1-Day Kochi Highlights Tour with local guide
Description
Explore the heart of Kochi, a city where history, nature, and culture blend into a truly unique experience. Known as the hometown of samurai hero Sakamoto Ryoma, Kochi offers a journey full of charm, character, and discovery. From peaceful temples and lush botanical gardens to vibrant local markets and iconic castles, this tour gives you a taste of everything that makes Kochi unforgettable. ・Visit Tosa and Chikurinji Temples, nestled beside the stunning Makino Botanical Garden ・Experience the flavors of Kochi at Hirome Market, a lively hub of food, energy, and local life ・Discover the majestic Kochi Castle, one of Japan’s few remaining original castles
Tour Options
Itinerary
Known as "the best castle on the Nankaido (road)," is a symbol of Kochi City. Currently, there are only 12 castles from the pre-Edo period in Japan, but Kochi Castle is one of the most precious castles. The current main tower was rebuilt in August 1747. The greatest feature of Kochi Castle is that the cohesive entirely of the main building group, with the Tenshu, Goten, and Corridor Bridge, all being completely present along with the stone wall and so on. The gazebo on the top floor of the castle tower overlooks Kochi city.
Large hall with food stalls from around 40 various restaurants, plus souvenir shops and other shops. Perhaps you will enjoy some of the famous “Katsuo Tataki,” which is seared bonito fish. It is recommended that you put salt and sliced garlic on it before tasting. Do enjoy the local foods unique to Kochi.
The Makino Botanical Garden, located at the summit of Godaiyama, Kochi, was opened in 1958 to honor the achievements of Dr. Tomitaro Makino, the "father of Japanese plant taxonomy" from Kochi Prefecture. About 3,000 hectares, including wild plants related to the doctor, color the four seasons in the approximately 6 hectares of the garden, making it one of Japan's leading integrated botanical gardens where you can feel the joy of meeting plants in nature.
Prospered greatly due to the devotion of the Tosa lord, and monk disciples gathered, becoming the center of Tosa culture as a study temple. Many works of great importance have come out of this place, and there is a “secret” Buddha that is only shown to the public once every 50 years. Further, the five-storied pagoda built in the precinct is the only one in Kochi Prefecture, and the tower contains stupas solicited from Bodh Gaya, India.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Kochi port is not near from the central Kochi city, so if you are the cruise guest, we'll meet at Harimayabashi Tourist Bus Terminal, it's a shuttle bus stop from Kochi port. You can access easily by shuttle bus.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(194)
We had a wonderful day exploring Kochi with Miyo! She was kind, knowledgeable, helpful, and very understanding throughout the tour. We visited the beautiful Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden, explored the Kochi Arcade, enjoyed a delicious traditional Japanese lunch, and finished at Kochi Castle. Miyo made the day enjoyable and stress-free with her warm personality and local knowledge. We highly recommend her to anyone visiting Kochi!
Dear Joshua, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a memorable day in Kochi with Miyo. It’s wonderful to know she helped make everything smooth and enjoyable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again! Best regards, Kyoko
Excellent English speaking guide - Rimo
Dear Russell, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that Rimo took great care of your group and made your day in Kochi enjoyable. She will be very happy to know you appreciated her English and local insights. We truly appreciate you joining our tour and hope to welcome you again! Best regards, Kyoko
Peach was so great. She made every effort to ensure that our group had a wonderful time in Kochi. Highly recommend!
Dear valued guest, Thank you for the lovely review! So glad to hear Peach helped make your time in Kochi so enjoyable. We really appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you again soon! Best regards, Kyoko
A wonderful day with Kumiko!! Our group of 7 with 3 teens had a FANTASTIC time. From the moment she saw us at the bus stop she was waiting with excitement! She did a wonderful job showing us Kochi and helping us feel the joy of her home! She sang for us. Danced with us. Showed us so many wonderful things. She nicely navigated the bus and the transportation for us. We enjoyed the experience. We rarely waited. We loved the gardens and she showed and taught us so much there. It was absolutely stunning the flowers and the shrine. She took great pictures for us and really had fun teaching us. We then went to the market where we ate at a wonderful restaurant she set up reservations and pre ordered for us so we didn’t have to wait. The food was delicious and a great Japanese experience. She gifted us so lovely kind gifts. We then went to the castle with her and she took us up and through there as well. She helped us get a taxi straight back to our ship! Overall we had a wonderful day with her. Lots of great memories. Thank you Kumiko!!!!
Dear valued guest, Thank you for your detailed 5-star review! We’re pleased to hear that Kumiko’s enthusiasm, local knowledge, and thoughtful care made your Kochi tour exceptional. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you again! Best regards, Kyoko
Mitsue was a great guide. She is from Kochi and you could feel her love for the city. We had an incredible lunch at a local restaurant and enjoyed the botanical gardens. We went to Kochi castle to finish the tour. She was kind and sweet. She took many pictures for us and then sent them to us via email. She captured our special moments. She even brought Japanese fans as a gift to my husband and I.
Dear valued guest, Thank you for your 5-star review! So happy to hear you enjoyed exploring Kochi with Mitsue. We’re glad her photos and the fans made your experience even more special. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to hosting you again! Best regards, Kyoko
Outstanding day. Our guide was very knowledge and helpful. The Botanical Gardens are a must see in this area.
Dear Michael, Thank you for the fantastic review! We’re so happy to hear you had an outstanding day and enjoyed the Botanical Gardens. Glad the guide could make your experience even better. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to hosting you again! Best regards, Kyoko
Our guide, Kayko, met us at the bus stop as planned and then led us on a memorable day of sightseeing. Kayko was one of the best, if not the best guides we’ve ever had. She was kind, friendly and very knowledgeable. Kayko was just as interested in our culture as we were with hers. Our schedule was a bit shortened unexpectedly and Kayko was accommodating and gave us options of places to see in the time we had. She also arranged for a delicious lunch. The botanical garden is a must see, and the Kochi Castle was fascinating, albeit a challenge to climb. It is not for the faint of heart. Despite the rainy weather, Kayko managed to make the day bright and memorable. Count your blessings of you get Kayko as your guide.
Dear valued guest, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear you had such a memorable day in Kochi and that Kayko made the experience bright and enjoyable despite the rain. We truly appreciate your kind words and recommendation. Wishing you many more amazing journeys ahead! Best regards, Kyoko
Our tour guide was so enthusiastic and she knew her history of the city well!
Dear valued guest, Thank you so much for booking our Kochi Highlights Tour and for sharing your kind review! We’re delighted to hear that your guide’s enthusiasm and knowledge helped make the day enjoyable for your group. We truly appreciate your feedback, and we hope to welcome you back to Japan again in the future! Best regards, Kyoko
Rimo was an incredible guide in Kochi. She made it SO easy and fun. We didn't have to worry about a single thing. She was absolutely so kind and informative and made the best SOOO fun!
Dear valued guest, Thank you so much for joining our Kochi Highlights Tour and for sharing such a wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that Rimo made your day easy, fun, and full of great memories. We truly appreciate your kind words, and we hope to welcome you back to Japan again in the future! Best regards, Kyoko
Additional fees for cabs. Not mentioned in description of tour.
Dear Martin, Thank you for joining our Kochi Highlights Tour and for your feedback. We’re glad to hear Peach was a good guide! Regarding the taxi fees, the tour description and our pre‑tour messages do note that these costs are not included. We’re sorry if this wasn’t clear on your end, and we’ll make the wording even easier to notice for future guests. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts, and we hope you enjoyed your time in Japan. Best regards, Kyoko
