Kochi, Japan: where should I stay and what should I see?

Around Obiyamachi and Ohashidori

Kochi Prefecture · 高知県

Obiyamachi/Ohashidori suits walks to the castle and Hirome Market. Harimayabashi is convenient for changing between north–south and east–west city trams. Check market-to-accommodation distance using its address.

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

Around JR Kochi Station · 高知駅

JR Kochi suits onward trains and MY Yu buses. MY Yu normally boards inside Kochi Tabi Hiroba south of the station; check official notices for event-related stand changes.

Check JR operation2026-10-08Bus and accessibility guide2026-10-08Date-specific boarding-stand changes2026-10-08

Stay in Ino, around JR Ino Station · 伊野駅

For Nikobuchi from an Ino stay, plan the bus or vehicle journey from Ino Station to the gorge too. Staying near the station does not make the mountain-side gorge walkable directly.

Ino tourism-association bus guide2026-10-08Current place, crowding and transport links2026-10-08

City walk from castle down to market

Visit the castle interior, then eat at Hirome Market. Check keep stairs and shop hours together. Park walks differ from paid buildings.

Current fees and closures2026-10-08Kochi Castle ascent, steps and slopes2026-10-08Market hours and closures2026-10-08

Katsurahama for sea, Godaisan for the garden

Choose Katsurahama Park for coastal scenery or Makino for plants/greenhouse walks. MY Yu reaches both, but five-day option A separates their days. Swimming at Katsurahama is prohibited.

Park operation2026-10-08Garden visiting and access guide2026-10-08Bus and accessibility guide2026-10-08

The gorge needs another journey from Ino

Take a gorge bus from Ino to Hodono-Iriguchi, then walk about 2 km to Nikobuchi. Choose the return bus/stop walk first. Ino Paper Museum is about 10 minutes from the station, allowing a separate visit order.

Ino tourism-association bus guide2026-10-08Current place, crowding and transport links2026-10-08Museum fees, operation and JR Ino access2026-10-08

Airport buses use the north; MY Yu normally the south

Kochi Ryoma Airport · 高知龍馬空港 has airport-connection buses into the city. Kochi Station arrivals use the northern terminal; walk south to Kochi Tabi Hiroba for MY Yu. Tosaden’s airport-bound northern stand is 6. Check your date’s operation/arrival notices and add airport fares separately to course subtotals.

Tosaden airport-bus boarding/alighting positions2026-10-09Tosaden airport-bus timetable guide2026-10-09Bus and accessibility guide2026-10-08

Castle access changes trams at Harimayabashi

Take a tram from Kochi-Ekimae to Harimayabashi, change towards Ino and alight at Kochijo-Mae. Walk up through the park to the keep.

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

Walk to the market or alight at Ohashidori

Tourism-association guidance gives about 15 minutes from JR Kochi to Hirome Market. By tram, alight at Ohashidori and walk about 2–3 minutes. Tram waits/accommodation-specific access are extra.

Official market access and stop walks2026-10-08Kochi tourism-association station walk, shared dining and closures2026-10-08

MY Yu normally boards south of Kochi Station

MY Yu normally leaves from Kochi Tabi Hiroba on the south side. It goes via Godaisan to the garden, Ryoma museum and Katsurahama, unlike direct coastal route buses. Check event stand changes/date-specific timetables officially.

Bus and accessibility guide2026-10-08Date-specific boarding-stand changes2026-10-08April 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 22026-10-08

Order separately at Hirome’s shops

Choose food across multiple shops, with differing prices/hours. Check your chosen shop’s menu for bonito dishes. The Kochi food/restaurant guide below also has meal options.

Official market shops and menus2026-10-08Kochi tourism-association station walk, shared dining and closures2026-10-08

Separate JR from city transport for onward travel

Use the transport guide for other cities. For All Shikoku, check official eligibility, included routes and exclusions. Ino-stay courses distinguish JR Kochi–Ino from gorge buses: Ino↔Hodono-Iriguchi return 2,860 is separate. Compare normal rail tickets against pass cost.

Check JR operation2026-10-08Official All Shikoku Rail Pass guide2026-10-08All Shikoku Rail Pass terms, 1 October 20262026-10-09Current linked fare table2026-10-08

Bonito tataki, seared on the outside

Bonito is briefly seared over high heat. Choose yuzu ponzu with accompaniments such as garlic/spring onion, or salt-seasoned tataki. Seasoning/accompaniments vary; read the menu.

Kochi tourism authority’s bonito tataki guide2026-10-09

Return by hire car from your city base

Official council guidance gives about 70 minutes driving from Kochi City, excluding parking waits/gorge walks. Check marked parking and visiting-date access notices. Hire, fuel and parking are excluded from course facility totals.

Nikobuchi driving, parking, paths and sightseeing taxis2026-10-08Current place, crowding and transport links2026-10-08

Ino base for gorge buses

Take a bus from Ino to Hodono-Iriguchi, then walk. Compare one Ino night in four-day B with two in five-day B. Paper Museum planned renovation 16 November 2026–31 March 2027 prevents visits then.

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

Nikobuchi’s water and surrounding trees

The official camera shows waterfall, pool and trees. See colours change in sunlight/shade; actual visiting light/weather can differ from when you viewed it. Check path access and bus operation in visitor/date-specific transport notices.

Ino tourism-association official Nikobuchi camera2026-10-09Current place, crowding and transport links2026-10-08