[Kochi ]Nature and food! 6 recommended driving spots
![[Kochi ]Nature and food! 6 recommended driving spots](https://assets.deep-exp.com/assets/img/uploads/media/929/main_front_detail.jpg)
2024-10-21
Kochi is home to some of Japan's clearest water, the Shimanto River, and other natural wonders, as well as gourmet delicacies such as bonito tataki. Kochi Prefecture, with its mountains, oceans, and rivers, has many attractive spots and is a great place for a drive. In this issue, we will introduce some of the recommended driving spots in Kochi Prefecture.
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Table of Contents
- 1.2.3.4.5.
Iwama Shimashita Bridge
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The Shimanto River, also known as "Japan's last clear stream ", flows against the backdrop of the magnificent scenery of the satoyama. "Iwama Chinkatsu Bridge "spans over the Shimanto River. There are 47 sunken bridges on the Shimanto River, but "Iwama sunken bridge "is said to be the most popular sunken bridge among tourists, and has been featured the most on TV and in magazines for its beautiful scenery.
"The submerged bridge "is designed to sink into the water when the river rises. It is a simple bridge design with no parapets (railings), which are usually found at both ends of bridges. When the river rises, the submerged bridge sinks into the water and looks as if there were no bridge there. Because of their simple design, construction costs can be kept down, and even if they break, they are easy to repair.
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"Iwama sunken bridge "is the most impressive scenery among the many sunken bridges I have seen. Located at the meandering point of the Shimanto River, it offers a close-up view of the mountains and a good old Japanese scene, as if you were transported back in time to the satoyama of a long time ago.
Please note that this is not a tourist bridge, but a bridge for local people to pass through, so be careful not to get carried away taking pictures and blocking the passage.
"Facility Information "
Facility name: Iwama Chinkabashi Bridge
Address：〒787-1321 Kochi Nishitosa Iwama, Shimanji-shi, Kochi
Hours of operation: 24 hours
Serpula lacrymans (species of dry rot fungus)
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In recent years, the Niyodo River has often been talked about on SNS for its blue color, also called "Niyodo Blue ". The waterfall basin where you can see the mysterious Niyodo Blue up close is "Nikobuchi ".
The Niyodo River is a 124-kilometer-long river that flows through the center of Kochi Prefecture. It is a beautiful river that consistently ranks at the top of water quality rankings for rivers in Japan.
"Nikobuchi "is located in the forest upstream of the Niyodo River. "Legend has it that a giant snake, an incarnation of the water god, lives there ". As a sacred place, locals did not enter the area, but it is now a popular tourist spot.
Depending on the weather, it can look clear blue or emerald green, but the most beautiful "Niyodo Blue "can be seen around noon on a clear day. The best time to see Niyodo blue is around noon on a clear day, when the sunlight shines on the surface of the water, creating a fantastic sight.
"Facility Information "
Facility name: Nikobuchi
Address: 1278 Shimizu Kamibu, Ino-cho, Agawa-gun, Kochi 781-2511
Hours of operation: 24 hours
Parking: Available
Anju Kei Valley
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You can enjoy various views of the Niyodo River, such as Shozyobuchi, where you can see the quiet flow of Niyodo Blue water, the erosion control dam, and the powerful Hiryu Falls and Miharashi Falls. "Yasui Valley " The scenery is different depending on the season: fresh greenery in spring, powerful scenery with high water volume in summer, autumn leaves in fall, and the highest transparency in winter.
"The symbolic presence of Yasui Valley "is "Hiryu Falls ". The 30-meter-high, two-tiered waterfall is powerful, and its basin is a beautiful Niyodo blue color. In addition to the beauty of the water, the surrounding rocks and steep canyon are also a beauty of natural formations.
The best place to enjoy Niyodo blue is "Shokubuchi ". The transparency of the water is so high that when the sun shines through it, the water looks emerald blue, like crystal. The blue or green color of the water, depending on the time of day and the weather, is also a highlight. Because of its high transparency, the water appears shallow, but it is at most 2 to 3 meters deep.
And although it is an artificially maintained place, you can enjoy the beauty of Niyodo Blue at "Erosion Control Dam ". This spot is close to Shozuibuchi, so be sure to visit it as well.
The road to "Yasui Valley "is a 10 km long winding mountain road with two-way traffic. It is recommended that a person who is accustomed to driving be the driver.
"Facility Information "
Facility Name: Yasui Valley (Yasui Keikoku)
Address: Oya, Niyodogawa-cho, Agawa-gun, Kochi 781-1628
Hours of operation: 24 hours
Parking: Available
Shikoku Karst
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Located on the border between Kochi and Ehime prefectures, this karst plateau is 1,000 to 1,500 meters above sea level and stretches approximately 25 kilometers from east to west. The exotic, idyllic landscape of grassy hillsides, countless limestone rocks, and grazing cattle on the mountain slopes is also known as "Switzerland in Japan ". Personally, I was impressed by this spot in Kochi Prefecture, along with "Iwama Chinkinkyo Bridge ".
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Located at the eastern end of the Shikoku Karst "Tengu Kogen "is the highest point of the Shikoku Karst at 1485 meters above sea level, and offers a view of the Shikoku Mountains below, a series of 1000-meter-high ridges.
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"The Godan Plateau "is. The unique karst landscape is dotted with white limestone formations that look like herds of sheep and mortar-shaped hollows. Cattle grazing is conducted from spring to fall, so you may be lucky enough to see them!
And at "Himehakudaira ", you can see a magnificent view of the karst plateau, the road weaving through the grass, and the windmills, which may make you think you are in the mountains of Europe.
Please note that the roads around Shikoku Karst will be closed in winter due to snow accumulation. Please check the latest road conditions on the following website "Hoshifuru Village TENGU "or contact us.
"Representative Facility Information "
Facility name: Hoshifuru Village TENGU
Address: 4921-22 Hoshono Otsu, Tsuno-machi, Takaoka-gun, Kochi 785-0504
Phone number: 0889-62-3188
Parking: Available
Kurei Taisho-cho Market
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Kochi City's "Hirome Market "is a famous eating spot in Kochi Prefecture, but this "Kure Taisho-machi Market "is a fresh and reasonably priced market that is visited not only by tourists but also by locals. I also visited there recommended by a local.
"Kure Taisho-machi Market "is located in Nakatosa Town, about 50 km west of Kochi City. Nakatosa is a traditional fishing town known for its traditional fishing method "since the Edo period (1603-1868) and for its traditional fishing method "of fishing with a pole for bonito. "At Kure Taisho-machi Market ", visitors can enjoy fresh seafood freshly landed at this fishing port.
You can taste Kochi Prefecture's signature straw-baked bonito tataki at "Yamamoto Fresh Fish Restaurant ""Tanaka Fresh Fish Restaurant ". Both of these restaurants are known as some of the best in Kochi Prefecture, and offer the finest bonito tataki, with the aroma of straw-baked bonito added to the sticky texture of the bonito. Of course, the bonito tataki is delicious with the standard sauce, but because it is so fresh, we recommend simply dipping it in salt for a more direct taste of the bonito's flavor.
Bonito is a delicious fish for sashimi. "The market's meshiya Hamachan "is "has never had such delicious bonito sashimi! "Many people say, "I've never had such a delicious bonito sashimi!
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Another amazing flavor is "Kushiyaki Ponkichi's "'s "Katsuo no Harambo Skewers ". It is a large fatty part of bonito grilled and is plump, melt-in-your-mouth fatty and juicy. It is said to be a familiar ingredient to the people of Kochi Prefecture, but this was my first time trying it and I was impressed by its deliciousness!
In addition to skipjack tuna, you can enjoy a variety of local delicacies, tokoro-ten, kamaboko (fish cakes), liquor stores, and teishoku (set meal) shops.
"Facility Information "
Facility name: Kure Taisho-machi Ichiba (Kure Taisho-machi Market)
Address: 6372-1 Kure, Nakatosa-cho, Takaoka-gun, Kochi 789-1301
Business hours: Varies by store, check official website.
Closed: Varies from store to store, check official website
Parking: Available
酔鯨酒造"SUIGEI SAKE LAB CAFE"
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One of Kochi Prefecture's leading sake breweries "is the Drunken Whale Brewery ". There are two of its breweries, the Tosa Brewery and the Nagahama Brewery. In the Tosa Brewery "SUIGEI SAKE LAB CAFE "is a non-alcoholic sweets store that uses ingredients unique to the brewery.
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The sweets are made with sakekasu (sake lees) and amazake (amazake) from the junmai ginjo sake produced at the Tosa brewery. The sweets include "Sakekasu soft serve ice cream with the exquisite aroma of sakekasu and amazake ""amazake soft serve ice cream ", amazake soft serve ice cream with seasonal fruits "seasonal amazake soft serve ice cream parfait ", sweet amazake and sour fruit "zakerappe "and many more cute looking sweets. The sweetness of the amazake and the sweetness of the fruit and the acidity of the fruit.
I recommend "Sakekasu soft serve ice cream ". I have had soft-serve ice cream made with sakekasu at other sake breweries, but I did not like it very much because of the strong aroma peculiar to sake (although I love sake). However, "SUIGEI SAKE LAB CAFE "'s "sakekasu soft serve "was very tasty with the perfect salted flavor of sakekasu.
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The Tosa Brewery, which includes "SUIGEI SAKE LAB CAFE ", is stylish both externally and internally, and if you didn't know any better, you wouldn't think it was a sake brewery. This sake brewery is recommended for visitors who do not drink alcohol or drivers, as they can enjoy sweets and tour the beautiful building.
"Facility Information "
Name: Suigeishuzo Tosagura (drunken whale brewery)
Address: 2001-1 Kohara, Tosa City, Kochi Prefecture, 781-1113, Japan
Business hours: 10:00-17:00
Closed: Tuesday
Phone number: 088-856-8888
Parking: Available
URL: https: //suigei.co.jp/
summary
How about recommended driving spots in Kochi Prefecture? Kochi is a prefecture with a rich variety of attractions in Shikoku, such as magnificent rivers, mountains, and delicious food. Please rent a car and enjoy an exhilarating drive!
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