Spots in Aki / Muroto Area

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Aki / Muroto

Category

Monet's Garden Marmottan in Kitagawa Village

4.5

120 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kouchi Pref. Akigunkitagawamura Notomo Kou 1100

The gardens of Giverny in France so loved by the impressionist painter Claude Monet have been replicated in Kitagawa Village, Aki County, Kochi Prefecture. Here in the vast gardens are some 100,000 plants. Different scenes can be enjoyed throughout the four seasons where visitors can delight in the Flower Garden with flowers blooming throughout the year, the Water Garden which features in replica form Monet’s memorable series of works, the Water Lilies, as well as the Light Garden which is based on Monet’s expedition to the Mediterranean Sea. From about June each year the lush blue water lilies, which were said never to have bloomed for Monet until the end, are an exceptional sight. There is also an observatory, a restaurant, and shop.

So very pretty. This is not a copy of the garden at Giverny, but rather a garden that recreates the feel and scenes of Monets paintings. I was fortunate enough to visit in August, when the...
Cape Muroto

Travel / Tourism

Kouchi Pref. Murotoshi Murotomisakichou

Cape Muroto has been selected as one of Japan’s best 100 coastal spots. It is a beautiful scenic spot where visitors can see the deep blue ocean, and a white lighthouse stands at the very tip of the cape.
Chikurinzan Konomineji Temple

4.0

26 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kouchi Pref. Akigunyasudachou Tounohama 2594

This temple on the side of Mt. Kounomine is located in Tounohama, Yasuda Town, Aki County. It is the 27th of 88 temples on the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Originally built during the time of Empress Jingu as a Shinto temple, Buddhist images were later enshrined there together with Shinto deities by the Buddhist priest Gyoki. It was later established as a Buddhist temple by the monk Kobo Daishi. An anecdote exists about the mother of Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of the Mitsubishi zaibatsu, who visited the temple 21 days in a row to wish for her son’s success.

第２７番札所神峯寺国道から山道へ、うねうねしながら進んだ先にひっそりと山肌に境内はあります。駐車場から山道を歩いて山門までは５分ほど、本堂はさらに階段を上り進みます。本堂は霧に包まれていて景色は楽しめませんでしたが雰囲気は素晴らしい。人もまばらでゆっくりとお参りすることができました。
Kongochoji Temple

4.0

29 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kouchi Pref. Murotoshi Moto Otsu 523

This temple is 26th of the 88 sacred places on the Shikoku Pilgrimage. It is said that Kobo Daishi made the Bhaisajyaguru at the behest of Emperor Heizei and the temple was established with this at the principal object of worship. It was originally a temple that did not allow women therefore they had to worship at the women’s temple that had been built around four kilometers away. It has several Buddhist statues including the wooden seated statue of Amitabha stored in the repository and which have been designated as Nationally Important Cultural Properties. There is a large red pot called the Ichiryu Manbai Pot and it is said Kobo Daishi saved the people from starvation by cooking rice in the pot and multiplying it by 10,000.

第２６番札所金剛頂寺思ったほど高台にはありませんが少し登ります。うっそうとした原生林に囲まれている先には広い境内。夕方に差し掛かりそうな時間で人影はまばらだったのでゆっくりとお参りしながら見て回ることができました。
Muroto Schoolhouse Aquarium

4.5

17 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kochi Muroto-shi Murotomisakicho 533-2

廃校を水族館にしたコトが売りの水族館かな？と思っていましたが、良い意味で裏切られました！学校での思い出、地域固有の文化の共有、海洋プラスチック問題...そこに主役の水生生物たちがいる空間このユニークな世界観に魅せられました！！！なんとこの地ではかつてはお土産やお祝いの品として、ウミガメのはくせいを贈る習慣があったとのこと。 2Fの剥製コーナーは必見ですよ- バス停は「むろと廃校水族館」 D...
Roadside Station Tanoekiya

4.0

29 Reviews

Transportation

Kouchi Pref. Aki-gun Tanocho Kamishimata 1431-1

This roadside station located on the side of Tosa-higashi Highway in Tano Town, Aki County is part of Tano Station. Its shop offers regional specialties, fresh seafood, vegetables harvested fresh each morning by local farmers, bento boxes, side dishes, and more. The station’s food corner offers udon and other types of noodles, rice dishes such as their surimidon (which features fried fish paste coated with Tosa Jiro eggs and served on a bowl of rice), ice cream, and more. It also offers tourist information and rental cycles, making it a good base for sightseeing in the surrounding area.

鉄道「ごめん〜なはり線」の駅も兼ねている道の駅です。柚子を使った食品や、芋けんぴなど高知のお菓子などが販売されていました。私達は幾つかお菓子を購入しました。また食堂も併設されていますがメニューに地元色は少なかったです。ちなみに電気自動車の充電スタンドがありました。
Kiragawa Historic Streets

4.0

33 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kouchi Pref. Muroto-shi Kiragawacho Ko 2200-1

Kiragawa-cho, Muroto City is a neighborhood that has retained its Meiji era townscape. Lined with merchant houses, storehouses, and other period buildings, it was the first district in Kochi Prefecture to be designated as a National Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings. The district is notable for its plaster walls, “mizukiri” drainage tiles, and its “ishiguro,” stone masonry outer walls built to protect homes from typhoons.

高知市から室戸岬に向かう途中に伝統的建造物群保存地区がひっそりとある。美しい四国漆喰の壁を守るために壁面に多重の屋根を配している。その伝統を守りながら現在も使い続けているところに価値がある。どの地方でもそうだが、過疎化に抗いながらの保存は並大抵の努力が必要である。
Murotozan Myojoin Hotsumisakiji Temple

4.5

4 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kouchi Pref. Murotoshi Murotomisakichou 4058-1

This temple is located in Muroto-Anan Kaigan Quasi-National Park in Murotomisaki-cho, Muroto City. The 24th of the 88 temples on the Shikoku Pilgrimage, it was the first sacred site? in Kochi Prefecture. The temple is sometimes called Higash-dera (east temple) because of its juxtaposition with Kongochoji, also known as Nishi-dera (west temple), which is located on the western side of Murotomisaki Cape and is the 26th temple on the pilgrimage. The temple enshrines a number of Buddhist images that are nationally-designated Important Cultural Properties including the stone statue of Nyoirin Kannon sitting in half lotus position, the wooden seated statue of Yakushi Nyorai, and the wooden standing statue of the bodhisattvas Candraprabha.

ここの多宝塔は朱色ではなくピンク色になっています。建立当時は鮮やかな朱色であったものが、潮風などの影響を長年受けて変色したのかなと思いました。
Roadside Station Kira Messe Muroto

4.0

9 Reviews

Transportation

Kochi Pref. Muroto City Kiragawacho Hei 890-11

This roadside station is located on the side of National Route 55 in Hei Kiragawa-cho, Muroto City. Its restaurant offers set meals, donburi (rice bowls), and other dishes made with ingredients including local fish, the local fruits and vegetable, and Koshihikari rice grown in Kiragawa-cho. It also offers as a selection of whale dishes. The facility also features a market that offers products such as fresh produce, fresh fish, and processed products. At the Kujirakan whale museum, visitors can see museum exhibits on Muroto’s whaling tradition and also experience entertaining VR and AR content.

道の駅に併設されたレストラン。駐車場が道の駅利用者とレストラン利用者とで別れており、繁忙期はレストラン利用者以外は入場できないように警備員が常駐している。料理の味も値段も手頃でスタッフの接客も良かったのだが駐車場警備員の対応は問題ありでした。レストラン利用なのに駐車場の使用を断られて道の駅の駐車場まで停めにいくことに。昼前で混雑することを予想してのオペレーションだったのでしょうが混雑を避けて早めに...
Muroto UNESCO Global Geopark Center

4.5

10 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kouchi Pref. Murotoshi Murotomisakichou 1810-2

This is a base facility for the Muroto UNESCO Global Geopark. You should come here first when you visit the Geopark for the visitor center and information center. The Muroto UNESCO Global Geopark is introduced on a large screen at the Geo Theater using high resolution images. They also introduce goods and various hands-on programs.

室戸岬自体はあまり観光地化されて織らず、拍子抜けしてしまいますが、周囲を見てみると興味深いところです。室戸ユネスコ世界ジオパークセンターで地形地質の説明を見ることができます。室戸岬は隆起しています。そのため、この地にある空海が修行したという御厨人窟（みくろど）もかつては波打ち際にあったのではないかということです。そして、地震がある度に隆起して港が浅くなってしまい、大変なようです。また、この...
AKI STATION JIBASAN MARKET

4.0

22 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kochi Aki-shi Yanomaru 4-2-30

A shop in Aki Station on the Gomen-Nahari Line. It sells fresh vegetables picked in the eastern area, prepared items, and fresh fish. The shop is popular with the locals, offering an array of boxed lunches, locally made side dishes, and specialties like local sake and Uchiharano-yaki ware. Its bakery sells a large variety of items baked fresh daily, including their popular Eggplant Curry Buns; a favorite of folks of all ages, they feature eggplant, a local specialty. They also lend out bikes for free.

安芸駅目の前にある、道の駅的物産店です。店内は清潔で野菜生鮮からパン、お酒まで気軽に入れ手頃な価格で購入できます。安芸駅を使う事があるのなら立ち寄るべき場所です。
Umaji Onsen, Community Center Umaji

4.0

19 Reviews

Accommodations / Hot Spring

Kouchi Pref. Akigunumajimura Umaji 3564-1

This hot spring inn and day spa is located in Umaji, Umaji Village, Aki County. Its baths, which are fed by a sodium - hydrogen carbonate - chloride spring, are said to help with wounds, burns, rheumatism, and other conditions. Family baths are also available. Guests can also enjoy yuzu citrus baths during the winter solstice. The inn’s restaurant offers set meals and other items made with the delicious seasonal food of the land and the rivers, Kochi’s Tosa Jiro local chicken breed, yuzu citrus (one of the specialties of Umaji), and other ingredients. It also offers bungalows in addition to standard guest rooms.

宿泊しなくても立ち寄るだけでも大丈夫。レストランは意外とメニューが豊富で地元のものから一般的なものまであり、子供用もあります。敷地内に遊具もあり、河川敷もあり子供連れでも十分楽しめる場所です。
Nakaoka Shintaro Museum

4.0

18 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kouchi Pref. Akigunkitagawamura Kashiwagi 140

This museum is located in Kashiwagi, Kitagawa Village, Aki County. It features exhibits related to Nakaoka Shintaro, a samurai who played a major role in the Satsuma-Choshu Alliance alongside Sakamoto Ryoma. These exhibits include videos and panels on the life of Nakaoka as well as valuable historical artifacts. The museum also holds special exhibits about the Bakumatsu, the final years of the Edo period.

こんな片田舎に凛々しくたたずむ立派な資料館。幕末の志士として坂本龍馬が有名ですが、中岡慎太郎の生い立ちや業績を知れば知るほど彼がいてこその坂本龍馬だと知ることができました。
Aki City Museum of History and Folklore

4.0

9 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kochi Aki-shi Doi 953-I

A museum located at the site of Aki Castle. The Goto family—senior Tosa domain officials during the Warring States period—once lived there. It houses documents related to the Goto family, a valuable resource for understanding the Tosa domain during the feudal era. There is also a collection of arts and crafts, weapons, and folk implements connected to the local area. The permanent exhibition showcases important people with Aki ties, such as the founder of the Mitsubishi Group, Yataro Iwasaki. Archaeological artifacts excavated within the city limits and old documents are also on display, making it easy to get an overview of Aki's history. Special exhibits, such as of dolls from the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods, are held two or three times a year.

Great place to learn a bit about the history of Aki City (and Kochi Prefecture). They have a basic guide available in English.
Roadside Station Kiramesse Muroto Whale Museum

4.5

5 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kochi Muroto-shi Kiragawacho Hei 890-11

A whaling museum at Roadside Station Kiramesse Muroto. The interactive museum uses digital displays to showcase Muroto and its history with whaling, making it a fun place to learn for kids and adults alike. The varied exhibits and facilities include virtual reality headsets that let you feel what it was like on a traditional boat, the “Deck AR” lookout, and a room for workshops.

VRゴーグルを装着して、鯨や海亀等々の魚たちと海の中をバーチャル画像で楽しめて良かったです。VRによる仮想空間体験が初めてだったのでテンション上がりました。
Umaji Shinrin Railway and Incline

3.5

6 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kouchi Pref. Akigunumajimura Umaji 3564-1

This forest railway is located in front of Community Center Umaji in Umaji, Umaji Village, Aki County. The roughly 300-meter-long railway is a 2:3 scale reproduction of the forest railway that was once used to carry lumber here. The top of the steep incline offers a sweeping view of the surrounding scenery.

天気もよく、坂を下り馬路温泉に車を止めて坂を上ると目の前に森林鉄道があり、週末と祝日しかやってないみたいです。木でできた切符をもらい歩いても行ける距離を二周回ってくれます。そよ風も心地よく、川の流れも綺麗でお子さんにはとても喜ばれると思います。
Cape Muroto Lighthouse

Travel / Tourism

Kouchi Pref. Murotoshi Murotomisakichou

This lighthouse is the symbol of Cape Muroto, which juts out into the deep-blue sea. The contrast between the chalk-white lighthouse and the vast ocean expanse is gorgeous, making it a popular spot for taking in the view. The lens has a diameter of 2.6 meters making it one of the largest in Japan. Every year on the Sundays before and after November 1st, a “Lighthouse Festival” is held and the interior is opened to the public.
Kagetsu

4.5

25 Reviews

Gourmet / Alcohol

Kouchi Pref. Murotoshi Murotsu 2586

This Japanese restaurant is located in Murotsu, Muroto City. Seasonal fish and shellfish landed in Muroto is kept alive in the restaurant until it is served fresh in a variety of seafood dishes. The restaurant is also famous for its whale cuisine, including whale sashimi and nitsuke (whale boiled in soy sauce), as well as harihari-nabe (whale hot pot) in the winter. The restaurant is one of several local eateries in Muroto, one of Japan’s biggest producers of splendid alfonsino, that serves the local delicacy Muroto Kinmedon. This dish features a splendid alfonsino boiled in soy sauce and served on a bowl of rice.

以前から気になっていたお店ですが、機会ができたため伺いました。 11時40分頃に到着しましたが、駐車場が…って思いきや2台の車両が出庫したので、数分で入庫できました。駐車場は4台か5台並列駐車ができます。入店して私たちの前に数組待っていましたが、店員の説明では「呼ばれていない場合は順番を繰り上げます」との事で、5分ほどで呼ばれて呆気なく入店着座です。メニューを見ると、私たちは室戸キンメ丼...
Aki Calligraphy Art Museum

3.5

4 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kochi Aki-shi Doi 953-I

Japan's first calligraphy museum. Located in Doikachu at the site of Aki Castle, its Calligraphy Hall of Fame has received national attention. Calligraphy has been very popular in Aki since the feudal era. During the late Taisho and Showa periods it produced master calligraphers such as Oun Kawatani, the Shotei Brothers, and Yukei Teshima. The museum houses approximately 2,000 pieces of Japanese calligraphy brushed by them and other leading artists. Around 100 works of Chinese characters, the Japanese syllabary, and seal engravings by currently active calligraphers are always on display.

Small museum next to the history museum where you can see some interesting pieces from all over Japan. They sometimes have calligraphy workshops/classes there too. They change up their displays every...
Konrinji Temple

3.5

4 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kochi Aki-gun Umajimura Umaji 4281

A Shingon Buddhist temple of the Koyasan lineage located in the mountains of eastern Kochi Prefecture. The exact date of construction is unknown, but it dates back as far as the late Heian period and has long been a center of local faith. Legend says the priest Kobo Daishi (Kukai) built it in a single night. It's the only nationally designated Important Cultural Property in eastern Kochi Prefecture. The 5.5-meter beams of the inner and outer hall and the 7.3-meter cross beams of the temple hall are made in a style typical of the middle and late Muromachi periods. Simply yet skillfully built with high-quality materials like cypress and cedar, the construction method of using wide boards rather than rafters is unusual. The temple is highly valued as an example of the region's architectural culture come to fruition.

平安時代前期に空海が建立したと伝承されている寺院です。当然(無理な話ですが)一夜建立とも云われている薬師堂は重文指定されていました。この堂宇の素晴らしさは色彩で飾ってなくて、木の有する本来の美しさが今に伝わっている点です。構造も垂木を使用せずに軒板だけで軒を支えていると云う全国的にも稀有な構造をしています。使用木材は当然、魚梁瀬の良質な森林から切り出されたものです。境内自由。

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Kochi Areas

The largest of Shikoku’s prefectures, Kochi is endowed with some of the island’s most exceptional sand beaches lining the Pacific Ocean, which narrows into the Shimanto-gawa, a huge river that stretches 196 kilometers into the prefecture, passing verdant mountains and hosting countless riverside activities. Whether you’re a pilgrim or not, Kochi’s 16 Buddhist temples that make up one leg of the Shikoku Pilgrimage are worth a visit, particularly Chikurin-ji for its five-tier pagoda.