Japanese Culture
Kochi travel stories, local insights, and Japanese culture
A Full Day in Kochi: Washi Paper, Niyodo Blue, Tosa Tea, and Katsuo no Tataki
What does a perfect day in Kochi look like? For one of my recent guests, it started with making traditional...
Tosa no Okyaku: Kochi’s City-Wide Banquet Festival
Every year in early March, something wonderful happens in Kochi city. The streets, the arcades, and the public spaces all...
Hinamatsuri: Japan’s Doll Festival Explained for Cruise Ship Visitors
If your cruise ship calls at Kochi port in late February or early March, you may notice something unusual in...
Kaiyodo Hobby Museum Shimanto: Japan’s Most Unexpected Figure Paradise
Deep in the mountains of Shimanto, Kochi — past winding river roads where you might not see another car for...
Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum: A Must-Visit Kochi Shore Excursion
When people think of Kochi, one name always comes to mind — Sakamoto Ryoma. Born in 1836 in what is...
Kochi’s Sunday Market: A 300-Year-Old Tradition Still Going Strong
Every Sunday morning, the broad boulevard in front of Kochi Castle transforms into one of Japan’s most beloved and longest-running...
Walking the Shikoku Pilgrimage: Keeping a 1,200-Year Tradition Alive for Future Generations
On a crisp February morning in Kochi, a group of walkers gathered with a shared purpose: to experience the Shikoku...
Japanese Temple and Shrine Etiquette: What Cruise Passengers Should Know
Japanese Temple and Shrine Etiquette: What Cruise Passengers Should Know Visiting temples and shrines ranks among the most meaningful experiences...
Kochi’s Katsuo no Tataki: A Culinary Tradition Born From Fire and Sea
Kochi’s Katsuo no Tataki: A Culinary Tradition Born From Fire and Sea Kochi is famous throughout Japan for one dish...
Kochi Castle: Where Samurai History Still Stands
Kochi Castle: Where Samurai History Still Stands Kochi Castle stands as one of Japan’s twelve original castles that survived wars,...