The Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden is located at Godai-san, Kochi City. Opened in 1958, it is Japan’s most precious general botanical garden. Besides the nearly 3,000 different species of plants that are cultivated in the Botanical Garden, there are also special exhibition rooms and botanical classrooms etc. that both adults and children will enjoy visiting; a wide variety of special events are held throughout the year. There are also displays about the achievements of Dr. Tomitaro Makino, the world-renowned botanist. In 1999, the Makino Museum of Plants & People was opened within the Botanical Garden in honor of Dr. Makino. The Botanical Garden is approximately 30 minutes by bus from JR Kochi Station.

This small island located at the southwestern tip of Otsuki Town, Hata County has a circumference of approximately four kilometers and a population of about 400 people. The currents of the Bungo Channel meet the Kuroshio Current in the waters off the island, which are home to a great variety of fish. As many as one third of all the species in Japan live there, making it one of the world's most famous diving spots. In addition, the island is visited by many tourists who come from great distances to see its incredibly clear waters, which have been described as looking as if boats were floating in midair.

With its source high up in the 1,336 meter peaks of Mt. Irazu, a watershed of 2,270 square kilometers and a length of 196 kilometers, the Shimanto River is the longest river in Shikoku. Known as the last clear stream in Japan on account of there not being any dams the river still has much culture which links the people to the river such as the distinctive chinkabashi, or sinking bridges, designed so as not to be washed away in times of flood, as well as the various kinds of smoked fish which have resulted from the fishing in this area. The Shimanto River, blessed with a wide width and large volume of water, is gaining popularity as a Mecca for water sports such as canoing, boating, and wind surfing.

The Sadachinka Bridge, a typical “chinka”, or sinking bridge, able to sustain flooding on the lower parts of the Shimanto River, is the longest of the more than 40 so called sinking bridges on the Shimanto River boasting a length of 291.6 meters and a width of 4.2 meters. In order to prevent being washed away during high floods, these submersible bridges were built without railings. Visitors can enjoy the pleasant feeling of the cool breeze as they cross the bridge on foot with many tourists coming to visit throughout the year.

The gardens of Giverny in France so loved by the impressionist painter Claude Monet have been replicated in Kitagawa Village, Aki County, Kochi Prefecture. Here in the vast gardens are some 100,000 plants. Different scenes can be enjoyed throughout the four seasons where visitors can delight in the Flower Garden with flowers blooming throughout the year, the Water Garden which features in replica form Monet’s memorable series of works, the Water Lilies, as well as the Light Garden which is based on Monet’s expedition to the Mediterranean Sea. From about June each year the lush blue water lilies, which were said never to have bloomed for Monet until the end, are an exceptional sight. There is also an observatory, a restaurant, and shop.

You’ll find this aquarium in the wonderfully scenic Katsurahama seashore in Kochi Prefecture. It has been around for over 70 years. Approximately 250 species of fish and marine wildlife can be found here, with a focus on rare fish and schools of Japanese lates that make their home in Tosa Bay. Visitors can also feed sea turtles and penguins, get close and personal with clownfish and doctorfish, watch a sea lion show, and enjoy several other activities and events throughout the year.

Ryugado Cave is a sightseeing limestone cave which is representative of Japan, which is said to have been formed over roughly 175 million years. There are remains of a cave dwelling from the Yayoi period in the vicinity of the entrance of an internal cave, and “Kami no Tsubo” can be seen within the cave in which Yayoi pottery has been integrated into stalactites. You can enjoy the beauty of nature moulding such as stalactite, stalagmite or celestial stone of 11 meters in height in this cave. There is a standard sightseeing course of about one kilometer but the 90 minute course in which you stretch and make progress through narrow caves and also the “Adventure Course” in which you climb onto three meter high rocks using ropes are also popular.

The Anpanman Museum at Takashi Yanase Memorial Museum was established in 1996 with the intention of collecting, studying and displaying the diverse and creative works of Takashi Yanase, the creator of Anpanman. There are plenty of things to see and do such as the Takashi Yanase Gallery and Anpanman Theater with original drawings from his picture books and animations, as well as The Repository with all sorts of character goods on display. Both adults and children can enjoy the museum to their heart’s content. The three meter high Fighting Anpanman Statue is also a great place for photos.

The Harimaya Bridge is a red bridge located in Harimaya-cho that has come to symbolize Kochi City. It is famous as the setting for the love story between Junshin and Oma which is celebrated in the traditional folk song “Yosakoi-bushi.” The Bridge was built across the Hori River during the Edo period as a private bridge to facilitate access between two shops, Harimaya and Hitsuya, from which it takes its name. Today, the area around the Bridge has been developed as Harimaya Park, and there are monuments in commemoration of Junshin and Oma.

This public zoo in Noichicho, Konan City, Kochi Prefecture, is characteristic for the way in which the animals are kept in an environment which closely resembles their natural habitat. The zoo is divided into separate areas such as the Temperate Forest, the Tropical Forest, the Africa and Australia Zone, and the Jungle Museum, where lots of different animals such as otters, lesser pandas, giraffes, kangaroos, and shoe-billed storks live quite contently. The Children’s Zoo, where children can get hands-on with the guinea pigs and ponies is also popular.

Standing 18 meters tall on the tip of Cape Ashizuri, this chalk-white lighthouse is one of the largest in Japan, shining 460,000 candelas worth of light. The observation deck offers a breathtaking panoramic 270-degree view. Witnessing the grandeur of the Pacific Ocean from here really makes the curvature of the earth stand out.

This athletic park is located in Yoshihara, Haruno-cho, Kochi City. It features a wide range of sporting facilities including an athletic track and field, a baseball park, a pool, a gymnasium, a shooting range, and an archery range. It also features an open space equipped with play equipment such as a 100-meter long roller slide, 3.4 kilometers of cross-country courses, and Sports Palace Haruno, which features a hotel and a restaurant.

This river gorge is located in Oya, Niyodogawa Town, Agawa County along Niyodo River, which is known as ''the Miraculous Stream'' for the high quality of its water. Visitors can enjoy viewing the beautiful ''Niyodo Blue'' surface of the river. There are a number of spots for visitors to check out, including several waterfalls as well as crystal pools that change appearance depending on the time and the season. The scenery is especially beautiful when the fall foliage or fresh greenery comes in.

This bridge is in Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture. Designed to submerge when the river rises and to have as little impact on water flow as possible, it stands out for its lack of guard rails. It was built in 1966 and is 120 meters long. The surrounding scenery is particularly lovely, making it the most popular of the 47 “sinking bridges” along the Shimanto River.

This aquarium is located on the side of Ashizuri Sunny Road in Imashiba, Misaki, Tosashimizu City. The aquarium, which has a theme of “the Waters of Tosa and the Fish of the Kuroshio Current,” is home to around 3,000 fish and aquatic invertebrates representing 200 varieties of sea life. The facility includes a central cylindrical marine tank, which is nine meters wide and six meters tall, a sunfish tank, a multipurpose tank used to raise green sea turtles and spotted seals, a touching tank where visitors can touch sea creatures such as hermit crabs and sea urchin, and more.

This temple belongs to the Chisan sect of Shingon Buddhism and is located in Shimanto Town in Takaoka County, Kochi Prefecture, and it is the 37th temple of the Shikoku 88-temple Pilgrimage. It is said that the Buddhist priest Gyoki founded it between 729 and 749, and it is known for its “seven wonders” that are associated with Kukai. There are principal images of five deities: Acala, Kannon, Amitabha, Bhaisajyaguru, and Ksitigarbha. The temple grounds contain the oldest hall with an enshrined statue of Kobo Daishi, as well as 575 ceiling paintings that adorn the main hall, constructed in 1978.

You’ll find this shopping arcade in Nakatosa Town Takaoka County, Kochi Prefecture. It features everything from fresh local fish to processed goods, everyday dishes, vegetable and fruits, and more, making it a popular tourist destination. In addition to the morning catch, there are also fish caught in the afternoon, so many visitors come around 2 p.m. At the “Tanaka Fresh Fish” shop, you can purchase the fish on display and enjoy them along with rice and miso soup at the dining hall across the street. The “Kure Rice Bowl,” made from sashimi and household dishes purchased from participating market shops and served on rice in the dining hall, is another popular option.

This river gorge is located in Nanokawa, Niyodogawa Town, Agawa County. It is a good spot for viewing the beautiful ''Niyodo Blue'' surface of the Niyodo River, which is known as ''the Miraculous Stream'' for the high quality of its water. A promenade has been built along the gorge, allowing visitors to take a walk while viewing the 20-meter-high Uryu Falls, the Ryugubuchi Falls, the Momiji Falls, and other sights.

This lighthouse is the symbol of Cape Muroto, which juts out into the deep-blue sea. The contrast between the chalk-white lighthouse and the vast ocean expanse is gorgeous, making it a popular spot for taking in the view. The lens has a diameter of 2.6 meters making it one of the largest in Japan. Every year on the Sundays before and after November 1st, a “Lighthouse Festival” is held and the interior is opened to the public.

This historic car museum is located in Otani, Noichi-cho, Konan City. Its historic car collection includes European sports and racing cars from makes like Abarth, Alfa Romeo, and Ferrari, domestic cars such as the Toyota 2000GT and the Toyopet Crown, and motorcycles from makes including Honda and Yamaha. The museum also regularly holds “open museum” events during which the cars are taken outside and their engines are started and inspected.

Kaiyodo Hobby Museum Shimanto is a museum housed in the gymnasium of the former Utsuigawa Elementary School which closed in 2009. There are many pieces on display such as Kaiyodo’s world famous figures, plastic models and garage kits. The huge Catalan ship is an impressive sight. There is also a diorama classroom where visitors can make mini-figurines.

This temple is located in Muroto-Anan Kaigan Quasi-National Park in Murotomisaki-cho, Muroto City. The 24th of the 88 temples on the Shikoku Pilgrimage, it was the first sacred site? in Kochi Prefecture. The temple is sometimes called Higash-dera (east temple) because of its juxtaposition with Kongochoji, also known as Nishi-dera (west temple), which is located on the western side of Murotomisaki Cape and is the 26th temple on the pilgrimage. The temple enshrines a number of Buddhist images that are nationally-designated Important Cultural Properties including the stone statue of Nyoirin Kannon sitting in half lotus position, the wooden seated statue of Yakushi Nyorai, and the wooden standing statue of the bodhisattvas Candraprabha.

This bronze statue of Sakamoto Ryoma stands in Katsurahama Park in Urado, Kochi City. Funds to build the statue, which was completed in 1928, were raised by local volunteers. Standing 13.5 meters tall including the pedestal, it depicts Sakamoto Ryoma dressed in Japanese garb and western boots looking out at the Pacific Ocean from the heights of Katsurahama. During the fall a temporary observation deck the same height as the statue is built next to it as part of an event called Ryoma ni Daisekkin.

This hot spring in is located in Hakawa, Ino Town, Agawa County. Its baths are sourced from the natural hot springs of Niyodogawa Ino Onsen, the waters of this sodium chloride spring are said to help with nerve pain, muscle soreness, and joint pain, frozen shoulder, and other conditions. In addition to open-air baths with a view of the Dosan Line, its many indoor baths include a large bath tub, a lie-down bath, and a cascading stream bath. The inn also offers day bathers a number of plans to choose from, including plans that include meals or the use of a private room.