Come experience the wonders of Japan’s South on a full day Kochi tour!
Located on the Pacific coast of central Kochi in Shikoku, this 6-hour tour takes in Kochi City with local guides and public transport. Kochi is a historic city that has prospered as a center of econmic prosperity and culture since the 17th and again the 19th centuries, and made great contributions to the Meiji Restoration, including Ryoma Sakamoto and Mitsubishi Seika of the three largest Japanese corporate powerhouses. It is a town full of enterprising spirits, and this tradition continues today.
① Kochi Castle (9:15 -10:45)
This tour first visits Kochi Castle after leaving the hotel. Kochi Castle, also known as "the best castle on the Nankaido (road)," is a symbol of Kochi City. Currently, there are only 12 castles from the pre-Edo period in Japan, with Kochi Castle being one of the most impressive, with a great view of the city from the top. The current main tower was rebuilt in August 1747. The greatest feature of Kochi Castle is that unlike other castles, the main tower was not just used for military purposes but also housed the lords.
② Hirome Market (10:50-11:40)
Next to Kochi Castle we find lunch time at Hirome Market. "Hirome Market" is a large hall with food stalls from around 40 various restaurants, plus souvenir shops and other shops. Perhaps you will enjoy some of the famous “Katsuo no Tataki,” which is seared bonito fish. It is recommended that you put salt and sliced garlic on it before tasting. Do enjoy the local foods unique to Kochi.
<Boarding time of bus>
11:53 (Harimaya Bridge) → 12:12 (Makino Botanical Garden)
12:53 (Harimaya Bridge) → 13:12 (Makino Botanical Garden)
③ Makino Botanical Gardens (13:15-14:30)
After lunch, take a tour bus and visit the Makino Botanical Garden. The Makino Botanical Garden, located at the summit of Godaiyama, Kochi, was opened in 1958 to honor the achievements of Dr. Tomitaro Makino, the "father of Japanese plant taxonomy" from Kochi Prefecture. About 3,000 hectares, including wild plants related to the doctor, color the four seasons in the approximately 6 hectares of the garden, making it one of Japan's leading integrated botanical gardens where you can feel the joy of meeting plants in nature.
④ Chikurinji Temple (14:30-14:55)
After being healed by plants, we will visit the famous temple of Tosa, Chikurinji. Chikurinji Temple, adjacent to the Makino Botanical Garden, prospered greatly due to the devotion of the Tosa lord, and monk disciples gathered, becoming the center of Tosa culture as a study temple. Many works of great importance have come out of this place, and there is a “secret” Buddha that is only shown to the public once every 50 years. Further, the five-storied pagoda built in the precinct is the only one in Kochi Prefecture, and the tower contains stupas solicited from Bodh Gaya, India.
<Boarding time of bus>
15:01 (Chikurinji Temple) → 15:19 (Harimaya Bridge)
・Architectural collection at Kochi Castle, one of the few existing installations in Japan of this grandeur and scale.
・Lunch time at Hirome Market, where fresh seafood and local foods are available.
・A walk about the Makino Botanical Garden, where you can enjoy about 3,000 kinds of colorful flowers and trees.
・The five-story pagoda of beautiful Chikurinji.
・Please join us wearing shoes that are easy to walk in because you will walk the mountain paths.
・Tour duration can be extended at a rate of 6,000 yen per group, per hour, payable in cash.
・During the peak travel seasons from March to August, and Year-end and New Year holidays (from December 30 to January 3), please be aware that there will be an additional charge of 2,000 yen per person for the tour.
| Price | From ¥16,000 / person ¥16,000 per person |
|---|---|
| Duration | 6.5 hours |
| Hours of availability | Start Time: 9:00 |
| Inclusions | English Guide / Hotel pick up & drop off / One-day bus ticket / Entrance Fee / Tax |
| Exclusions | Food & drinks |
| Participants | 1〜8 people |
・Harimayabashi Tourist Bus Terminal
・Your hotel in Kochi city
Letsdothis100（USA）★★★★★
Highly Recommend
I had an amazing time on this tour. I have actually been living in Kochi for a little while but taking a tour to really get to learn about the area seemed like a good idea. The guides were really friendly and spoke excellent English. They were able to answer all of my questions and could translate information that was provided in Japanese. I never felt rushed during the tour and I was able to see everything I wanted to, take pictures, eat snacks herr and therr and if I had wanted to get ice cream, and explore some on my own. They even gave us fans since the temperature was so hot. If there is a place nearby that you are interested in the guides will take you to it as well if time allows them to. When we went to the botanical gardens the guide was very knowledgable on the plant names and what they could be used for. They had a super friendly attitude so we laughed and talked the whole time making the experience that much better. As I said in the title I highly recommend. I don't think you could find nicer people to show you around.
Andicoast（USA）★★★★★
Like being shown around by a friend! 100% worth it
Me and my two friends went on this tour with Madoka and Ryo and had an excellent time! Unlike other tours which are often really rushed, this one gave us the perfect amount of time in each location. The locations themselves were also a good diverse range of things involving Kochi culture, nature, and food.
Our tour guides were extremely knowledgeable and good at English and answered any of our questions about the places we visited and Kochi itself. They were also very flexible and showed us a cafe and souvenir market for when it started to rain. It felt more like friends showing us around than a tour!
Having a local show you around and give you insight on sightseeing spots is 100% worth it! I highly recommend this tour for sightseeing in Kochi.
Tzeryushi（USA）★★★★★
An excellent tour full of interesting information!
This was a thoroughly enjoyable experience! The guides knew the area well, and I was able to learn a lot about its history. The pace was very relaxed, allowing plenty of time to ask questions and take pictures. I never felt rushed through anything, which was a nice change, and there was also never really a time where I just sat around waiting, either. The guides had many interesting stories and bits of information they disseminated along the way, and I really enjoyed learning about the architecture of Kochi Castle. The Makino Botanical Garden was especially impressive, and I was able to learn of many things I'd never think to ask about. The hospitality of the guides was great and kept our spirits high, despite the inclement weather. They were very friendly and open to conversation. If you'd like to know more about Kochi, I definitely recommend this tour.
Donna Danish（USA）★★★★★
What a wonderful day!
We were welcomed in Kochi by a great group of drummers. We were so lucky to have had a Madoka as our tour guide!!! What a wonderful day! Thank you. Madoka!!
Atlantis（USA）★★★★★
WONDERFUL TOUR!!!
We met Madoka at the bus station where we were dropped off by our cruise ship shuttle bus. We had a fantastic walking tour with her and she is just a wealth of information about Kochi. We enjoyed the castle, market, gardens, observation deck and especially the Chikurinji Temple. Communications prior to the tour were excellent! I would highly recommend using this company if you plan to visit Kochi. This was a much more pleasant and personalized tour than you would get if booking with a cruise ship!! Request Madoka, if you can. She is an absolutely lovely person to spend your day with!!
Molly Anderson（USA）★★★★★
Visit to Kochi
We had a lovely day in Kochi with Yoshiro. We visited 4 separate sites, taking a cab from the ship and from one site to the next. Yoshiro has excellent information and handled the different needs of our group beautifully. We had a wonderful tour!
Molly Anderson（USA）★★★★★
Learned so much about Kochi
We had a great tour of Kochi. We wanted something different than the usual crush ship tours. We were so lucky. Kumiko was outstanding. She provided a great walking tour with insights to the evolution of the country, people and culture. If you have a chance to see the true Kochi, find Kumiko. We wished she could or would have provided tours on the other 13 cities we visited. Kumiko speaks clear and excellent English. We were never rushed and impressed with her insights to the shopping, cultural sites and people. We compared notes with the people on the ship who took the cruise ship tour and found Kumiko covered so much more. The experiences on the trains and Streets were great. Thank you Komiko.
Daniel MacDonald（USA）★★★★★
Surprise, but Delighted
Surprised, but delighted, sums up our day trip in Kochi, Japan. Our private tour was by public transportation; that was the surprise. I must read what I am buying more closely. The Celebrity Millennium had transportation directly to the Kochi bus terminal where we met our English speaking guide, Kumiko. She was delightful. She took us to Kochi Castle, Hirome Ichiba, the Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden, the Chikurinji Temple, and Godaisan Park. We had a wonderful noodle lunch. Transportation added to our cultural experience. We also did a lot of walking, but it was enjoyable. Kumiko was a wonderful guide who spoke English well. She was knowledgeable, friendly, well-prepared, energetic, and fun to be with. Our day was full and went by quickly. The tour was a delight. We were returned to the bus terminal in plenty of time to return to our ship. Kumiko is definitely a five star guide.
Rosie Moloney（Australia）★★★★★
Enough time to soak in the vibes
I feel like we did so much on our tour today yet we didn't feel rushed at any stage. The places that we went to were a great blend of history and culture. We also had a chance to really soak in the Kochi lifestyle which seems so different to so many other places in Japan. People are truly more relaxed and friendly. Hirome ichiba must be one of the friendliest places in Kochi and the walking through the market made me wish I had an apartment with a kitchen so I could buy all the ingredients and go home and cook. Makino gardens is somewhere I really want to go back to one day. You can see that it must change so much from season to season. I love the way it is designed to allow people to relax in as well. Having the temple so close is amazing. So much to see in terms of scenery and so much to see in terms of the local people living their everyday lives. We loved listening to the monks chanting as the taiko boomed from the temple. So ambient. Our guide Madoko san was really friendly and knowledgeable about history but also of course, local life. She lives there in Kochi so it was great to have someone we could ask so many questions to. It was a great day.
Matt Hall（Canada）★★★★★
Amazing day around Kochi
The tour was fantastic. It starts at the gates of Kochi castle which are a marvel on their own. The sheer size of them is truly impressive. The hustle and bustle of the market where we ate lunch is so different from anything we have at home. You can choose from 40 or 50 restaurants and take your meal to a table in the center of it all. But the highlight of the trip for me was the botanical gardens. The bio dome filled with tropical plants and flowers is well worth it and the views of Kochi city from the top are as good as it gets.
Cheryl Appleby（Canada）★★★★★
Must excursion
Great full day excursion. Beautiful gardens and castles to see among other wonderful sights and tastes in Kochi. Our guide, Choco, was super. Dressed up as a ninja!
Jan Willis （USA）★★★★★
Perfect shore excursion tour in Kochi!
Shoko was an amazing guide! We loved our tour of beautiful Kochi and it was made so much better because Shoko was our guide! She was so enthusiastic, authentic and very interesting. We learned so much and enjoyed the delicious seared bonito with her at a local market. By the end of the day we felt like we were saying goodbye to an old friend! I would encourage anyone looking for a day tour of Kochi to go with Shoko!
Leslie Nathan（USA）★★★★★
Fun day in Kochi!
We had a wonderful time in Kochi seeing many sites including the Makino Botanical Gardens, the Chikurin-ji Shrine, Hiram’s Market and Kochi Castle. Our guide was great and took good care of us. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit!
Suzanne Horne（USA）★★★★★
Loved our ninja guide!
Our ninja guide Shoko was amazing! She was fun, knowledgeable and spoke great English. She guided our group of 8 through the beautiful botanical gardens, shine and Kochi castle with ease.. We had fun going to the local food hall to pick out unique things for our picnic in the park. It was a wonderful day thanks to Shoko!
Susan（USA）★★★★★
Lovely day in Kochi
We had a lovely tour of Kochi, and our guide, Yuriko, could not have been better! We were able to see many beautiful sights, and Yuriko's charming nature and knowledgeable enhanced the day.
Michelle Westwood（USA）★★★★★
Beautiful Kochi with a beautiful guide! 10/10
From the moment we booked the tour was well organised with excellent communication. Yuriko was waiting as promised at the port and was so helpful and fun and lovely. She took us to a ramen restaurant on request that we really enjoyed. We saw so many sights and Yuriko helped us to buy souvenirs and play some arcade games. A wonderful day and kochi was stupendously beautiful.
Thank you Yuriko!
Baroukh Levi（USA）★★★★
Guide was lovely
Lunch at the food market, tuna grill, Botanical garden flowering. Lovely guide went out of her way to make our experience memorable.
Mary Haefling（USA）★★★★★
A great day in Kochi despite the rainy weather!
Kumiko was our best guide in Japan! We loved her enthusiasm and she knew all the highlights of Kochi! She had us dancing, eating the best local food, guiding us through the castles and shopping streets and even setting up a special tea service. We loved our time in Kochi with Kumiko. While it was heavy rain the day we visited we were all talking about how much fun we had when we made it back to our cruise ship. We highly recommend this tour and the city of Kochi! What a beautiful place to visit!
Julie Taylor（UK）★★★★★
Best tour of beautiful Kochi
Our guide, Shoko, met us at the cruise terminal dressed as a ninja and that set the tone for a really fun day. I had explained that we had a couple of people in the group that might have some problems with stairs and walking fast. Shoko took this into account and was very attentive and understanding. She even thoughtfully provided binoculars so they could see those of us who climbed to the top of the castle waving at them! As an unexpected bonus we had ‘Hanami’ under the Cherry Blossoms. The garden at the start of the tour was delightful. Throughout the tour we never felt rushed and the whole day was relaxing and very good fun. Shoko even took photographs throughout the day which she sent us a link to. This was by far the best tour we have had in Japan. If you are lucky enough to have Shoko as your guide I can guarantee a fun, informative day.
Jodi Ratica（USA）★★★★★
Great way to see Kochi in a day!
Our guide, Aya, was a great guide. She was very knowledgeable and Kochi. She had all the schedules for the trip planned out in advance so we were able to see everything on the agenda.
Lauren Haefling（USA）★★★★★
Great day in Kochi with Kumiko
Kumiko was an excellent guide. She was so much fun and showed us so many hidden sights in Kochi. She was always smiling and had such a good attitude all day long. We really enjoyed all the planning Komodo did before hand so we could maximize our limited time in Kochi. I highly recommend this tour!
Ming-te Chen（USA）★★★★★
Excellent experience in touring Kochi
This is the best tour we have had in all our travel experiences. Akiko contacted us before the trip to make sure we know the meeting place. Since we arrived the meeting place early, Akiko came early to meet us. She speaks very good English. We went to botanical garden and castle. We are so fortunate to have her as guide. We will definitely use her again if we come back to Kochi.
Malcolm Allen（Australia）★★★★★
Great day in Kochi
We had a great day with Aya albeit it was dampened somewhat by the inclement weather. Aya was very informative and adapted to our needs (and the weather) during our tour. Aya also took lots of photos during the tour and shared them with us, which was a lovely gesture and very much appreciated. The tour organisers Omakase were also very professional and communicated well with us during the planning process. We would recommend Aya and Omakase to anyone considering a tour to Kochi and other parts of Japan.
David Cockroft （UK）★★★★★
Brilliant day tour catered to your requirements
Fantastic day in Kochi, with our guide Norio. The day was tailored around us and Norio was very knowledgable. Thoroughly recommend this tour!
Dennis Cheever（USA）★★★★★
A Splendid Day in Kochi with Rimo, our Delightful Guide
Rimo was a splendid guide and more than met our expectations. We met her at the Kochi Harimayabashi station. With day passes for the trams/buses in hand, we headed off to the Makino Botanical Garden & Chikurin-ji Temple, then on to Kochi Castle for leisurely strolls, filled with lively conversation. With mist beginning we diverted to the walking shopping area and found a typical local restaurant for a late lunch followed by a for fun tram ride. Rimo was very attuned to our interests, an because she is fluent in English, we enjoyed wonderful conversations with her. Our experience was like visiting a friend in her hometown -- a delightful and unrushed day in Kochi...Just what we wished for!
Brenda Gold（USA）★★★★★
We had a wonderful day...
We had a wonderful day with Tomoko. She met us at the shuttle bus station and took us to the beautiful Makino botanical gardens. From there we went to a fabulous restaurant for Sushi , did some local shopping, walked through the fish market and then went to Kochi Castle. She is extremely knowledgeable and personable and we really loved our day with her. Highly recommend!!
Peter STRASCHKO（Australia）★★★★★
A Brilliant tour of Kochi with Kumiko
Our guide Kumiko was excellent, her english clear and easy to understand, she was always smiling, very enthusiastic & a lot of fun.
We traveled around by bus (unusual, tickets paid for by Kumiko ) visiting the Makino Botanical Garden. Chikuriniji Temple, Hirome Market and finishing with a spot of Yosakoi dancing! All organised perfectly & with a delicious lunch to try Kochi specialties. Kumiko also took great pictures of us throughout the day which she emailed to us later. Perfect day!
Valerie Paterson（UK）★★★★★
Wonderful tour
We had a thoroughly good day if a bit of a wet one!!!! Kiyo was a great guide and took us to many places around Kochi and we got to experience using the teams and buses in the area. We went to a cafe also and had wonderful cakes and coffee. A lovely day and one I would highly recommend!
Barbara Lee （Canada）★★★★★
Absolutely outstanding tour with Amazing guides!
Our tour was in April, we took a shuttle bus from the cruise ship terminal into Kochi where we were greeted by our 4 wonderful guides. ( we were a group of 18) Kazuyo, Kumiko, Shoko and Eri ( who came with our guides to help out), they were absolutely amazing! These ladies were very knowledgeable, kind, caring, tentative and very well organized!
Our large group was split into 3 smaller groups. Even though we all travelled to see the same things at the same time, we were spaced far enough apart so as not to hear what each tour guide was saying. We explored the area using public transportation which was looked after by our guides. These ladies introduced us to the history, culture and traditions of Kochi.There were many interesting stories told to us about the area which was very interesting. All of these ladies took the time to answer any questions we had.
Our group stopped for lunch at a local traditional Japanese restaurant, the food was outstanding.
Throughout our tour we never felt rushed, it was a pleasant pace which gave us time to truly enjoy the beautiful sites of Kochi.
After our tour was over, we were guided back to the shuttle bus for our return to the cruise ship.
I highly recommend each of these ladies as a tour guide.
Thank you so much, Kazuyo, Kumiko, Shoko and Eri for a wonderful experience!
Thomas Christian（USA）★★★★★
Kochi with Kumiko
Kumiko our guide was amazing! She greeted us at our pick up with a bubbly smile and burst of energy waiting to show us Kochi.
We did everything by bus and walking-lots of steps everywhere but we couldn’t miss Kochi Castle or the Botanical Gardens. Kumiko knows her history and lots of little known facts that we enjoyed hearing and never would have heard about on our own.
Our favorite part of the day was eating at an authentic Japanese restaurant with her-she made ordering easy and it was a great experience.
When you have only 6 hrs on a cruise stop this is the way to see Kochi!!!
Daniela Barocio Sada（Mexico）★★★★★
Amazing!
Yuriko was very kind and went out of her way to pick us up at our cruise terminal, she is very friendly! We had an amazing time!! The food was great!!
Jason Ventresco（USA）★★★★★
Grest day in Kochi!
Rimo did an amazing job of showing and teaching us about many things in Kochi. There is no substitute for having someone knowledgeable of the area as your guide, and Rimo definitely was that. I would have her as my guide again.
Christine Ventresco（USA）★★★★★
On the tour we got to visit the botanical gardens, shrine, Kochi castle and several shopping areas.
Great tour in Kochi! Perfect for individuals who have never been here before. Got to see all the sights and our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. We had a great time!
Larry Puetz（USA）★★★★★
Outstanding guide made for a beautiful day!
Our guide Kazuko thought of every detail to make our day amazing! She kept us cool throughout the very hot day and let us tailor the experience to spend time where we were most interested. Her insights about the plants at the botanical garden added so much to our enjoyment! We loved the variety in the day, with the amazing markets, beautiful photo opps, and the Chikurinji Temple! This was the best tour of our entire vacation thus far!
Brad Bornemann（USA）★★★★★
Great Time in Historical Kochi
Kumiko, was great. She was very knowledgeable. She was a lot of fun and guided us very well. We had older and younger people and she made sure the older folks did not overdo while making the tour great for the younger group. We learned so much.
She really made our short stay in Kochi very memorable.
Matthew Perkins（UK）★★★★★
Shrines, castles, gardens, good food
Rimo was a very informative and friendly guide. She showed us all of the sites and helped us find a place to eat seared bonito, as well as some shopping for japanese cosmetics and animé. We had a great day, thank you Rimo
Sandra Lester（USA）★★★★★
Personal touches in Kochi Japan
Had a fantastic day in Kochi. Saw the Botanical Garden, Kochi castle, and Market all lead by our personal guide. She knew all the best vendors and picture spots and we even tried the famous Bonita fish while sipping local sake. Definitely the best tour of our trip. I highly recommend it.
Scott Waeltz（USA）★★★★★
Great Day in Kochi
Had a great day in Kochi! Kiyo is very organized and was very conscious to make efficient use of the time to be able to show me as much as possible. Kiyo is a native of Kochi and knows everything about the city and it's history. Five stars for Kiyo and Viator on this trip?
Janet Batchelder（USA）★★★★★
Kochi in the Rain
Miyo and Keiko were wonderful guides! Unfortunately, the weather was very wet, and there was a major snafu with our reserved taxis. I might suggest that, in the future, if taxis are reserved, that one guide stay with the taxis and one guide collect the guests.
Due to the delays, our time at the botanical gardens was very short. However, with so much rain, that may have been the case without the delay.
Lunch was amazing and well organized.
The highlight was the Kochi Castle. We had a couple of members of our group that could not climb the stairs, so Keiko stayed behind with them. Miyo continued with the rest of group. She was very informative and knowledgeable about the history. We did find, after the fact, that there is path to the castle, rather than having to climb the steps. Neither of the guides seemed to be aware of the path, but were glad to learn of it for the future.
Miyo and Keiko were kind, helpful, and friendly. They did all possible to see that we made the best of the weather and difficulties.
Elizabeth Stiles（USA）★★★★★
Amazing tour in Kochi
This is one of our best guided tours in Japan. Simply because, Yuri, our guide made us feel welcome in her hometown. She was efficient, knowledgeable & helpful. We’ve managed to beat the crowds from the cruise ship & enjoyed the Makino Botanical garden, Buddhist temple, Kochi Observatory (with a great view of the city), Kochi Castle, etc. with no crowds. In addition to these tours, Yuri also taught us how to use the public bus & tram. We’ve ended our tour with a delicious grilled bonito fish & Kariage chicken at the Hirome Market.
Huey Lin（USA）★★★★★
Fun and informative tour with friendly guide
Tomoko and her assistant were great guide Very friendly and attentive with our small group. We booked as a group tour with private tour experience. See all the highlights of Kochi. Highly recommend.
Monica Zamora（USA）★★★★★
We had a great time with Rimo.. she really took her time to try to explain all our questions.No communication barriers
Great time.. visit most beautiful places to visit..got to experience local food and local transportation. Rimo was an excellent tour guide and I will recommend to all my friends.
Carl Carpenter（USA）★★★★★
Fantastic Site
4 of us had a great time with Tomoko. One of our favorite tours in Japan, the castle and gardens were amazing. Don't miss the Conservatory in the gardens. Chikurinji Temple was great too, but a lot of steps. Tomoko's English is very good, and she took great care of us. Would definitely use her again!
Gary Kirby（USA）★★★★★
Kumiko was our guide. She...
Kumiko was our guide. She took us thru the botanical garden, temple, and to a Japanese restaurant. She guided us thru the bus and tram system, translated for us, and even took us shopping. She is so kind, full of energy, and fun to be with. Friends for Life! Thank you, Kumika!
Thomas Reichel（Germany）★★★★★
Ein wunderschöner und erlebnisreicher Tag in Kochi
Es war ein wirklich sehr schöner Tag in Kochi mit unserem netten Guide Miyo. Wir hatten viel Spass und interessante Gespräche über die Sehenswürdigkeiten die uns Miyo gezeigt hat. Auch die persönliche Gespräche mit Miyo waren sehr interessant. Da Miyo aus Kochi stammt, hat sie sich natürlich sehr gut ausgekannt und wir fühlten uns sehr wohl und sicher auf unserer Tour mit Miyo. Auch begegneten wir Bekannten und Freunden von Miyo, die auch sehr nett waren. Der Treffpunkt (Busbahnhof Kochi) wäre mit einem Shuttlebus vom Kreuzfahrthafen leicht zu erreichen gewesen, aber Miyo hat uns direkt am Schiff abgeholt und uns auch wieder da hingebracht. Das war sehr angenehm. Sie hat auch schon Tage vorher mit uns Kontakt aufgenommen um unsere Wünsche, was wir in Kochi gerne anschauen und ausprobieren möchten, abzufragen. Es ist sehr zu empfehlen einen Guide alleine für sich zu haben, weil der Guide viel besser auf unsere Fragen eingehen konnte als es einem Guide auf einer Gruppenreise möglich wäre. Mein Fazit, gerne wieder es war einfach schön.
Jon Loriezo（USA）★★★★★
Private Customized Shore Excursion in Kochi!
The family and I totally enjoyed our tour with Rimo in Kochi, even the driver was funny and very helpful. Rimo took wonderful care of my 91 year old father-in-law and put together an amazing album of pictures for us to remind us of our tour there. The Kochi Castle is a must-see. The Chikurinji temple was built in a beautiful setting; just be ready for climbing stairs at both sites. The views from Godaisan observatory would have been even better on a clear day, but we were blessed by meeting some traveling pilgrims on their pilgrimage to all the temples in the area. Lastly, I enjoyed the collection of plants and flowers in honor of Dr Makino, at the park named in his honor. The trip would not have gone as smoothly if we did not have a Japanese speaking guide with us.
Scott McCarty（USA）★★★★★
Enjoyable day in Kochi
Our very kind and gracious guide, Miyo, treated us to a wonderful day. All of our stops along the way were memorable highlights: Makino Botanical Gardens, Chikurin-ji Temple, Kochi Castle, Kochi Yosakoi Museum, and Obiyamashi Street. The Gardens were beautiful and serene, and the Temple and Castle were as majestic as expected. We enjoyed Miyo’s explanations as we toured and walked the grounds of each. Two real surprises for this 69M were the Yosakoi Museum and Obiyamashi Street. At the Museum, we donned fancy traditional dancing attire and “learned” to dance in the mode of the annual Yosakoi street festival. Fun! Finally, at Obiyamashi Street, we got a local shopping experience (again, surprisingly enjoyable for this ardent NON-shopper!) and had lunch of local delicacies at a cozy restaurant. Miyo’s commentary, guidance, and insights really made our day - we highly recommend her! (One final note. We traveled by taxi during the tour, and had the same taxi driver with us the whole day. Taxi fares for two of us + Miyo added about $60 to the total cost of our day.)
Larry Hirose（USA）★★★★★
March 21, 2025 Kochi Japan tour with Kumiko
I was really blessed to be paired with Kumiko through Omakase for a personal tour of Kochi Japan. Kumiko was born in Kochi and provided so much great personal detail to our tour. She arrived a few minutes early of our agreed upon meeting time at my hotel to discuss why I was interested in Kochi. After we briefly met, our tour began using the Kochi streetcars to our first tour stop at the Kochi Museum. We made postcards and she discussed the history of Kochi and how our day would progress up to and after lunch. Our next stop was using the local bus for a short ride to the Makino Botanical Garden. The garden was just fabulous. You can easily spend a full day just taking photos and looking at all the Japan plant history. From here we went back to the center of Kochi and spent some time at the Kochi Yosakoi Museum, fun time learning about the annual dance festival and learning our own dance steps! Kumiko asked me about my appetite for lunch and she took me to a local restaurant for an amazing traditional sit down lunch with seared bonito. We stopped off after lunch so I could purchase some local bonito flakes for cooking back in the U.S. and local Kochi biscuits. Our last tour point was the Kochi castle. Just an amazing day all around. Kumiko even helped me find local Kochi chopsticks for gifts and insisted on having me try local Kochi sake. I consider her a friend and hope to bring other family members to have a tour of Kochi with Kumiko. If you want to learn about Kochi, request Kumiko! She was even patient with my English questions and helped me with my forgotten Japanese words.. thank you Kumiko!
Donald Nault（USA）★★★★★
A day in Kochi
Rimo was an excellent guide who responded to questions and was very informative. The pacing of the tour was appropriate and we had a great day enjoying the scenes of Kochi.
Caryn Struthers（Australia）★★★★★
Great day on well co-ordinated tour
What a day! Great driver. Great guide. Great commentary. Great sights. Great way to spend my 60th birthday.
Mika was very informative in her commentary, friendly and fun. Our driver was very courteous and safe. Loved all of the attractions and never felt rushed to fit in with our time frame.
Over all well co-ordinated tour which visited some of the best highlights of Kochi with a great guide and driver. Highly recommend
Loretta Varallo（USA）★★★★★
Fun in Kochi!!!
On 26-March, my husband & I cruised into Kochi, and we booked an excursion with Tamako and her friend Kiko, throughout the Kochi region. Perhaps not as famous as other ports of call, but we had a Great time!!!! They picked us up at the ship’s shuttle-bus drop-off point … easy, no problems at all. Good English skills too, and both girls are Fun! We started at the Makino Botanical Garden – absolutely beautiful. Then we stopped at the Chikurin temple – its pagoda is spectacular! Then we went for shopping and a nice lunch at Harimayacho. Then, we visited Kochi park and castle; a bit of a climb, but well worth it!!! Then a quick trolley-ride to grab a quick snack of Kochi’s famous Bonito fish. All-in-All, we had a VERY good day!!! If in Kochi, book with Tamako!
Ute Armstroff（Germany）★★★★★
A great day in Kochi
It was a great tour! We saw the local highlights and also not so touristic spots. Our guide Kumiko was very nice and responded to our wishes.
Christopher Wadden（USA）★★★★★
Kochi tour
We enjoyed our day learning about Kochi. Our guide was knowledgeable, thoughtful, and fun. We would recommend this tour to any visitors who want to discover Kochi.
John Cork（Canada）★★★★★
We had a great time. Our guide was very knowledgeable and spent the time giving us the background on the sites.
The day went by quickly. Our guide had full knowledge of the city and the places we were interested in. We covered all of the highlights of the city
A great day
Cynthia Cooper（USA）★★★★★
Great time in Kochi
Miyo was very gracious and helpful. Very informative of the sites and accommodating of what we wanted to see. We requested a shopping stop at a particular store and she helped us get there and translated for us in the store.
Maxine Baerwaldt（USA）★★★★★
Great Kochi tour guide !
Hiro was a very accommodating tour guide. He was very nice, understanding, and showed us the best sights. We highly recommend him.
Marcy Toscher（USA）★★★★★
Peachy Tour of Kochi!
“Peach” is a peach of a guide and person. She guided us on an unforgettable tour of the beautiful city of Kochi! She made sure we maximized our time in Kochi and experienced the wonderful foods unique to Kochi (the charred Bonito was amazing and the fruit unique to Kochi were enjoyed!). Book your Omakase Tour with Peach for an amazing time in a beautiful city with her. She’s funny too!
Whitney Smith（USA）★★★★★
Amazing experience!
We had an amazing time with our guide Kumiko! This was my fourth time visiting Kochi City, however I learned so much from Kumiko! She has so much knowledge about Kochi’s history, it was so insightful ☺️ Also we went at the beginning of April and so many Sakura were in bloom!
Sandra Ritschel（Germany）★★★★★
Ein toller Tag mit vielen Erlebnissen
Der Ausflug war super auf uns abgestimmt. Akiko unser Guide hat uns alles erläutert und jede Menge Informationen über Land und Leute und die Geschichte.
Wir haben sehr viel Spaß mit ihr gehabt - immer wieder gerne.
Sarah Pennick（UK）★★★★★
Fun packed day with Kumiko
Kumiko was a delightful host who brought so much fun and enthusiasm. She was there ready to meet us from the shuttle from the cruise ship with a big smile! We got to do all the things that were listed on the tour but she found extra time to take us to do some traditional dancing and try some sake tasting too. Also we had a fabulous lunch of bonito in the market. There was no wasted time as she whizzed us round the city. There was a little bit of rain in the afternoon but this didn’t dampen our spirits! Thank you Kumiko!
Sheri Blohm（USA）★★★★★
Outstanding Guide - Awesome Day!
Kay was our guide and she was outstanding! Great communication prior to the actual day to clarify where to meet, and great communication on the day as well. We did everything included on the tour description and more! One of the “extra” things we did was go into a grocery and Kay explained what different things were and how they were used. She even recommended several fun things to buy and try. We found this most interesting and fun! She answered all the cultural questions we had. She was extremely flexible in asking what we wanted to do and then would accommodate us. At lunch, she helped select some unique dishes. This was fun and delicious! Kay was extremely kind and gentle. She is one of the best tour guides we have ever had! We very highly recommend this tour.
Chris Mitchell（UK）★★★★★
Great day in Kochi with Yumiko
We had a great day Kumiko who guided us to Makino botanical gardens, Chikurinju temple, kochi castle and a lovely Japanese lunch.
We took public transport around Kochi and all entrance fees and transport was included in the very reasonable prices which were substantially less than the cruise ship.
Kumiko met us at the bus station where the ship shuttle bus stops although we got taxis both ways for same price as shuttle bus.
Kumiko was very friendly taking lots of pictures and extremely knowledgeable about all the sites.
Jim Hale（USA）★★★★★
A great day in Kochi....
Our tour of Kochi with Rimo was outstanding! She was sensitive to our desires regarding what we wanted to see and put together a plan. She could not have been more pleasant and flexible throughout the day. Rimo felt like family before we parted. We truly got to know the spirit of Kochi through her and we will do our best to retain her services again when we return. She was a gem.
Mark Maunder（USA）★★★★★
Wonderful tour of Kochi
We had an amazing day touring Kochi with Kumiko. She took us to the expected sites as well as a few surprises. It was a truly memorable day. Her English is good, she is very knowledgeable, and she takes excellent photographs.
Highly recommend!
Robert J Wedoff（USA）★★★★★
A Delightful Day in Beautiful Kochi!
omoko is an exceptional tour guide. Her enthusiasm and pride for her hometown, Kochi, is contagious. At the Makino Botanic Gardens, she shared great insights about specific plants, as well as Dr Makino's life. The visit to one of the very few original Shogun castles (dating back to the 1700's) was amazing. One of the most touching moments was when Tomoko showed us her personal temple pilgrimage book as we were visiting a shrine. Between that, taking us to one of her favorite restaurants and her engaging style, her personal touches made a huge impact. We highly recommend touring Kochi with Tomoko!
Teresa Gregory（UK）★★★★★
We had a wonderful tour...
We had a wonderful tour with our guide Kanuka (Kay). Kay was very knowledgeable. The Makino botanical gardens were spectacular and Chikurin-ji Temple and Kochi Castle are not to be missed.
I would highly recommend.
Kimberly Keck（USA）★★★★★
Best guide in Japan
Our guide, Rimo, was the best guide we’ve had in Japan. She has a lovely personality, works hard to make your excursion memorable and is very accommodating. Rimo’s English is excellent and she is knowledgeable about Kochi’s history. A wonderful day.
Romano Gallo（UK）★★★★★
Kochi Highlights
The whole trip was planned and executed with great precession giving us enough time in each venue visited. Our guide Kazuko Murakami made the whole day interesting, fun and educational. She was an excellent guide and i would have no hesitation in recommending this trip.
Kimberly （USA）★★★★★
Best Tour of our Trip
Rimo a wonderful guide who has an engaging personality, great knowledge and speaks English very well. She went out of her way to make our trip easy and accommodated all of our requests. The botanical garden and castle were the highlight of the tour, but Rimo made everything special!
Alicia Ammons（USA）★★★★★
Kochi walking tour
Peach showed us many highlights of Kochi. We traveled by foot and public transportation.
We were able to easily meet up with her using the shuttle bus, provided by the cruise line, from the port to the bus terminal. She also took some great photos at all our stops.
Richard Merrell（USA）★★★★★
Kochi was a wonderful surprise!
Kochi was a surprise. Our guide Kimiko made the day a fantastic and exciting experience. Her love for her hometown was inspiring and contageous. From the time we met her we were off and running. She was passionate and knew just how to ensure that we say all the amazing history and beauty but also stayed on time to get back to the ship. We started with the botanical gardens and the temple then went dancing in a local dance team studio. We had an amazing authentic lunch in a beautiful Japanese dojo. From there to the Kochi palace and the fun of Kimiko's stories. We ended the day with a macha ice cream and a big hug goodbye.
Robert Gingras（USA）★★★★★
Tour bien structuré
Une guide bien préparée et attentionnée. Utilisation de transports en commun efficaces. Le château de Kochi est impressionnant.
Stacy Hinson（USA）★★★★★
Day tour with Peach
Peach was a great tour guide. On time to meet us as expected. Took us to botanical gardens, food market and castle. Very friendly and knowledgeable.
Wendy Novicoff（USA）★★★★★
Highly recommend!
I also posted on Trip Advisor…this was a lovely tour with a terrific guide. She listened to what we wanted to do, and she delivered a great tour. We would highly recommend this excursion.
Suzanne Hall（USA）★★★★★
Phenomenal tour in Kochi with Hiroshi!
Hiroshi was one of the best guides we've ever had, and we've had many! He picked us up at the port in his car which was so convenient. He showed us the highlights of Makino gardens, the temple and castle and took us to some fun shopping areas. He also took us to a great place for lunch where we had amazing food. Hiroshi was knowledgeable and shared just the right amount of history. He answered all our questions and was pleasant to be with. We highly recommend this tour and if you can get Hiroshi it will be an extra benefit!
Anthony Styer（USA）★★★★★
A great tour, and Rimo was an incredible guide!
Rimo gave us an exceptional tour! I have some mobility issues, and she was attentive to those needs, and willing to make adjustments…while at the same time covering everything we wanted to see. She was knowledgeable of the area and of the history of what we were seeing. She was also very skilled in English so we could clearly understand the things she was telling us. She was friendly and likeable…by far the best guide we have had on our trip to Japan!
Nancy Willis（USA）★★★★★
Kochi is great, even in the rain
Kumiko is a friendly, knowledgeable guide. We enjoyed seeing the Makino botanical gardens with her, even in the rain. It is a beautiful, amazing place! She helped us navigate buses and trams as we explored the city a bit in between touring the gardens and the castle. Both destinations are incredible—so glad we went! Be aware there are ALOT of stairs to climb to visit the castle. Well worth it!
Jason Sucher（USA）★★★★★
Kumiko made the day great!
Kumiko was an amazing caring guide. She worked hard to make sure that we had the best experience in Kochi. She was lively and funny and took excellent care of our group.
Lourdes Maria Bolaños（Mexico）★★★★★
Un día lluvioso en Kochi
Muy bien plan de viaje, muy buena guía y excursiones. Con buena comida, muy buen guía y explicación. Con lugares espectaculares. .
Keving Wright（Canada）★★★★★
Efficient and Personalized Tour
Our trip to Kochi was motivated by my wife's maternal grandparents having emigrated to Canada from Kochi in 1917 and wanting to see what had become of their place of origin. Kumiko designed an itinerary such that we saw much more in a full day than we could have organized on our own. Transit connections were seamless and she even landed us in front of the entertaining marionette clock at the stroke of 2 p.m. The castle and botanical gardens were obvious highlights but she added little details like walking us through a pedestrian underpass the walls of which were covered with pictures and maps of early 20th century Kochi which of course was of interest to us. Highly recommended.
Matthew Schnupp（USA）★★★★★
Wonderful Experience!
Kimo was a wonderful tour guide who took excellent care of us. She made sure we had a meaningful visit to Kochi and sent us pictures of our trip to share. Thank you again!!
Jullie Torres Cervantes（USA）★★★★★
A really nice experience with Rimo!
I booked this tour for my family and we had an amazing time! Our tour guide was Rimo and she was the best! She was very flexible and accommodating during the tour, especially with my brother who has special needs. We were able to take our time and adjust the schedule to spend more time at the places we like the most. She also did a wonderful job at explaining and teaching us about Kochi and its history. I would definitely recommend it for anyone visiting Kochi.
Alison Fairfax（Australia）★★★★★
A great experience.
The tour was fabulous, our guide Michi was very knowledgeable, Michi organised all the transport, explained each destination and even ordered our lunch and taxi back to port. I highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to get a snapshot of Kochi.
Mike Gross （USA）★★★★★
Momo is a wonderful guide!
We booked a 6 hour Kochi Tour. Momo was our guide. She contacted us well before our tour and worked out the details, catering to our needs. As for the tour itself, she was warm, informed, flexible, and extremely accommodating. She really made our trip to Kochi special and made sure we made the most of it. You only have one shot, usually, to get these things right, and Momo made sure we had an incredible experience. We're very grateful.
