Four Must-See Building Spots in Kochi

Yusuhara in Kochi Prefecture is located in the mountains in the western part of Kochi Prefecture, and 91% of its area is forest. It is a very popular spot for women's travelers because of its peaceful scenery full of negative ions. The northern part of the town is as high as 1,455 meters above sea level, and is also called "the town above the clouds ". World-renowned architect Kengo Kuma has built six structures in Yusuhara, including a museum, library, hotel, and government building. In addition to the wonderful green land, Yusuhara also attracts many tourists as a social networking spot.

Of the six structures, "Gallery Above the Clouds "is also known as "Wooden Bridge Museum ", a museum that blends beautifully into the beautiful forests of Yusuhara. Following the traditional timber expression of Japanese architecture, "the structure called Yusuhara Yajirobe-type Hanebashi (bridge) "is the only one of its kind in the world. The appearance of many Yusuhara cedar trees repeatedly stacked on top of each other is breathtaking. The bridge is designed to allow visitors to appreciate the beautiful light and shadows as the sun naturally falls through the trees.

TikTokのおすすめに流れてきた
雲の上の図書館？
が素敵すぎた🥺

是非ナムさんに知ってほしい。 pic.twitter.com/IwOUfHUtoX

— みぃ🐨💜 (@Jinmiyu_1204) January 24, 2022

"Library Above the Clouds "is a library where visitors can take off their shoes and enter the building barefoot, and is another of Kengo Kuma's architectural creations. Inside the library, where you can actually feel the wood floor with your own feet, soft sofas and chairs are placed here and there so that you can freely read books in any position you like, sitting or lying directly on the floor. Plenty of Yusuhara cypress and cedar are used, and the space is like a forest with beautiful sunlight.

あー!
ぼく、のぼれないよー‼︎#梼原町 #ボルダリング #雲の上の図書館 #くろしおくん pic.twitter.com/F39asHb2Yh

— くろしおくん【公式】 (@kuroshiokun_kc) November 22, 2019

Another interesting feature of the library is that it has a space for bouldering inside the building. Shoes can be checked out free of charge, and visitors can exercise their bodies between reading in a stylish space. The fact that everything is free of charge is also a nice feature.

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Also designed by Kengo Kuma, this building is a complete change from the timber atmosphere. "Hotel and Restaurant Above the Clouds "offers a graceful curved design that resembles airplane wings in the sky.

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The interior of the hotel and its lights are richly decorated with Japanese paper by Rogier Outenbogarde, a Dutchman who lives in Yusuhara, giving the stylish design a soft warmth. A pond with a terraced rice field motif is beautifully stretched beneath the building, and guests can dine amidst a romantic scene with the setting sun shining through. The hotel also has a natural hot spring bath and a swimming pool, so you can spend your holiday on the golden course of taking your time to look around the forests and buildings, taking a bath, and returning home.

"Facility Information "
Facility Name: Yusuhara, a town above the clouds "Yusuhara x Kengo Kuma Building "
Address: Contact: Yusuhara Town Hall 1444-1 Yusuhara, Yusuhara, Takaoka-gun, Kochi 785-0695
Phone number: 0889-65-1111

　Gallery Above the Clouds
　Address: 3799-3 Tarokawa, Yusuhara-cho, Takaoka-gun, Kochi
　Phone number: 0889-65-1187
　Opening hours: 10:00-17:00 (last admission 16:30)
　Admission: Adult 200yen

　Library above the clouds
　Address: 1212-2 Yusuhara, Yusuhara, Takaoka-gun, Kochi
　Phone number: 0889-65-1900
　Opening hours: 9:00～20:00
　*Closed: Tuesdays (every week), Fridays (last week only)

　Hotel and restaurant above the clouds
　Address: 3799-3 Tarokawa, Yusuhara-cho, Takaoka-gun, Kochi
　Phone number: 0889-65-1100

URL： http://www.town.yusuhara.kochi.jp/kanko/kuma-kengo/index.html

Located on the border between Aki City and Geisei Village, "Akeno Rest Area "is a secretly popular spot for dreamy photos. It is a simple rest stop with a parking lot, toilets and chairs, but the stylish building makes you feel as if you are looking out over the sea from the Mediterranean coast. It is nice in the daytime when the weather is nice, but the mood is even better at sunset time.

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The rest stop is located in a spectacular setting overlooking almost the entire beautiful Kotogahama coastline, so you can enjoy the contrast between the ocean and the setting sun by taking pictures from various angles. The surrounding walls are also designed so as not to destroy the atmosphere, so you can focus on the walls to take good photos.

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One of Aki City's specialties is eggplant. The cute thing about this rest stop is that there is an eggplant perched on the ceiling. Don't forget to zoom in on the eggplant, which looks like a bird perched on it, to capture it in your photo.

"Facility Information "
Facility Name: Red Rest Area
Address: Akano, Aki City, Kochi Prefecture, 784-0033
Phone number: - Phone number: - Phone number: - Phone number: - Phone number: - Phone number: - Phone number
Hours of use: Available at any time
Budget: Free

"SEA HOUSE "is located in Aki City. The architecture of the building is such that half of the building juts out into the sea, and the exterior is designed to look as if half of the building is floating in the air. The restaurant serves both Western and Japanese cuisine, but you can enjoy just looking at the exterior. The view from inside the restaurant is also wonderful, and you can enjoy your meal or cafe time with a gorgeous feeling as if you are one with the sea.

高知と言えば安芸にあるSEA HOUSEの景色はオススメ♪
太平洋を眺めながらの食事は最高！

この建物、作る時に苦労したそうで、海に突き出る構造上、重心が合わず、据付をやりなおしたとか。 pic.twitter.com/nhrNL14kJx

— 福くん＊ (@987type_boxer6) October 18, 2020

The ocean side of the restaurant is suspended in the air, so it may sway slightly when you actually walk in the restaurant. Some seats overlook the beach, so if available, you can enjoy the time to carefully choose your seat. It is said that the building, designed to look like a basket, was first completed on the ground, and then pulled slowly to the ocean side.

The basket portion of the exterior looks like a lattice pattern, adding to the stylish mood from the inside. Pasta and set meals start at 1,200 yen or more, but the drink menu is surprisingly inexpensive, starting at 400 yen. A popular menu item during café hours is French toast, with several varieties to choose from, including berry and chocolate banana, and the bread here is made from "Monozukuri Kobo Yasuda "'s soft and tender "super-fresh bread ".

"Facility Information "
Store name: SEA HOUSE
Address:〒781-5704 54-1 Nishi-B, Nishi-Mura, Awani-Gun, Kochi Pref.
Phone number: 0887-32-2880
Hours of Operation:
[Weekdays ] 11:30～20:00 (L.O. 19:30)
[Saturday, Sunday, Holidays ] 11:00-20:30 (L.O.20:00)
Calculation: ¥400~
Space & Facilities: Stylish, calm space, 17 seats
URL：　https://tabelog.com/kochi/A3901/A390106/39004235/

Built in 1993, "Kochi Prefectural Art Museum "is an art museum where you can enjoy the Chagall collection on permanent display. The museum also has a large collection of works by Yasuhiro Ishimoto, a Japanese photographer with ties to Kochi Prefecture. The museum is also known as "a floating museum on the waterfront "where you can walk through the shimmering water, which is thinly sprinkled throughout the museum depending on the season. In winter, you can enjoy the beautiful scene of the frozen water.

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The long walkway to the entrance of the main building and the courtyard of the museum hall contrast beautifully with the water table and the building, adding to the excitement of the walk to the museum. At the time of construction, the concept was "People and Nature in the South ", and the attached "Prefectural Art Museum Hall "offers movies, plays, Noh plays, and concerts.

At "Museum Cafe Marc ", located inside the museum, you can enjoy pasta and other light meals and sweets from morning to lunch and café. From the cafe windows, you can enjoy the open view of the beautiful water garden. There are many take-out items available, such as bread and cookies, so you can enjoy a refreshing take-out and eat outside on a sunny day.

高知県立美術館のカフェより。
平日はほぼ貸切でええわー❤ pic.twitter.com/Ex30f7vP19

— RYT＊May (@RYT3257) December 20, 2017

At this café, you can sometimes enjoy latte art and sweets with motifs of artists and their works, depending on the special exhibitions held at different times of the year and the season. Of course, you can also enjoy roll cakes and juice made from Buntan, a specialty of Kochi Prefecture. We actively hold various events, so there is "dance "on the menu, and if you order, you can even have a dancer dance for you.

You can enjoy the exterior of the building as well as the inside of the museum. "It might be a good idea to drop by the Kochi Prefectural Art Museum "once in a while.

"Facility Information "
Name: The Museum of Art, Kochi
Address: 353-2 Takasu, Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture, 781-8123
Phone number: 088-866-8000
Hours: 9:00-17:00 (admission until 16:30)
Calculation：Ordinary Exhibition：General 370yen
URL: https: //moak.jp/