whether your train arrival leaves time to finish before the 17:00 closure. The scheduled refurbishment closure from 16 November 2026 to 31 March 2027 prevents visits during that period.
Museum admission, hours and access from JR Ino StationExtended temporary closure notice
Can I use a Godaisan ticket for Katsurahama the next day?
The adult Godaisan one-day ticket costs ¥1,000 and excludes the Katsurahama section. If visiting the garden and coast on different days as in 5-day itinerary A, use a Godaisan ticket for garden day and a separate ¥1,500 Katsurahama one-day ticket for coast day.
Buses and accessibilityApril 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2
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 ·
- Garden admission and directions ·
- Museum admission, hours and access from JR Ino Station ·
- Extended temporary closure notice ·
- 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 ·