Kochi in five days: how should I divide garden and gorge?
Keep Kochi accommodation for separate garden/coast days and one hire-car Nikobuchi day. For the gorge by bus, spend two Kochi then two Ino nights, separating train-moving/gorge days. Check closure dates for an optional moving-day Paper Museum visit.
Choose a 4 nights, 5 days itinerary
A: separate days for garden, coast, gorge and castle
Spend four Kochi nights to include a botanical-garden day. Day 2 Makino, day 3 Ryoma museum/Katsurahama, day 4 Nikobuchi by hire car and final-day castle.
A: separate days for garden, coast, gorge and castle →4 nights, 5 daysB: two Ino nights for the gorge by bus
Choose two Kochi nights then two Ino nights to separate moving/gorge days. Move on day 3, optionally visit the Paper Museum, then use bus/walks for Nikobuchi on day 4. Omit the museum during its extended closure.
B: two Ino nights for the gorge by bus →A: separate days for garden, coast, gorge and castle
Spend four Kochi nights to include a botanical-garden day. Day 2 Makino, day 3 Ryoma museum/Katsurahama, day 4 Nikobuchi by hire car and final-day castle.
Day 1: city meal
Keep one Kochi accommodation for four nights, visiting garden, coast and Nikobuchi on separate days. Garden/coast require tickets for their respective MY Yu dates; the gorge uses a booked vehicle.
- JR Kochi Station → Hirome Market entrance
Tourism-association guidance gives about 15 minutes from JR Kochi to Hirome Market. By tram, alight at Ohashidori and walk about 2–3 minutes. The market’s official map shows direct access from Obiyamachi/Ohashidori.
Official market access and stop walksKochi tourism-association station walk, shared dining and closures
- Hirome Market entrance → Market shops and shared dining seats
Read shop menus/prices, order food and eat at shared tables. Whole-market and individual-shop hours differ. For late arrival, check your chosen shop’s last order; on closure days, choose another open city restaurant.
Official market shops and menusKochi tourism-association station walk, shared dining and closuresMarket hours and closures
- Hirome Market → Obiyamachi shopping street
Walk Obiyamachi shopping street if you want more time outside after eating. Choose the return route from the market’s official access map and your accommodation address.
Day-1 food and accommodation↔market transport are excluded. If the final-day castle does not fit, compare its admission deadline/closures with actual day-1 entrance arrival. Otherwise omit the castle while retaining sea/gorge days.
Day 2: Makino Botanical Garden
Explore greenhouse/exhibits today. This differs from coastal day; prepare a Godaisan one-day pass.
- JR Kochi MY Yu stand → Makino-Shokubutsuen-Seimon-Mae stop
Take MY Yu from JR Kochi via the botanical garden’s main entrance. Buy an adult JPY 1,000 Godaisan one-day pass before boarding and check that day’s stand/services officially. Alight at the main entrance and walk in. This pass cannot cover Katsurahama on another date.
Bus and accessibility guideDate-specific boarding-stand changesApril 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2
- Makino Botanical Garden main entrance → Greenhouse and exhibits
Enter at the main gate for greenhouse/exhibits; choose food/rest places using garden guidance. Adult normal admission JPY 850, rising to 1,700 for the 6–28 February 2027 orchid exhibition. Closed 27 December–1 January and separate maintenance days; reschedule or omit then.
- Botanical-garden main-entrance stop → JR Kochi Station
After visits/food, return to the main-entrance stop and take MY Yu towards Kochi. Allow the stop walk and choose an official return service. Buy a separate Katsurahama one-day pass for tomorrow.
Bus and accessibility guideApril 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2Date-specific boarding-stand changes
Day 3: exhibits and sea
Visit Ryoma museum/Katsurahama today. Use today’s Katsurahama one-day pass, not yesterday’s Godaisan ticket.
- JR Kochi Station → Kochi Tabi Hiroba MY Yu stand
Board MY Yu at Kochi Tabi Hiroba south of JR Kochi. Buy the adult JPY 1,500 Katsurahama one-day pass before boarding and check that day’s stand/operation. Ordinary seats are unreserved; if full, adjust visits/return around the next bus.
Bus and accessibility guideDate-specific boarding-stand changes
- Kochi Station MY Yu stand → Ryoma-Kinenkan-Mae stop
Take a Katsurahama-bound MY Yu and alight at Ryoma-Kinenkan-Mae. Check a morning departure and the following bus together so the coast fits after visiting.
Bus and accessibility guideApril 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2Date-specific boarding-stand changes
- Ryoma-Kinenkan-Mae stop → Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum
Walk uphill from the stop to the museum and allow about 90 minutes visiting. Adult admission is JPY 500 or 900 depending on the exhibition date. Museum walking, visits and meals are outside bus travel time.
- Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum and Ryoma-Kinenkan-Mae stop → Katsurahama Park
Return after visiting to Ryoma-Kinenkan-Mae and take MY Yu towards Katsurahama. Museum and beach do not share an entrance; allow museum-to-stop walking separately. The coastal park is free; swimming is prohibited.
- Katsurahama stop → JR Kochi Station
After the coast, take MY Yu from Katsurahama towards Kochi Station. Distinguish weekday/holiday return services in the official timetable. The final Saturday/Sunday/public-holiday return arrives at the northern terminal rather than the southern stand.
April 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2Bus and accessibility guide
Day 4: Nikobuchi vehicle return trip
Visit Nikobuchi by vehicle and return to Kochi.
- Kochi City → Signed Nikobuchi parking spaces
Tourism-council guidance gives about 70 minutes driving from Kochi City to Nikobuchi. Allow collection, parking, path walks and visiting separately. Set navigation for the officially recommended Green Park Hodono, then follow Nikobuchi signs to marked spaces. Check on-the-day parking fees/vacancies.
Nikobuchi driving, parking, paths and sightseeing taxisCurrent place, crowding and transport links
- Nikobuchi parking area → Gorge and the same parking area
Follow the sloping/stepped path from your car down to the gorge. Do not enter the water or eat/drink there; return the same way and eat outside. Check your date’s access; rain, light and water volume can change the colours.
- Signed Nikobuchi parking spaces → Kochi City
Eat outside the gorge, then drive back to Kochi. Return the booked car at its specified office/deadline with required fuel. If access restrictions prevent the visit, omit it. Changing to buses requires separate Ino outbound/return connections.
Nikobuchi driving, parking, paths and sightseeing taxisCurrent place, crowding and transport links
Day 5: castle before departure
Include the castle before leaving only if visiting and onward access leave margin.
- Kochi-Ekimae tram stop → Kochijo-Mae stop and castle park
Take a tram from Kochi-Ekimae towards Harimayabashi, then change there towards Ino. Alight at Kochijo-Mae and walk to the castle park. For cash transfers, follow the first tram’s transfer-ticket rules at designated stops. From Obiyamachi/Ohashidori, also compare walking directly to the park.
- Kochi Castle park → Keep and Kaitokukan
Climb the park steps and buy a ticket at the keep/Kaitokukan entrance. Paid buildings run 09:00–17:00, last entry 16:30, JPY 500 for ages 18+. Closed 26 December–1 January. Allow the stop-to-entrance walk and stairs too.
Current fees and closuresKochi Castle ascent, steps and slopes
- Kochi Castle → JR Kochi Station
After visiting, take a tram from Kochijo-Mae towards Harimayabashi and change there towards Kochi-Ekimae for JR Kochi. For more city time, you can also descend on foot towards Obiyamachi/Ohashidori.
Included items: The subtotal includes JPY 500 for the castle, JPY 500 or JPY 900 for the museum, depending on the exhibition, normal garden admission at JPY 850, the JPY 1,000 Godaisan pass and JPY 1,500 Katsurahama pass.
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, airport/onward travel, accommodation-to-boarding access, luggage storage, city trams outside the MY Yu day and optional paid facilities cost extra. Hire car, insurance, fuel, tolls and parking are also separate. Nikobuchi’s JPY 100 is voluntary and excluded from mandatory fees.
During 6–28 February 2027 orchids, garden admission rises to JPY 1,700: subtotal 5,200 with normal Ryoma exhibition or 5,600 with its special exhibition. Vehicles are extra.
Current fees and closuresMuseum admission and exhibitionsGarden visiting and access guideBus and accessibility guideJPY 100 contribution guidance
B: two Ino nights for the gorge by bus
Choose two Kochi nights then two Ino nights to separate moving/gorge days. Move on day 3, optionally visit the Paper Museum, then use bus/walks for Nikobuchi on day 4. Omit the museum during its extended closure.
Day 1: Kochi city
After two Kochi nights, spend two in Ino, separating train-moving and gorge days. Choose the Paper Museum on moving day only outside its extended closure.
- JR Kochi Station → Hirome Market entrance
Tourism-association guidance gives about 15 minutes from JR Kochi to Hirome Market. By tram, alight at Ohashidori and walk about 2–3 minutes. The market’s official map shows direct access from Obiyamachi/Ohashidori.
Official market access and stop walksKochi tourism-association station walk, shared dining and closures
- Hirome Market entrance → Market shops and shared dining seats
Read shop menus/prices, order food and eat at shared tables. Whole-market and individual-shop hours differ. For late arrival, check your chosen shop’s last order; on closure days, choose another open city restaurant.
Official market shops and menusKochi tourism-association station walk, shared dining and closuresMarket hours and closures
- Hirome Market → Obiyamachi shopping street
Walk Obiyamachi shopping street if you want more time outside after eating. Choose the return route from the market’s official access map and your accommodation address.
Day-1 food and accommodation↔market transport are excluded. If the final-day castle does not fit, compare its admission deadline/closures with actual day-1 entrance arrival. Otherwise omit the castle while retaining sea/gorge days.
Day 2: Ryoma museum and Katsurahama
Visit Ryoma museum/Katsurahama and return to Kochi. Move to Ino tomorrow.
- JR Kochi Station → Kochi Tabi Hiroba MY Yu stand
Board MY Yu at Kochi Tabi Hiroba south of JR Kochi. Buy the adult JPY 1,500 Katsurahama one-day pass before boarding and check that day’s stand/operation. Ordinary seats are unreserved; if full, adjust visits/return around the next bus.
Bus and accessibility guideDate-specific boarding-stand changes
- Kochi Station MY Yu stand → Ryoma-Kinenkan-Mae stop
Take a Katsurahama-bound MY Yu and alight at Ryoma-Kinenkan-Mae. Check a morning departure and the following bus together so the coast fits after visiting.
Bus and accessibility guideApril 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2Date-specific boarding-stand changes
- Ryoma-Kinenkan-Mae stop → Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum
Walk uphill from the stop to the museum and allow about 90 minutes visiting. Adult admission is JPY 500 or 900 depending on the exhibition date. Museum walking, visits and meals are outside bus travel time.
- Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum and Ryoma-Kinenkan-Mae stop → Katsurahama Park
Return after visiting to Ryoma-Kinenkan-Mae and take MY Yu towards Katsurahama. Museum and beach do not share an entrance; allow museum-to-stop walking separately. The coastal park is free; swimming is prohibited.
- Katsurahama stop → JR Kochi Station
After the coast, take MY Yu from Katsurahama towards Kochi Station. Distinguish weekday/holiday return services in the official timetable. The final Saturday/Sunday/public-holiday return arrives at the northern terminal rather than the southern stand.
April 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2Bus and accessibility guide
Day 3: move to Ino, with optional Paper Museum
Move by JR today. If opening/travel times fit, optionally see Tosa washi exhibits at the Paper Museum.
- JR Kochi Station → JR Ino Station
Take a Dosan Line train from JR Kochi stopping at Ino. Check your date’s times/fares officially. Move today; use Nikobuchi buses tomorrow.
- JR Ino Station → Ino Paper Museum
Walk about 10 minutes from JR Ino per official guidance for Tosa washi exhibits. Adult viewing-only JPY 500; choosing papermaking uses admission 400 + activity 500 = 900. Closed Mondays/following day if a public holiday, 27 December–4 January and planned renovation 16 November 2026–31 March 2027. Omit it during closure and reconsider whether two Ino nights are needed.
Museum fees, operation and JR Ino accessExtended temporary-closure notice
- Ino Paper Museum → JR Ino direction and Ino accommodation
After visiting, retrace towards Ino Station. Stay in Ino tonight/tomorrow at your booked address. Check next day’s gorge-bus stop access too. Accommodation travel is excluded from the subtotal.
Choose the Paper Museum only on operating dates. Omit it during 16 November 2026–31 March 2027 renovation closure.
Day 4: Nikobuchi by bus and on foot
Take a bus from Ino to Hodono-Iriguchi, walk to the gorge and return the same way.
- Ino Station bus stop → Hodono-Iriguchi stop
From Ino, take a bus towards Hodono-Iriguchi (程野入口) or Nagasawa (長沢), alighting at Hodono-Iriguchi. Adult single JPY 1,430, return 2,860. Set gorge time around both outbound/return for your date.
October revised weekday timetableWeekend/public-holiday timetableCurrent linked fare table
- Hodono-Iriguchi stop → Nikobuchi path and gorge
Allow about 2 km/30 minutes one way, descending the sloping/stepped path to see the water. Walking alone totals about 4 km return. Do not eat or enter the water. Work back from the return bus to allow walking/waits before leaving the gorge. Check path access for your date.
Ino tourism-association bus guideCurrent place, crowding and transport links
- Nikobuchi and Hodono-Iriguchi stop → Ino Station bus stop
Retrace the route to Hodono-Iriguchi and take an Ino-bound bus. Distinguish weekday from Saturday/Sunday/public-holiday tables so a weekday-only service is not chosen for a weekend return.
October revised weekday timetableWeekend/public-holiday timetableStop return timetable
Include return walking and bus waits in the day. Check operator tables so a weekday-only bus is not treated as the weekend’s final service.
Day 5: return to Kochi and depart
Return from Ino and leave Kochi. Add the final castle only if departure leaves margin.
- JR Ino Station → JR Kochi Station
Take a Kochi-bound train from JR Ino. Check Kochi arrival and margin before your onward departure for the actual date. If castle/city travel does not fit, omit the castle and go towards departure.
- Kochi-Ekimae tram stop → Kochijo-Mae stop and castle park
Take a tram from Kochi-Ekimae towards Harimayabashi, then change there towards Ino. Alight at Kochijo-Mae and walk to the castle park. For cash transfers, follow the first tram’s transfer-ticket rules at designated stops. From Obiyamachi/Ohashidori, also compare walking directly to the park.
- Kochi Castle park → Keep and Kaitokukan
Climb the park steps and buy a ticket at the keep/Kaitokukan entrance. Paid buildings run 09:00–17:00, last entry 16:30, JPY 500 for ages 18+. Closed 26 December–1 January. Allow the stop-to-entrance walk and stairs too.
Current fees and closuresKochi Castle ascent, steps and slopes
- Kochi Castle → JR Kochi Station
After visiting, take a tram from Kochijo-Mae towards Harimayabashi and change there towards Kochi-Ekimae for JR Kochi. For more city time, you can also descend on foot towards Obiyamachi/Ohashidori.
Included items: The subtotal includes JPY 500 for the castle, JPY 500 or JPY 900 for Ryoma museum, depending on the exhibition, JPY 1,500 for the MY Yu Katsurahama pass and JPY 2,860 for return gorge buses. The optional Paper Museum costs extra.
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, airport/onward travel, accommodation-to-boarding access, luggage storage, city trams outside the MY Yu day and optional paid facilities cost extra. JR Kochi–Ino return is separate. Nikobuchi’s JPY 100 is voluntary and excluded from mandatory fees. Optional Paper Museum visits/activities are also extra.
Add Paper Museum viewing JPY 500 for 5,860/6,260. With papermaking, admission 400 + activity 500 = 900 gives 6,260/6,660. Do not add museum costs on closure days. JR Kochi–Ino return is separate.
Current fees and closuresMuseum admission and exhibitionsBus and accessibility guideCurrent linked fare tableMuseum fees, operation and JR Ino accessJPY 100 contribution guidanceExtended temporary-closure notice
Before-departure/on-the-day checks and FAQs
Can I visit Ino Paper Museum on the gorge-bus day?
With two Ino nights, choosing the museum on moving day and gorge bus next day separates access more easily. Official walk from JR Ino is about 10 minutes. Check whether train arrival leaves time before 17:00 closing. Planned renovation 16 November 2026–31 March 2027 prevents visits then.
Museum fees, operation and JR Ino accessExtended temporary-closure notice
Can a Godaisan pass cover Katsurahama next day?
Adult Godaisan one-day costs JPY 1,000 and excludes Katsurahama. For separate garden/coast days as in four-night A, use Godaisan on garden day and a separate JPY 1,500 Katsurahama one-day pass on coastal day.
Bus and accessibility guideApril 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2
Official sources and confirmation dates
- Date-specific boarding-stand changes ·
- Current fees and closures ·
- Check tram routes ·
- Market hours and closures ·
- Park operation ·
- Museum admission and exhibitions ·
- Bus and accessibility guide ·
- Nikobuchi driving, parking, paths and sightseeing taxis ·
- Ino tourism-association bus guide ·
- Current place, crowding and transport links ·
- JPY 100 contribution guidance ·
- October revised weekday timetable ·
- Weekend/public-holiday timetable ·
- Stop return timetable ·
- Current linked fare table ·
- Garden visiting and access guide ·
- Museum fees, operation and JR Ino access ·
- Extended temporary-closure notice ·
- April 2026–March 2027 timetable, page 2 ·
- Tram transfer guide ·
- Check JR operation ·
- Official market access and stop walks ·
- Official market shops and menus ·
- Kochi tourism-association station walk, shared dining and closures ·
- Kochi Castle ascent, steps and slopes ·
- All Shikoku Rail Pass terms, 1 October 2026 ·