Kochi City

Kochi City ( above ), located in the south of Shikoku Region, is the capital city of Kochi Prefecture and used to be the capital city of a feudal domain, Tosa Domain during Tokugawa Period ( ==> A History of Japan vol.2 Samurai Age ).

Kochi City, where more than 300 thousands people live, is one of the cities famous of highest consumption of sake in Japan. Also various kinds of local specialty dishes, which are nice especially with sake, are served here and there in the city, where lots of tourists enjoy eating and drinking.

In A.D.1601, Ieyasu Tokugawa made Kazutoyo Yamauchi a feudal lord ruling Tosa Province ( now Kochi Prefecture ). Kazutoyo Yamauchi started the construction of Kochi-jo Castle, which was completed in A.D.1611. Though most of its structures were burnt down in A.D.1727, the reconstruction of Kochi-jo Castle was completed in A.D.1753.

Since then on, the castle has been remaining extant. The main keep ( above ) of Kochi-jo Castle is one of twelve remaining main keeps of the castles in Japan and one of designated National Important Cultural Properties of Japan. Also it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Kochi City.

Adjacent to the main keep remains the main palace of the castle. The above shows the main keep ( left ) and the main palace ( right ) of Kochi-jo Castle. Tourists could walk in both, where they could see the rooms and the gardens. Kochi-jo is only one castle whose main palace remains extant as well as the main keep does.

Tourists could walk up to the top floor of the main floor of the main keep which stands on the top of a small mountain ( altitude 44m ). On the top floor tourists could enjoy overlooking Kochi City ( above ), which started growing as a castle town when Kochi-jo Castle was constructed.

In the Main Keep and the Main Palace, tourists could find unique exhibits such as the above showing how the castle was constructed hundreds years ago. Also there are exhibits related to Tosa feudal domain and feudal lords.

In the site of Kochi-jo Castle, there are 15 structures which are designated National Important Cultural Properties of Japan including the Main Keep and the Main Palace. Otemon Gate ( above ) is one of such structures. Otemon Gate was constructed in A.D.1664 and survived the big fire which destroyed most of the structures in A.D.1727.

Near Otemon Gate, there is Kochi Castle Museum of History whose exhibits show the history of Tosa Province and Kochi Prefecture. Also its collection includes treasures held by feudal lords of the Yamauchis.

Also there is Hirome Ichiba Market ( above ) near Otemon Gate of Kochi-jo Castle. Hirome Ichiba Market, a food court, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Kochi City as well as the castle is. Lots of tourists enjoy eating and drinking as well as local people do.

In Hirome Ichiba Market, there are many tables and chairs surrounded by dozens of shops, restaurants and stalls, many of whom serve drinks and foods including various kinds of local specialty dishes. I do believe Hirome Ichiba Market is one of the best places to enjoy local specialty dishes in Kochi City.

The above shows Katsuo Tataki served in a restaurant in Kochi City. Katsuo Tataki ( or Katsuo no Tataki ) is the most famous and popular Local Specialty Dish in Kochi. So there Katsuo Tataki is served in many restaurants and izakaya including Hirome Ichiba Market. In Kochi, tourists could enjoy eating many more local specialty dishes such as moray eel, laver, freshwater shrimp, gluttonous goby and so on.

Tourists could be interested not only in eating but also in watching how local specialty dishes are prepared. The above shows a cook roasting Katsuo ( bonito ) fillet over a fire fueled with straw in Hirome Ichiba Market. When the surface of the fillet is seared with its centre remaining raw, the Katsuo fillet is plunged in iced water and sliced. The slices of Katsuo fillet is served with salt or sauce made from shoyu ( soy sauce ) and citrus, raw garlic, onion and so on. Then Katsuo Tataki is ready.

Chikurin-ji Temple is located on the mountainside of Mount Godai-san ( altitude 146m ) in the east of Kochi City. Chikurin-ji Temple is one of the 88 temples which constitute Shikoku Henro Pilgrimage. So many pilgrims visit Chikurin-ji as well as many tourists. It is said that the main hall ( above ) of the temple was built in the 14-15th century and is one of designated National Important Cultural Properties of Japan.

There are many more which could interest tourists in Chikurin-ji Temple such as a pair of Nio statues ( carved in A.D.1686 - above ) housed in Nio-mon Gate. They are muscular guardians of Buddha and they guard the temple.

There in the site of the temple is a garden which was designed by Soseki Muso, a famous Zen Buddhism priest and garden designer in the 14th century. A few more structures and a dozen of Buddha statues are designated National Important Cultural Properties of Japan.

There are Makino Botanical Gardens near Chikurin-ji, another one of popular tourist attractions located on the mountainside of Mount Godai-san.

Katsura-hama Beach ( above ), located in the south of Kochi City facing Pacific Ocean, is another one of popular tourists attractions. Though it is not allowed to swim at the beach due to strong currents, many tourists visit there.

On a hill near the beach stands a famous statue of Ryoma Sakamoto, who was born in Kochi City and played a big part in overthrowing Tokugawa Shogunate in the 19th century. Also there is the Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum near the beach. Ryoma Sakamoto is one of the most famous and respected heroes not only in Kochi but also throughout Japan.