Dig deeper into the charms of Kochi! Recommended 7 spots of Japanese Heritage and Important Cultural Properties in Kochi Prefecture
2023-09-06 Management office
Many people think of the names of great achievers such as "Sakamoto Ryoma," "Itagaki Taisuke," and "John Manjiro" when they think of Kochi Prefecture's famous history. However, there are many people who have achieved great things in the history of Kochi Prefecture. However, Kochi Prefecture is also home to 3 national treasures, 84 important cultural properties, and 1,865 special natural monuments (national, prefectural, and municipal), many of which are still in existence today.
Among them are many power spots and social networking sites. This article introduces 7 carefully selected Japanese heritage and important cultural asset spots that you must visit when you visit Kochi Prefecture.
Among them are many power spots and social networking sites. This article introduces 7 carefully selected Japanese heritage and important cultural asset spots that you must visit when you visit Kochi Prefecture.
Author of this article
Management office
Table of Contents
- 1.
- 1-1.2.
- 2-1.3.
- 3-1.4.
- 4-1.5.6.
- 6-1.7.
- 7-1.
Horakuji Yakushido Hall (National Treasure)
This is the Horakuji Yakushido, one of the three major yakushido in Japan and recognized as a national treasure in 1952.
It is believed to have been built in 1151 based on the inscription on the Buddha statue enshrined in the Yakushido, making it the oldest structure in Shikoku.
In the inner sanctuary of the Yakushido, there are three important cultural properties: a wooden seated statue of Yakushi Nyorai, a wooden statue of Yakushi Nyorai and his two supporting statues, and a wooden statue of Niten Oritai, a wooden statue of Amida Nyorai. " are enshrined in the temple.
Viewed from afar, the building's stately appearance amidst deep moss and the light that cloaks it is breathtaking.
The view from the torii gate before reaching the Horakuji Yakushido is also breathtaking.
From the staircase, which is surrounded by trees and seems to suck you into the sky, you can already imagine how many hundreds of years of history have passed.
I recommend taking one first as it is very photogenic.
The highlight! Over 800 years of techniques and methods
The Yakushido Hall, a national treasure, is a single-story irimoya-style building with a girder and beam span of 5 ken.
The roof is shingled, which is a method of building with layers of thin, small pieces of cedar and other wood. The beautifully curved and graceful appearance of the shingles is a result of this method.
The walls are wooden, and the center three rooms have wooden doors that open in a kannon style. The two side windows are lattice windows, which are made of long, narrow pieces of wood, set in a series of vertical and horizontal rows.
When you arrive at the Horakuji Yakushido, please enter the main hall. The air is cool and refreshing, and you will feel as if you are enveloped by something while you are being prepared for anything.
From the outside and from the inside, it is hard to believe that it was built hundreds of years ago. Please visit.
"Facility Information "
Facility Name: Hourakuji Yakushido
Address: 314 Terauchi, Otoyo-cho, Nagaoka-gun, Kochi
Phone number: 0887-73-0029
Regular holiday: No mid-year break
Admission: Exterior visit free/Interior visit ￥500 (reservation required)
URL：https://www.otoyo-kankou.com/spot/burakuji/
Kochi Castle (Important Cultural Properties)
Kochi Castle was designated as an important cultural property in 1950.
The foundation of this historic castle was laid by Kazutoyo Yamauchi, the first lord of the Tosa domain, and his wife Chiyo, who received the entire domain of Tosa from Ieyasu Tokugawa for their achievements in the Battle of Sekigahara.
Construction of the new castle began in 1601 and took about 10 years to complete. It is one of the 12 castles in Japan with a castle keep still standing from the Edo period. Among them, Kochi Castle has as many as 15 buildings, including the castle keep and Otemon Gate, designated as Important Cultural Properties.
Lots of tricks! Highlights of Kochi Castle
You can see this very rare device as it is still in existence in Kochi Castle.
To prevent muddy water from entering the stone walls and causing them to collapse, a "stone gutter" is a system for draining water that protrudes from the stone walls.
The iron sword "Shinobashira" was installed to drive back enemies who climbed up the stone wall of the castle tower and prevent them from entering.
A long, horizontal opening called a "viewing window" to monitor the enemy's movements from inside the wall, etc.
Kochi Prefecture is characterized by its rainy climate, which means that water measures and protection-related measures are well established.
This is the Ote-mon Gate, the main gate of Kochi Castle, which is designated as one of the Important Cultural Properties.
It is a turreted gate with a watchtower (watariyagura) built on a stone wall piled with large stones. In front of the gate is a gate with a narrow space for shooting enemies with guns and arrows, and it is surrounded by a wall with a narrow space for arrows, so that it can be attacked from three directions.
Another reason why many castle fans rush to the site is that the Otemon Gate and the castle keep can be captured in a single photograph. This is very rare among castles in Japan.
Many other structures have survived to the present day, and the charm of Kochi Castle is that you can feel as if you have stepped back in time to the Edo period.
A bronze statue of Chiyo, wife of Kazutoyo Yamauchi, stands on Suginodan in Kochi Castle.
Chiyo is a person known for her support "of her husband "who was a great help to her. One of her stories is about a famous horse that Kazutoyo met. The famous horse was too expensive to buy, but Chiyo was able to purchase it by offering her dowry to Kazutoyo. Later, the famous horse caught the attention of Nobunaga Oda at "Horse Arrangement ", which was a samurai family event with a military parade aspect, and it is said that this famous horse led to Kazutoyo's rise in the world.
The bronze statue can be seen because it is said that Chiyo and Meima, who supported her husband in times of need, led to the construction of Kochi Castle. It is said that Chiyo and Meima, who supported their husbands in times of need, were the inspiration for the construction of Kochi Castle, which is why you can see the bronze statue.
"Facility Information "
Name: Kochi Castle
Address: 1-2-1 Marunouchi, Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture
Phone number: 088-824-5701
Hours: 9:00~17:00 (last admission by 16:30)
Closed: December 26 - January 1 of the following year
Admission: Adults ￥420, Children under 18 free
URL：https://kochipark.jp/kochijyo/
Former Yamauchi family's tenement house (Important Cultural Property)
This is the "Former Yamauchi Family Shimoyashiki Rowhouse," which was designated as a National Important Cultural Property in 1979.
It is a two-story building with a girder length of 17.5 ken and a beam length of 2.5 ken, built in 1864 by Toyonori Yamauchi, the 16th lord of the domain, as a subordinate residence. It is believed to have been built to accommodate the many foot soldiers who guarded the Shimoyashiki, and this scale of row house construction is rare and important nationwide.
It is said that "in 1863, Takamori Saigo met Hideto Yamauchi as an envoy of Hisamitsu Shimazu of the Shimazu domain, where he is said to have offered to Hideto Yamauchi to come to Tokyo to work hard on national affairs.
This is an important place that can be seen to have been one of the places amidst the great swell of events towards the end of the Edo period. Seeing such a place still existing in the center of Kochi City, one can feel a unique atmosphere.
The present, which retains the appearance of the lower mansion
Today, the former Yamauchi Family Shimoyashiki row houses are located on the grounds of the hotel "Sansuien ". It is an authentic samurai residence that still retains its original appearance, and exhibits tools and other items that give visitors an insight into the lives of clan members and common people in the late Edo period.
You can also visit the museum for free.
"Facility Information "
Name of facility: Former Yamauchi family's tenement house
Address: 1-3-35 Takasho-cho, Kochi-shi, Kochi
Phone number: 088-832-7277
Business hours: 7:00~17:00
Closed: Open all year round (*Sometimes closed temporarily)
Admission: Free
URL：https://www.city.kochi.kochi.jp/site/kanko/nagaya.html
Tosa Shrine (Important Cultural Property)
It was rebuilt in 1570 by Motochika Chosokabe, and the main shrine, the hall of offerings and worship (1905), the drum tower (1934), and the tower gate (1982) are each designated as important cultural properties.
Tosa Shrine has long been considered the spiritual home of the people of Tosa as the first shrine of Tosa, and is affectionately called "Shinane-sama "by the locals.
There are many blessings that can be received, such as good luck, family safety, healing of illness, agricultural prosperity, safe voyage, and traffic safety. It is no wonder that the local people love this temple.
It is also the location for the NHK historical drama "Ryomaden "and is a famous shrine representing Kochi Prefecture, so it is a popular tourist destination.
The precincts of the shrine are about 10,000 tsubo (about 1,000 m2), and a large shrine stands elegantly on an approach surrounded by trees for about 300 meters.
An important cultural asset, the worship hall, the hall of offerings, and the main shrine building form a cross shape, which is called "iritombo ". Because of this magnificent structure, visitors are amazed at the grandeur of the shrine from every angle.
A leisurely stroll through the temple grounds surrounded by trees will also allow you to find your own power spot. We recommend that you take the time to visit the shrine wholeheartedly.
When you visit, don't forget the red seal length.
At Tosa Shrine, of course, you can also have a red seal written.
If you have a red seal book, you may wish to have it written to commemorate your trip.
"Facility Information "
Facility name: Tosa Shrine
Address: 2-16-1 Ichinomiya-Shinane, Kochi-shi, Kochi
Phone number: 088-845-1096
Regular holiday: No mid-year break
URL：http://www.tosajinja.i-tosa.com/
Narunashi Shrine (Important Cultural Property)
This is Otonashi Shrine, founded in the Kamakura period (1185-1333) and rebuilt in 1663, which was designated as a National Important Cultural Property in 1953.
The approach to the temple is built so that it enters from the sea, and the main feature of the structure is that it is built facing the sea. (When this picture is taken, that means the ocean is behind.)
That is why it is called "Tosa no Miyajima "and is known as the god of marriage, attracting many worshippers from all over Japan.
Since the shrine shares the same deity as the "Tosa Shrine" introduced earlier, a boating ritual is held on the same day as the Tosa Shrine, August 25, as "Shinaya Matsuri ( "). By visiting on the same day as the Tosa Shrine, you will be able to get to know Narunashi Shrine more deeply.
This is a photo looking back from the torii gate mentioned earlier.
If the weather is good, this is a good angle for capturing a spectacular view because you can photograph the approach with depth where the blue of the sky and the blue of the ocean overlap.
The best time to visit is at dawn, as well as during the daytime.
Unlike the blue sky, the morning sun rising from beyond the calm sea can be seen fantastically.
It is also a great travel experience to do something chic like wishing ...... that this scenery is superimposed on the person you are thinking of, as it is believed to bring good luck in matchmaking.
"Facility Information "
Facility name: Otonashi Shrine
Address: 3579 Uranouchi Higashi-bun, Susaki City, Kochi Prefecture
Phone Number: 090-2786-1221 Miyaji: Morita
Regular holiday: No mid-year break
URL：https://sta2020.com/susaki_info/tourism/757/
Fubuki Hachimangu Shrine (Important Cultural Property)
Fuwa Hachimangu Shrine was built about 520 years ago, when Prince Ichijo Norifusa founded Nakamura to avoid the Onin War and to manage his manor, by invoking Ishimizu Hachimangu Shrine in Kyoto as the general shrine of Hata and the guardian deity of the Ichijo family.
Before the Meiji era, it was called Sho-Hachimangu Shrine and Hirohata Hachimangu Shrine, but was renamed Fuwa Hachimangu Shrine in the first year of the Meiji era.
Fuwa Hachiman Shrine is located in Shimanto City and surrounded by rich countryside.
Many festivals are held here (the photo above shows the Kaya-no-wa (ring) ceremony to pray for good health ). (The photo above shows the Kaya-no-wa (circle of kaya) "and Wanuke-sama "being held to pray for good health.) It is also a Hachimangu shrine with deep roots in the local community for the beginning of work, weddings, and visits to the shrine.
An important cultural asset rooted in the community is here.
This is the main shrine of Fuwa Hachimangu Shrine, which was designated a national important cultural property in 1963.
This vermilion color is eye-catching, but the charm of the main hall is its structure and carvings.
The present main shrine was rebuilt around 1558 and is strongly reminiscent of the Muromachi period (1336-1573). It is built in the "sangensha-ryu-zukuri" style, with four pillars in the front and a three-layered frontage between the pillars, and the roof is made of "shingled roofing", which is constructed by layering thin wooden boards in several layers.
The detailed carvings can be seen up close, and it is a sight to behold how these time-honored structures have been preserved in the present day.
"Facility Information "
Facility name: Fubuki Hachimangu Shrine
Address：1374-1 Fubuki, Shimanju-shi, Kochi
Phone number: 0880-35-2839
Regular holiday: No mid-year break
URL：https://www.shimanto-kankou.com/kanko/history/fuba.html
Chugei Area (Japanese Heritage)
The Chugi area is the name of a region in Aki County, Kochi Prefecture, and includes Yasuda Town, Tano Town, Nahari Town, Kitagawa Village, and Umaji Village.
The satoyama landscape of the entire Chugi area is now recognized as a Japan Heritage site, and several of the buildings that have spun the Chugi area are designated as National Important Cultural Properties.
In the past, the Chugei area prospered in the forestry industry. It produced timber, including the Uryase cedar used by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the construction of the Great Buddha statue at Bukko-ji Temple in the Rakuyo Dongsan Mountain, and sent it down the river and out to the sea to be shipped throughout Japan.
In the Edo period (1603-1867), they focused on yuzu, which grew wild, and also cultivated yuzu for the purpose of using it for preservation and seasoning.
From the end of the Meiji period, the Uryase Forest Railway (commonly known as "Rintetsu ") began to run in the Chugi area, and it is believed that trolleys have connected people's lives as well as the removal of timber.
Because of this, the area is now famous for "Rintetsu and Yuzu".
The satoyama landscape of the Chugi area itself has historical charm and a story to tell about its traditions, which is why it was recognized as a Japan Heritage site.
Encounter a variety of buildings that are steeped in history.
This is the "Gomi Tunnel," a former Uryase Forest Railway facility. Designated as a National Important Cultural Property, this tunnel was built when the Yasuda River Line opened in 1911, and can be said to be the entrance and exit to Umaji Village. The moss-covered parts of the tunnel tell the depth of its history.
The red bridge shown in the photo above is also called "Kojima Bridge" and is also an Important Cultural Property. Built in 1932, the bridge is approximately 143 meters long. It is the largest in the Chugi area of forest railroads. Even from a distance, the imposing red bridge stands out against the greenery. Both bridges are worth seeing, and are highly recommended.
One of the largest unreinforced concrete bridges in Japan, here!
This bridge was built in 1940 and is designated as a National Important Cultural Property.
Concrete construction without reinforcing steel bars is called unreinforced concrete construction, and this bridge is one of the largest unreinforced concrete bridges in Japan.
Unreinforced concrete is prone to cracking, but this one exists intact.
It is a must-see because of its height and is not easily seen nowadays.
"Facility Information "
Facility Name: Chugoku Yuzu and Forest Railway Japan Heritage Council
Address: 2017 Oaza Higashijima, Yasuda-cho, Aki-gun, Kochi Prefecture
Phone number: 0887-30-1865
URL：http://yuzuroad.jp/nippon_annai.html
summary
We have introduced seven recommended places where you can learn more about Kochi Prefecture, not only about its great people. All of them are places with deep history that you will want to see and photograph one by one. When you visit Kochi, please take a tour of the Japanese heritage and important cultural assets that are unique to Kochi while experiencing the historical background.
Recommended articles
Keyword search
Category overview
Search by Area
Select Language
Select Currency
