Kochi Castle and Katsurahama

Background

Kochi Castle stands on Mount Otakasaka in central Kochi City, and Katsurahama lies on the Pacific coast in the Urado area south of the city center; both are within Kochi City. Kochi Castle was built from 1601 to 1611 by Yamauchi Kazutoyo, the first lord of the Tosa domain; its gray tiles and white walls resemble a hawk's wings, earning it the name Takajo, Hawk Castle. A fire in 1727 destroyed most of the castle, and the present keep was rebuilt in 1749. All the inner-citadel buildings survive, and 15 structures, including the keep, the Honmaru Palace (Kaitokukan), the Otemon Gate, the Kurotetsumon Gate and the Tsumemon Gate, are designated Important Cultural Properties. The keep is a watchtower-style structure of four tiers and six floors, with shinobi-gaeshi spikes at the base of its walls to stop ninja from climbing; it is the only keep in Japan that still has them. Katsurahama is a bow-shaped sandy beach; the Tosa folk song Yosakoi-bushi sings that the place for the moon is Katsurahama, and the area is now a city park. The statue of Sakamoto Ryoma stands on a small hill looking out over the Pacific, with the Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum and the Katsurahama Aquarium, opened in 1931, nearby. The hill behind the beach is said to be the site of Urado Castle, the last seat of the Chosokabe clan; after Yamauchi Kazutoyo took over Tosa he moved to Kochi Castle, and Urado Castle was abandoned.

Local customs

• Climb the keep of Kochi Castle, tour the Kaitokukan and the inner-citadel buildings, and look out over Kochi
• at Katsurahama, see the Ryoma statue and the Pacific, and visit the Ryoma Memorial Museum and the Katsurahama Aquarium
• around the harvest moon, you can join the Katsurahama moon-viewing gathering (whether it is held and its date follow official announcements)
• visiting the castle and the coast together lets you trace Tosa's history from the lord's castle to the sea Ryoma gazed at.

Travel tips

• Allow a full day to see both Kochi Castle and Katsurahama
• check the official sites for fees. The sea wind at Katsurahama is strong, so dress for the season
• buses to Katsurahama are infrequent, so check official transport information before you go.
• For Kochi Castle, take a bus from JR Kochi Station, or ride the Tosaden tram to the Kochijo-mae area and walk
• for Katsurahama, take a Katsurahama-bound bus from Kochi Station or the Harimayabashi area. Cherry blossoms around Kochi Castle are the signature of spring
• in summer the waves at Katsurahama are high, so stay out of the water
• autumn's mild weather suits a combined visit
• winter brings fewer visitors and a cold sea wind. The harvest moon is Katsurahama's classic moon-viewing season.