Shimanto River | Review by 黃國棟

On this trip to Kochi, I made a point of adding Katsurahama to my itinerary. Before I even reached the beach, I was already excited to see this famous stretch of the Pacific coast with my own eyes.

Katsurahama is best known for its bronze statue of Ryoma Sakamoto, so of course I had to take a photo! Standing beside the statue, you can feel his commanding presence as he faces the Pacific Ocean and gazes into the distance.

Walking slowly along the coast, I saw the endless blue ocean before me, with waves rolling onto the shore and the sea breeze blowing in my face. Listening to the sound of the waves made me feel much more relaxed.

The ocean view here is truly expansive, without much of the noise and bustle of the city. Just standing by the sea, enjoying the scenery and taking photos, made the trip out here feel well worth it.

On this trip to Kochi, I made a point of visiting Godaisan Park. I drove all the way up the mountain without expecting too much, but once I arrived, I felt it was well worth a visit!

The park is shaded by lush trees, and the grounds are beautifully maintained, making it very pleasant to walk around. What I liked most was that there weren’t many visitors. Without the noise of a busy tourist attraction, it felt more relaxed and peaceful.

From the viewpoint, I could see all of downtown Kochi, Urado Bay, and the mountain ranges in the distance. The view was really great! The blue sky combined with the mountain and ocean scenery made me want to stay a little longer, and I took quite a few photos.

When I came here, the first thing that caught my eye was this traditional Japanese house with a thatched roof. The building was larger than I had imagined, and the courtyard retained its rustic charm, making me want to stay a little longer.

This is the birthplace of Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of the Mitsubishi Group. It’s quite interesting to think that someone who influenced the development of Japan’s modern economy began his life in a traditional house like this!

Besides the house where he was born, there is also a storehouse nearby, as well as a striking bronze statue in the parking lot. Walking through the courtyard, it felt quiet and relaxed rather than bustling like a tourist attraction, so I could take my time appreciating the architecture and surroundings.

It isn’t too far from the city or the national highway, but transportation is really not very convenient, so driving is the better option. There were no other visitors at all when I arrived that day. The whole place was extremely peaceful, and it almost felt like I had it all to myself.

Although it isn’t a large, bustling tourist attraction, it offers the pleasure of exploring history. Visiting these unassuming places with important stories during a trip is rewarding in its own way!