Kochi, Japan, in 3 Days: Coast or Gorge?
To visit the Ryoma museum and Katsurahama together, take the MY Yu Bus on day 2. For Nikobuchi's blue water, choose a rental-car trip to the gorge that day instead. Both plans put Kochi Castle on the final day. Reaching the gorge by bus requires a separate check of departures from Ino and your return connection.
Choose an itinerary for 3 days, 2 nights
A — Separate Days for the City and the Museum/Coast
Spend two nights in Kochi to enjoy exhibits and a coastal walk in one day. Visit the Ryoma museum and Katsurahama on day two and the castle on the final day, leaving day one for a market meal and city walk.
A — Separate Days for the City and the Museum/Coast →3 days, 2 nightsB — A Rental-Car Day at Nikobuchi
For Nikobuchi’s water colors instead of the coast, stay two nights in Kochi and make a rental-car gorge trip on day two. Walk in the city on day one and visit Kochi Castle on the final day. Budget for the car separately from attraction fees.
B — A Rental-Car Day at Nikobuchi →A — Separate Days for the City and the Museum/Coast
Spend two nights in Kochi to enjoy exhibits and a coastal walk in one day. Visit the Ryoma 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 · A Market Meal and Shopping Arcade Walk
Spend two nights in Kochi: market and shopping arcade on day one, museum and coast on day two, and Kochi Castle on the final day. First check whether you have time to visit the castle before departure.
- JR Kochi Station → Hirome Market entrance
The tourism association estimates about a 15-minute walk from JR Kochi Station to Hirome Market. If taking the tram, get off at Ohashidori and walk about 2–3 minutes to the market. Check the market’s official map for direct access from Obiyamachi or Ohashidori.
Official Market Access and Walk From the StopKochi Tourism Association: Station Walk, Shared Dining, and Closures
- Hirome Market entrance → Market shops and shared dining area
Check each shop’s menu and prices, order your food, and eat in the shared dining area. The market’s overall hours differ from individual shop hours. If you arrive late, check your chosen shop’s last-order time. When the market or shop is closed, choose another restaurant open in the city.
Official Market Shops and MenusKochi Tourism Association: Station Walk, Shared Dining, and ClosuresMarket Hours and Closures
- Hirome Market → Obiyamachi shopping arcade
If you want another walk after your meal, explore the Obiyamachi shopping arcade. Plan the route back to your hotel using the market’s official access map and your hotel address.
Day-one meals and transport between your hotel and the market are excluded from the subtotal. The castle visit is on day three, so give today to a market meal and shopping arcade walk.
Day 2 · Museum First
Visit the Ryoma museum and Katsurahama, then return to Kochi.
- JR Kochi Station → MY Yu boarding point at Kochi Tabihiroba
Board the MY Yu Bus at Kochi Tabihiroba south of JR Kochi Station. Buy the adult ¥1,500 Katsurahama one-day ticket before boarding and check the day’s boarding point and services in official guidance. Regular seats cannot be reserved; if the bus is full, revise your next service, museum visit, and return times.
- Kochi Station MY Yu boarding point → Ryoma Kinenkan-mae bus stop
Take a Katsurahama-bound MY Yu Bus and get off at Ryoma Kinenkan-mae. Visiting the museum first in the morning makes it easier to divide your time before continuing to the coast. Choose your actual departure from the official weekday or holiday timetable.
Bus and Accessibility GuideApril 2026–March 2027 Timetable, Page 2Boarding-Point Changes by Date
- Ryoma Kinenkan-mae bus stop → Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum
Walk uphill from the stop to the museum and allow about 90 minutes for your visit. Adult admission is ¥500 or ¥900 depending on the exhibition date. Walking to the museum, visiting, and meals are separate from time aboard the bus.
- Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum and Ryoma Kinenkan-mae stop → Katsurahama Park
After your visit, return to Ryoma Kinenkan-mae and take a Katsurahama-bound MY Yu Bus. The museum and beach have different entrances, so allow separately for your visit and the walk to the stop. The coastal park is free, and swimming is prohibited.
- Katsurahama bus stop → JR Kochi Station
After exploring the coast, take a Kochi Station-bound MY Yu Bus from Katsurahama. Choose the return service from the correct official weekday or holiday timetable. On Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, the final MY Yu return service arrives at the bus terminal north of the station; distinguish it from the south-side boarding point.
April 2026–March 2027 Timetable, Page 2Bus and Accessibility Guide
Day 3 · Castle Visit Before Departure
Visit Kochi Castle’s paid buildings before leaving. You need time to finish the visit and city travel before your departure service.
- Kochi-Ekimae tram stop → Kochijo-mae stop and Kochi Castle park
Take a Harimayabashi-bound tram from Kochi-Ekimae, then transfer at Harimayabashi toward Ino. Get off at Kochijo-mae and walk to the castle park. For cash transfers, follow the first tram’s transfer-ticket conditions at the designated stop. If you are already around Obiyamachi or Ohashidori, compare walking directly to the castle park.
- Kochi Castle park → Castle keep and Kaitokukan
Climb the castle park’s stairs and buy a ticket at the keep and Kaitokukan entrance. The paid buildings open 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m. Admission is ¥500 for ages 18 and older. They close December 26–January 1. Leave time to walk from the tram stop to the entrance and climb the stairs.
Current Admission and ClosuresKochi Castle Uphill Paths, Stairs, and Slopes
- Kochi Castle → JR Kochi Station
After your visit, take a Harimayabashi-bound tram from Kochijo-mae. Transfer at Harimayabashi toward Kochi-Ekimae and return to JR Kochi Station. If you are staying in the city longer, you can also walk down toward Obiyamachi or Ohashidori.
Included Items: Kochi Castle ¥500 + Ryoma museum ¥500/¥900 + MY Yu Katsurahama ticket ¥1,500
Extra Expenses: Flights, lodging, meals, airport or onward travel, travel between your hotel and boarding points, luggage storage, city trams outside the MY Yu ticket’s day of use, and optional paid attractions are extra.
The subtotal changes with the museum’s exhibition. Apply MY Yu facility discounts only after checking ticket and visit-date conditions. The subtotal above uses regular prices before discounts.
Current Admission and ClosuresMuseum Admission and ExhibitionsBus and Accessibility Guide
B — A Rental-Car Day at Nikobuchi
For Nikobuchi’s water colors instead of the coast, stay two nights in Kochi and make a rental-car gorge trip on day two. Walk in the city on day one and visit Kochi Castle on the final day. Budget for the car separately from attraction fees.
Day 1 · A Market Meal and City Walk
Stay two nights in Kochi and visit Nikobuchi by rental car on day two. The museum and Katsurahama are excluded. If you cannot rent a car, arrange bus or sightseeing-taxi services, reservations, and return connections separately.
- JR Kochi Station → Hirome Market entrance
The tourism association estimates about a 15-minute walk from JR Kochi Station to Hirome Market. If taking the tram, get off at Ohashidori and walk about 2–3 minutes to the market. Check the market’s official map for direct access from Obiyamachi or Ohashidori.
Official Market Access and Walk From the StopKochi Tourism Association: Station Walk, Shared Dining, and Closures
- Hirome Market entrance → Market shops and shared dining area
Check each shop’s menu and prices, order your food, and eat in the shared dining area. The market’s overall hours differ from individual shop hours. If you arrive late, check your chosen shop’s last-order time. When the market or shop is closed, choose another restaurant open in the city.
Official Market Shops and MenusKochi Tourism Association: Station Walk, Shared Dining, and ClosuresMarket Hours and Closures
- Hirome Market → Obiyamachi shopping arcade
If you want another walk after your meal, explore the Obiyamachi shopping arcade. Plan the route back to your hotel using the market’s official access map and your hotel address.
Day-one meals and transport between your hotel and the market are excluded from the subtotal. If the final day leaves no time for the castle, check whether you can move it to day one by comparing the attraction guide’s admission cutoff and closures with your actual arrival at the castle entrance. If it does not fit, skip the castle while keeping the gorge visit day.
Day 2 · Drive to Nikobuchi’s Entrance
Give today to a round trip to Nikobuchi by car.
- Kochi City → Marked parking spaces at Nikobuchi
The tourism council estimates about 70 minutes by car from Kochi City to Nikobuchi. Car pickup, parking, and walking the trail are extra. Set navigation for Green Park Hodono and follow Nikobuchi’s parking signs on-site. Guidance lists five marked parking areas and temporary spaces when full; do not park on unmarked roadsides. Check the actual time from your pickup location, parking availability, and charges for your travel date.
Nikobuchi Driving, Parking, Walking Path, and Sightseeing Taxi GuideCurrent Location, Crowding, and Transport Links
- Marked parking spaces at Nikobuchi → The gorge and the same parking space
From your parked car, follow the walking path down to the gorge. The first section slopes, and the later section has low steps; rain and surface conditions may make walking difficult. Do not enter the water or eat or drink in the gorge. Return along the same route to your car. The ¥100 per-person request at the entrance is a voluntary contribution for environmental conservation.
Current Location, Crowding, and Transport Links¥100 Contribution GuideNikobuchi Driving, Parking, Walking Path, and Sightseeing Taxi Guide
- Nikobuchi parking area → Kochi City
Eat outside the gorge, then drive back to Kochi City. Return the rental car according to your booked return location, deadline, and refueling conditions. Skip the gorge if travel-date access restrictions prevent a visit. Changing to a bus requires separate arrangements for departure from Ino Station and return connections.
Current Location, Crowding, and Transport Links¥100 Contribution GuideNikobuchi Driving, Parking, Walking Path, and Sightseeing Taxi Guide
Day 3 · Kochi Castle Before Departure
Visit the castle before leaving. Decide whether to visit based on your departure time.
- Kochi-Ekimae tram stop → Kochijo-mae stop and Kochi Castle park
Take a Harimayabashi-bound tram from Kochi-Ekimae, then transfer at Harimayabashi toward Ino. Get off at Kochijo-mae and walk to the castle park. For cash transfers, follow the first tram’s transfer-ticket conditions at the designated stop. If you are already around Obiyamachi or Ohashidori, compare walking directly to the castle park.
- Kochi Castle park → Castle keep and Kaitokukan
Climb the castle park’s stairs and buy a ticket at the keep and Kaitokukan entrance. The paid buildings open 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m. Admission is ¥500 for ages 18 and older. They close December 26–January 1. Leave time to walk from the tram stop to the entrance and climb the stairs.
Current Admission and ClosuresKochi Castle Uphill Paths, Stairs, and Slopes
- Kochi Castle → JR Kochi Station
After your visit, take a Harimayabashi-bound tram from Kochijo-mae. Transfer at Harimayabashi toward Kochi-Ekimae and return to JR Kochi Station. If you are staying in the city longer, you can also walk down toward Obiyamachi or Ohashidori.
Included Items: Kochi Castle ¥500; rental car excluded
Extra Expenses: Flights, lodging, meals, airport or onward travel, travel between your hotel and boarding points, luggage storage, city trams outside the MY Yu ticket’s day of use, and optional paid attractions are extra. Rental cars, insurance, fuel, highway tolls, and parking fees are also extra. Nikobuchi’s ¥100 is a voluntary contribution request and is excluded from mandatory fees.
The ¥500 subtotal counts only castle admission. Add the vehicle costs needed for the gorge round trip according to your booking conditions; this is not a total trip budget.
Before Departure, On the Day, and FAQ
Does the ¥500 rental-car itinerary include the car?
The ¥500 covers only admission to Kochi Castle. Rental, insurance, fuel, highway tolls, and parking are extra. Nikobuchi's requested ¥100 contribution is also excluded from mandatory admission costs. Without a rental car, check the operating schedule and return service for the bus from Ino separately.
Current Admission and Closures¥100 Contribution GuideNikobuchi Driving, Parking, Walking Path, and Sightseeing Taxi Guide
Official Sources and Check Dates
- Boarding-Point Changes by Date ·
- Current Admission and Closures ·
- Tram Routes ·
- Market Hours and Closures ·
- Park Operations ·
- Museum Admission and Exhibitions ·
- Bus and Accessibility Guide ·
- Nikobuchi Driving, Parking, Walking Path, and Sightseeing Taxi Guide ·
- Current Location, Crowding, and Transport Links ·
- ¥100 Contribution Guide ·
- October Revision: Weekday Timetable ·
- Weekend and Public-Holiday Timetable ·
- April 2026–March 2027 Timetable, Page 2 ·
- Tram Transfers ·
- JR Service Information ·
- Official Market Access and Walk From the Stop ·
- Official Market Shops and Menus ·
- Kochi Tourism Association: Station Walk, Shared Dining, and Closures ·
- Kochi Castle Uphill Paths, Stairs, and Slopes ·