Walking the narrow streets of small town Akaoka at night with nothing illuminating the way but candlelight and paper lanterns strung up above, one instantly notices this is not your typical festival. Feeling a little more like Halloween, Ekin Festiva..
If you're not a fan of big cities, or just need a break from the constant crowd, the much slower pace of Kochi City will be a welcome addition to your travel itinerary in Japan. Kochi City is the capital of Kochi Prefecture, and has a population of about 343,000. On first look, Kochi is not much..
The rural town of Kami in Kochi Prefecture is best known for its Anpanman Museum. What it doesn't have in spades are enticing eateries, at least not that I could tell. So when I saw the signs for a cafe and onsen on the other side of the tow..
One of my new favorite cafes in Kochi City, Terzo Tempo, also happens to be a type of Komin cafe (like Ocho-8). With the whole front of the restaurant level opened up, the cafe gets a lot of natural lighting. Combined with the simple decor o..
Perhaps the best way to start telling you about La Prima Volta is with a quote from the owner and head chef: “Our main ingredients are all local, all Kochi grown or reared, and then with the addition of the very best of Italian herbs, spice..
The drive from Kochi City to Nakatsukawa is one of the most beautiful in Japan. Winding up higher and higher into the mountains, grand curves give you fleeting views of the Pacific over your shoulder. Soon you encounter the great Shimanto River, with..
About an hour and a half southwest of Kochi city by car, there's a little town, Nakatosa, along the major road on the coast called the 56. Nakatosa is a fishing town positioned in the middle of a small bay with mountains and hills all around. On ..
Three men dazzle the eye at JR Kochi Station. They are a commanding, much photographed and admired presence. They are actually statues, of Sakamoto Ryoma, Takechi Hanpeita, and Nakaoka Shintaro, esteemed samurai instrumental in bringing about Japan&r..
The fascinating Kaiyodo Kappa Museum is dedicated to one of Japan's best-known mythological creatures, and is a 'must-see' for anyone traveling to Kochi Prefecture. Opened in July 2012, in the same remote valley of Shikoku as Kaiyodo'..
In July 2011, the famous Osaka-based company, Kaiyodo, remodeled the gymnasium of a recently-closed elementary school in the town of Shimanto and opened a museum there that showcases many of its collectable figurines and model kits. There are over 10..
