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Shimanto-gawa River
known for a limpid stream "Yosakoi-matsuri" festival filled with
fevered air of a hot country
Located in the south of Shikoku, Kochi has a chain of tall and
steep mountains at the north and faces the Pacific Ocean to the south,
with the Tosa Bay embraced by an arching coastline. The Tosa Bay has
Muroto Point lying at its end and Ashizuri Point extending at its west
end. Between these points are places of natural beauty along a
continuation of gently curved sands, including Ryuga-do, a limestone
cavern that boasts a mystic sight and the Katsura-hama beach known for
beautiful white sand and green pine.
The Shimanto-gawa River, rising at Higashitsuno-mura and winding its
way through into the Pacific Ocean, is called the last limpid stream
of Japan and known for clean water. On the river, a treasury of
fishes, such as ayu (sweet fish) and river shrimp, you can see even
today time-honored "Hiburi-ryo" fishing, a sort of torch fishing to
catch ayu by startling it into a net with a waved torch. Halfway down
the river is a popular spot for canoeing downstream. On the north side
of Muroto Point, the Shirahama and Ikumi beaches known for giant rocks
and rough reefs are thronged with vacationers who enjoy marine sports
like bathing and surfing.
Kochi City prospered as the capital town of a daimyo's fief with the
Kochi castle built early in the 17th century. Every summer there, the
"Yosakoi-matsuri Festival" highlighted by the dancing of people
attired in different team colors through the street while sounding
their clappers with both hands is staged. The festival filled with the
fevered air of a hot country attracts nearly 1 million spectators from
all over the country.
Getting there
About 1 hour and 20 minutes to Kochi Airport from Tokyo Haneda
Airport, and about 40 minutes from Itami Airport in Osaka. About 40
minutes from Kochi Airport to Kochi Station by bus. About 3 hours and
20 minutes to Okayama Station from Tokyo Station and about 40 minutes
from Shin-Osaka Station by JR Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Line. About 2
hours and 30 minutes from Okayama Station to Kochi Station by JR
Seto-ohashi-Dosan Line Limited Express.
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Ashizuri Point
Steep Cliff Covered With Subtropical Plants, Well-known Surf Fishing
Spot Close To Japan Current
Ashizuri Point on the southernmost tip of Shikoku belongs to
Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park. At the Point rises sheer an approx.
80 meters-high cliff covered with subtropical plants. The Ashizuri
Point Lighthouse commanding a view of the deep blue Pacific Ocean,
has been well-known as the symbol of Ashizuri Point since its light
came into operation in 1914.
A ramble road with an overall length of approx. 2 kilometers named
Ashizuri Point Promenade-amid-nature runs along the surrounding of
the point. The Ashizuri Point Observation and Tengu-no-hana
Observation Platform along this promenade overlooking the
lighthouse, the Japanese Current breaking on rocks near the coast
and the arched horizon far off are popular as ideal viewing points.
At the 16 meters-high, 17 meters-wide Hakusan Domon Rock Cave
created by the raging waves, visitors can see the dynamic waves
splash dashing wildly against there.
The granite Usubae Cliff jutting out from the western end of the
Matsuo Beach to the west of Ashizuri Point is one of the rare places
much closer to the Japan Current flowing northward along the Pacific
coast, well known to anglers as an ideal surf fishing spot.
Getting there
About 1 hour 20 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Kochi
Airport. About 40 minutes from Osaka Itami Airport. About 40 minutes
by bus from Kochi Airport to Kochi Station. About 3 hours 20 minutes
from Tokyo Station to Okayama Station on the JR Tokaido and Sanyo
Shinkansen Line. About 40 minutes from Shin Osaka Station. About 2
hours 30 minutes from Okayama Station to Kochi Station by a Limited
Express on the JR Seto-ohashi and Dosan Line. About 1 hour and 45
minutes from JR Kochi Station to Nakamura Station of the Tosa
Kuroshio-Tetsudo Railway Line. About 1 hour 50 minutes by bus from
Nakamura Station to Ashizuri Point.
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Kochi City
Street Car With Pet Name "Toden"(Municipal Street Car)
Ten-thousand-odd People Absorbed in Fevered Dance of "Yosakoi"
Festival
Located at the center of Kochi, Kochi City developed on the
delta of Kagami-gawa River pouring into Urado Bay. It is now the
political, economic, commercial and cultural center of the
prefecture. The city has many scenic spots and places of historical
interest including the Kochi Castle in the heart of the city and
Harimaya Bridge with old style vermilion-lacquered parapets.
Shopping streets such as the arcade in Obiyamachi along sidewalks
and Kyomachi with many deluxe coral ornament boutiques are always
crowded. Street Cars nicknamed "Toden" run in the city, serving as
the daily means of transportation for the citizens. The beautiful
Katsurahama Beach where pine grove and reefs in the sea make a fine
contrast with each other lies on the coast of Urado Bay in a
southern part of the city.
The greatest event of the prefecture is the Yosakoi Festival
featuring a dance performed wildly by ten-thousand-odd people to the
folk tune of Yosakoi-bushi. Every summer, this festival opens with a
fireworks display on the banks of Kagami-gawa River. The Yosakoi
Naruko Dance Contest, the main event of the festival, is staged at
sites throughout the city. This festival was started in 1954 as an
event held by a way of prayer for an abundant harvest of "five
crops" meaning rice, barley, (soy)beans and two kind of millet,
prosperity of the local commercial and industrial communities and a
good health of the citizens. Each one of the dance teams
participating in the contest wear uniforms varied in design and
coloring, combined with diverse and unique hair styles and many
varieties of makeup. These teams all dance energetically and lively
in their own unique ways. The stirring Yosakoi Festival gives indeed
an exciting highlight to the hot Summer in Kochi.
Getting there
About 1 hour and 20 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Kochi
Airport. About 40 minutes from Osaka Itami Airport. About 40 minutes
by bus from Kochi Airport to Kochi Station. About 3 hours and 20
minutes from Tokyo Station to Okayama Station by JR Tokaido-Sanyo
Shinkansen Line. About 40 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station. About 2
hours and 30 minutes from Okayama Station to Kochi Station by
Limited Express train on the JR Seto-ohashi and Dosan Line.
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Muroto Point
Muroto Point Dotted With Subtropical Plants - Whales and Dolphins
Can Be Watched there
Muroto Point, dotted with hibiscuses and other subtropical
plants, is located at the eastern end of Tosa Bay, and an area
around the Point is designated by the official name of Muroto-Anan
Coast Quasi-National Park. The Ransho Promenade round the tip of
Muroto Point extends approx. 1.4 kilometers along the coast line of
the Point, and many rocks and stones of oddly and monstrous shape
lie along the promenade.
The symbol of the point is the conspicuous white Muroto Point
Lighthouse whose interior is opened to the public three times a
year. A lens with a diameter as long as 2.6 meters is fitted inside
the building. The light, which is of the largest class in Japan, can
illuminate an area stretching as far as 56 kilometers. Constructed
100 years ago, the lighthouse has been guiding a navigation offshore
.
Whale catching once had its heyday in the waters off Muroto, but, in
recent years, whaling ships were replaced by whale watching ships,
those for watching fixed netting operations, etc. Except in the
typhoon season, there is a good likelihood of spotting sperm whales
as long as 15 m off Muroto Point, and the spotting of a shoal of
dolphins is not infrequent.
Getting there
About 1 hour 20 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Kochi
Airport. About 40 minutes from Osaka Itami Airport. About 40 minutes
from Kochi Airport to Kochi Station. About 3 hours 20 minutes from
Tokyo Station to Okayama Station on the JR Tokaido and Sanyo
Shinkansen Line. About 40 minutes from Shin Osaka Station. About 2
hours 30 minutes from Okayama Station to Kochi Station by a Limited
Express train on the JR Seto-ohashi and Dosan Line. About 2 hours 30
minutes by bus from Kochi Station to Muroto Point.
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Okumonobe and Teisumiyoshi
Ravine in a harmony of cropped-out white rocks with a verdure of the
mountains - Outdoor recreation surrounded by nature of the sea and
mountains
Monobe Village is located in the northeastern part of Kochi
Prefecture. About half of the village belongs to Okumonobe
Prefectural Natural Park, and the northeastern part of the village
is designated as Tsurugisan Quasi-National Park, both of which are
crowded with mountain climbers during tourist seasons from spring to
autumn.
Befukyo in Monobe Village is a steep ravine extending for about five
kilometers. Eroded and cropped out white limestone is in beautiful
harmony with a verdure of the surrounding mountains, what is more,
small falls are seen here and there. Tea stalls, observatories and
promenades are comfortably laid out. Some of the largest mountains
in Shikoku, including Mt. Ishidate and Mt. Miune, rise nearby, and
furthermore there are also hot springs, campsites, and clear streams
of the Makiyama-gawa River where you can enjoy bathing, boating and
other pleasures.
Teisumiyoshi Prefectural Natural Park is located in the middle east
part of Kochi Prefecture. It is the Natural Park of a beautiful
harmony between Kotogahama Coastline with beautiful groves of
Japanese black pine trees, and the inland areas, including Mt.
Myouken and Mt. Shiroyama, located at its hinterland. In the park,
all kinds of facilities such as those for water sports, cycling, and
golfing are comfortably arranged.
Getting there
Kochi Airport is about 1 hour 20 minutes from Tokyo Haneda
Airport, and about 40 minutes from Osaka Itami Airport. Then take a
bus from Kochi Airport to Kochi Station, which takes about 40
minutes. Okayama station is about 3 hours 20 minutes from Tokyo
station by the JR Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen Line, and about 40
minutes from Shin-Osaka station. Kochi station is about 2 hours 30
minutes from Okayama station by the JR Seto-ohashi Great Bridge and
Dosan Line Limited Express. Then take a bus from Kochi Station to
Ohtochi(Okumonobe), which takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. In order to
get to Tei, take a bus from Harimayabashi to Yasu, which takes about
45 minutes.
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Information
provided by Japan National Tourist Organization.
