Japan (Lonely Planet, 11th Edition) - Chris Rowthorn [510]
KATSURA-HAMA
Katsura-hama is a popular beach 13km south of central Kōchi at the point where Kōchi’s harbour empties out into the bay. Just before you get to the beach itself is Sakamoto Ryōma Memorial Museum (; 841-0001; 830 Jōsan; admission ¥400; 9am-5pm), where the exhibits are dedicated to the life of a local hero who was instrumental in bringing about the Meiji Restoration in the 1860s. Born in Kōchi in 1835, Ryōma brought about the alliance between the Satsuma (modern Kagoshima) and Chōshū (Yamaguchi) domains that eventually brought down the Tokugawa shogunate. He was killed in Kyoto in 1867, aged 32. The museum has a few of his belongings and copies of his letters, but there’s nothing in English and if you don’t read Japanese, you probably won’t get much out of a trip here – though there are some impressive views out to sea from the 2nd floor. A bronze statue of Ryōma stands near the beach, and his grim-looking visage appears on countless postcards and the other bits of tourist paraphernalia that spill out of the souvenir stands around the bus top.
There is an aquarium (; 841-2437; admission ¥1100; 9am-5.30pm) on the beach, and a small shrine on the hillside overlooking the ocean. Buses run to Katsura-hama from Kōchi station (¥610, 30 minutes, six daily) and Harimaya-bashi (¥560, 25 minutes, frequent).
SUNDAY MARKET
If you’re in Kōchi on a Sunday, don’t miss the colourful street market (5am-6pm Sun Apr-Sep, 6am-5pm Sun Oct-Mar) along Ōte-suji, the main road leading to the castle. The market, which has been going for some 300 years, has every-thing from fruit, vegetables and goldfish to antiques, knives and large garden stones.
Festivals
Kōchi’s lively Yosakoi Matsuri (Yosakoi Festival; ) on 10 and 11 August perfectly complements Tokushima’s Awa-odori Matsuri (12 to 15 August; Click here). There’s a night-before event on 9 August and night-after effort on 12 August, but 10 and 11 August are the big days.
Sleeping
Tosa Bekkan (; 883-5685; fax 884-9523; 1-11-34 Sakura-chō; per person ¥3800; ) The best deal in town is this homey minshuku in a quiet residential area 15 minutes’ walk (900m) from the station. It’s run by a welcoming family and features spacious Japanese-style rooms. To get here, follow the tram lines straight ahead from the station and turn left when you see Green Hotel on your right. Look out for signs on the telegraph posts with the name in Japanese.
Comfort Inn (883-1441; fax 884-3692; 2-2-12 Kita-Honmachi; s/tw with breakfast ¥5400/7200; ) The rooms are standard business-hotel fare, but this place is well run and comfortable, and just a couple of minutes’ walk from the station. There are consoles with internet in the lobby.
Hotel No 1 Kōchi (873-3333; fax 875-9999; www.hotelno1.jp/kochi/, in Japanese; 16-8 Nijūdai-machi; s/tw ¥5140/7870; ) This business hotel is in a quiet area between the station and the castle. Western-style rooms are on the small side, but the rooftop onsen is a nice touch. There is LAN access in all rooms, and there are internet consoles in the lobby.
Kōchi Palace Hotel (825-0100; www.kochipalace.co.jp, in Japanese; 1-18 Nijūdai-machi; s/d ¥6500/8500; ) This large hotel has comfortable rooms with a French restaurant and beer bar on site. It towers above everything else, two blocks west of the Harimayabashi-dōri tram line on the south side of the river. There’s LAN internet access in all rooms.
Richmond Hotel (820-1122; www.richmondhotel.jp/e/kochi/index.htm; 9-4 Obiyamachi; s ¥11,000, d ¥16,000-20,000; ) This elegant hotel with immaculate rooms and professional service is a cut above most other places in this price range, and is just off the main shopping arcade in the heart of the