Enjoy One of Kochi’s Finest Scenic Spots! A Travel Guide to Katsurahama Beach

The table below summarizes how to get to Katsurahama Beach from Kochi Station, a main base for sightseeing in Kochi.
Travel from central Kochi City to Katsurahama is basically by bus, but Katsurahama covers a wide area with various facilities, so you need to choose the bus stop closest to your destination.
If you are heading to the Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum or Katsurahama Aquarium, aim for the “Ryoma Memorial Museum-mae” bus stop.
If you are going to the cape or the beach, the “Katsurahama” bus stop is recommended.

Spring and fall are the best seasons for sightseeing at Katsurahama Beach.
The weather is just right and ideal for strolling, but another reason to visit is the annual spring and fall event called “Get Up Close with Ryoma.”
A special observation deck about 13m high is set up next to the Ryoma statue, where you can view the Pacific Ocean from the same perspective as Sakamoto Ryoma and see his profile up close.
Don’t miss the chance to stand beside Sakamoto Ryoma, one of the great figures most associated with Katsurahama Beach.

Sakamoto Ryoma, who made major contributions to Japan’s modernization in the late 19th century, was born in Kochi Prefecture.
He remains a beloved historical figure even in the 21st century, admired for his forward-thinking ideas, bold actions, and unique personality.
To pass down Ryoma’s achievements to future generations, local young volunteers raised funds and built the Sakamoto Ryoma Statue at Katsurahama in 1928.
Standing on a small hill and reaching more than 13m in height including its pedestal, it makes a powerful impression.
Ryoma’s dignified figure gazing out over the Pacific Ocean is full of the presence of a modernization hero who looked toward Japan’s future.
If you look closely at his outfit, he is wearing traditional Japanese clothing with boots.
It offers a glimpse into Ryoma’s belief in embracing foreign culture while working to develop Japan.

This aquarium stands on the shore of Katsurahama, one of Kochi Prefecture’s most famous scenic spots, with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.
It is popular with a wide range of visitors thanks to its many feeding experiences, allowing you to observe the real lives of sea creatures up close and learn while engaging your senses.
Although the facility is small in scale, it offers plenty to see, with around 220 species and 4,000 animals, mainly fish from Tosa Bay as well as sea turtles, penguins, Steller sea lions, and sea lions.

Sakamoto Ryoma was a patriot of the late Edo period who played an active role in the final years of the shogunate, including helping broker the Satcho Alliance and working toward the return of political power to the emperor, and he also had a major influence on the new nation-building of the Meiji government.
At this memorial museum, you can enjoy learning about Ryoma’s life and the history of the late Edo period through audio guides, animation, and more.
Various exhibitions are also held in the “Sea View Gallery,” which overlooks the Pacific Ocean.
You can also step out onto the rooftop and enjoy the spectacular scenery while feeling the ocean breeze.

The cape at the southern end of Katsurahama is called Ryuo Cape, a scenic viewpoint overlooking both Katsurahama and the Pacific Ocean.
If you walk along the beach, you will come to Ryugu Bridge. Cross it and climb the rocky hill, and you will find two shrines there: Watazumi Shrine and Hayataka Shrine.
Both are well known as spiritual power spots at Katsurahama.
Farther ahead is the Ryuo Cape Observation Deck, where you can take in wide-open views of Katsurahama and the Pacific Ocean, with scenery that is beautiful during the day and even more stunning at sunset and under the moonlight.

The small shrine building at Ryuo Cape is Watazumi Shrine.
Set against the dramatic scenery of the sea and sheer cliffs, the solitary shrine has a mystical atmosphere that feels beyond human understanding.
As the shrine’s name suggests, the deity enshrined here is Owatatsumi no Kami, said to be a guardian god of the sea.
It is believed to bring blessings for maritime safety, abundant catches, business prosperity, and success in love, and is widely known as one of Katsurahama’s spiritual power spots.

Myojinmaru Honten is an izakaya operated by Myojin Suisan, a company proud of having Japan’s top bonito catch volume.
It is within walking distance of JR Kochi Station and Tosaden’s Horitsume Station. Kochi local cuisine and bonito dishes are served here.
The restaurant’s greatest commitment is using fresh bonito shipped directly from Myojin Suisan and straw-searing it inside the restaurant.
The traditional straw-searing method quickly grills the surface of the bonito with intense heat reaching Approx. 1,000 degrees.

This lively yatai-style market is packed with around 46 restaurants and 7 local specialty shops. Located near Kochi Castle, it is a great place to stop by before or after sightseeing.
The main way to enjoy it is to buy dishes from different shops and bring them to the shared food court.
Being able to sample a variety of Kochi specialties in small portions is also a big advantage for travelers.

“1×1＝1 Ice Kurin” is about a 10-minute walk from Harimayabashi Station.
It is an ice kurin shop attached to a workshop that makes ice kurin using traditional methods.
For local people, the flavor of ice kurin is a familiar taste they have known since childhood.
It is a sweet treat loved by many people across generations.

This विशाल limestone cave is designated as both a National Historic Site and a Natural Monument.
It was renewed in 2019, becoming even more attractive with added light and sound effects.
Inside the cave are many spots that let you feel the mysteries of nature, such as the 11m-tall “Memorial Waterfall” and “Sekkaden,” where clusters of small stalactites resemble flowers.

Kochi Castle was founded by Yamauchi Kazutoyo, the first lord of the Tosa Domain.
It is one of Japan’s 12 original castles with a surviving main keep from the Edo period, and Kochi Castle is the only one where both the main keep and the main bailey palace (Kaitokukan) remain intact.
A total of 15 buildings have been designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan. It has also been selected as one of Japan’s 100 Famous Castles.

This garden opened in April 1958, the year after the death of Dr. Tomitaro Makino, a Kochi native known as the father of Japanese plant taxonomy, to honor his achievements.
Within its Approx. 8ha grounds, around 3,000 varieties of plants, including wild plants associated with Dr. Makino, display their seasonal beauty throughout the year. Some of them are unique to Japan.