Japanese Culture
Kochi travel stories, local insights, and Japanese culture
Japanese Culture
John Manjiro: The Kochi Fisherman Who Changed Japan’s History
In 1841, a 14-year-old fisherman from a small village in what is now Kochi Prefecture was caught in a storm...
Japanese Culture
How to Enjoy Cherry Blossoms in Japan: A Guide for Cruise Visitors in Kochi
If your cruise ship stops in Japan during spring, you have a real chance to see one of the most...
Food & Accommodation
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...
Food & Accommodation
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...
Japanese Culture
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...
Japanese Culture
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...