Recommended sightseeing spots in Kochi that can be enjoyed even when it rains.
Weather is always a concern when traveling, but the Kochi area is full of places where you can enjoy culture and nature to the fullest even when it rains. We have selected six sightseeing spots that offer a rich variety of attractions, including science museums, art museums, food complexes, and limestone caves. Enjoy the charms of Kochi to your heart's content on a sunny day or even when it rains.
1Tosasato
Experience the richness and fun of Kochi Prefecture's cuisine
This Property is a food complex where agricultural and livestock products from all over Kochi Prefecture are gathered. The JA Farmer's Market Tosasato is a direct sales market where fresh produce is sold, and the Tosasato Agricolette is a restaurant that serves local gourmet foods and a store selling processed products that are perfect as souvenirs.
The farmers' market offers a wide variety of freshly picked vegetables and fruits, freshly landed seafood, and meat products such as the Tosa Akashi brand of beef. The market is especially well-stocked around noon, but thanks to JA's unique pickup system, products are also available until relatively late in the evening.
One-stop shop for souvenirs and lunch.
The "Tosasato Agricolette" is divided into two areas: a select store and a restaurant. The select store offers approximately 3,400 items, including dashi (Japanese soup stock) such as ponzu and Soda-bushi, which are indispensable for Kochi residents, as well as locally brewed sake and famous confections. In the Restaurant area, popular Kochi gourmet restaurants from all over the prefecture, such as Shirasu-don (rice topped with young sardines) and Naboyaki Ramen (ramen noodles cooked in a pot), will be open for business.
As the store claims to be "a base for transmitting the charms of Kochi Prefecture's 34 cities, towns, and villages," tourists and locals alike are sure to be thrilled by the new discoveries and encounters they will encounter here. From shopping to dining, this is a place to spend time and have fun.
- Tosasato
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10-46 Kita-Goza, Kochi-shi, Kochi MAP
6 minutes drive from JR Kochi Station
Approx. 3 min. walk from Minami-Goza bus stop after taking a local bus from JR Kochi Stn.
JA Farmers Market Tosasato 9:00-19:00, Tosasato Agricolette 10:00-19:00, Restaurant open until 20:00
JA Farmers Market Tosasato January 1-4, Tosasato Agricolette January 1 and 2
088-878-8722 (JA Farmers Market Tosasato), 088-803-5015 (Tosasato Agricolette)
Free of charge
2Kochi Mirai Kagakukan
Rediscover the fun of science. Enter the exciting and thrilling world of science.
The concept is to "see, touch, feel, make, learn, and play. The museum aims to be a space that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike, with exhibits that are full of surprises and discoveries.
The permanent exhibits are divided into three zones: "Space, Earth, and Science Experience" where visitors can enjoy scientific phenomena by moving their bodies, "Nature and Life in Kochi" where visitors can learn about the natural environment and biodiversity of Kochi, and "Science and Manufacturing in Kochi" where scientists with connections to Kochi are introduced. Special exhibitions related to Kochi are held regularly, and visitors are sure to be surprised and discover something new every time they visit.
Don't miss the planetarium where you can enjoy the beauty of the night sky.
The planetarium, the centerpiece of the museum, is also not to be missed. The planetarium also offers original programs, including a relaxing 15-minute planetarium that is designed to be enjoyed by busy adults. The live commentary of the starry skies by the interpreters is also well-reputed, and the planetarium was ranked first in Japan in the number of visitors to small planetariums (FY 2018~2022) by the Japan Planetarium Association.
On weekends, the museum also holds science shows to learn about the wonders of science and miniature science classes to enjoy simple experiments and crafts. Admission to the exhibition area is free, so feel free to visit.
- Kochi Mirai Science Museum
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Otepia 5F, 2-1-1 Otesuji, Kochi-shi, Kochi MAP
7 min. drive from JR Kochi Station
Approx. 3 min. walk from Tosaden Kotsu Ohashi-dori
Approx. 4 min. walk from Horizume bus stop after taking a local bus from JR Kochi Station, etc.
9:00-18:00, Fridays, Saturdays in July and August: 20:00
Open on Mondays if Monday is a national holiday, Dec. 29-Jan. 4
Free of charge
Planetarium: 500 yen for adults, 300 yen for high school students, 100 yen for elementary/junior high school students
088-823-7767
Charged
3Kochi Prefectural Art Museum
Experience a wide range of artworks, from modern and contemporary art from around the world to local art.
The museum opened in 1993 under the theme of "People and Nature in the South. The museum holds special exhibitions of various genres from Japan and abroad, including works by Yasuhiro Ishimoto, a world-renowned photographer associated with Kochi, as well as modern and contemporary artists. Known for its world-class collection of Marc Chagall, the museum houses five oil paintings and approximately 1,200 prints. 2024 is the current year, and the works are being replaced as they are exhibited. Although not on permanent display, the museum also houses a major work, "Fooey," by Jean-Michel Basquiat, a representative artist of the New York art scene in the 1980s. If you are lucky, you may have the opportunity to view it.
Performing arts from Japan and abroad are also presented in the adjoining hall.
In addition to the museum space, the museum also has a hall where domestic and international performances, plays, concerts, and traditional performing arts are staged. The museum also holds various lectures, lectures, workshops, and other events as needed, serving as a center for local arts and culture.
The Tosa Plaster exterior of the Kochi Prefectural Art Museum is impressive. Surrounded by the Kokubun and Funairi Rivers, which flow into Tosa Bay, the building was constructed with the image of an art museum floating on the water's edge. The courtyard connecting the art museum and the Prefectural Art Museum Hall is also filled with water, creating a beautiful space that is well worth seeing.
- Kochi Prefectural Art Museum
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353-2 Takasu, Kochi-shi, Kochi MAP
20 min. drive from JR Kochi Stn.
5 min. walk from Tosaden Kotsu Kenritsu Bijutsukan Dori Stn.
9:00-17:00 (last admission at 16:30)
Year-end and New Year's holidays
Collection exhibition: Adults: 370 yen, University students: 260 yen, High school students and younger: free *Permanent exhibitions differ according to each project.
088-866-8000
Free of charge
4Kochi Prefectural Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum
Rare materials on Sakamoto Ryoma, the hero of Tosa, are all in one place.
Ryoma Sakamoto, a hero of the closing days of the Tokugawa shogunate, was born in Tosa. In 1991, the Kochi Prefectural Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum was opened to honor the achievements of Ryoma, who devoted his life to the transition to modern Japan.
The exhibition begins on the first floor of the new building with a theater corner that introduces Ryoma through video, and continues to the permanent exhibition room on the second floor, which houses a collection of materials related to Ryoma. Visitors can get a sense of Ryoma's personality from the letters he wrote to his friends and family. There are also portrait photographs and a pistol of the same model as the one Ryoma carried, allowing visitors to trace Ryoma's footsteps through the closing days of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
An excellent location overlooking the Pacific Ocean, even on rainy days
On the hill of Katsurahama Park, where the memorial hall is located, are the ruins of Urato Castle, which was once the residence of the Chosokabe clan that united Tosa. It also boasts a location with the Pacific Ocean stretching out before your eyes. The view from "Umi no Mieru Gyarai" on the second floor of the main building is particularly exceptional. Even in the rain, visitors can see Katsurahama's beloved Katsurahama Beach.
There is also a "Bakumatsu Plaza" in the main building that offers hands-on exhibits, a "Bakumatsu Photo Gallery" that introduces the great people who lived through the same period as Ryoma, and a museum store that sells original goods. Not only for Ryoma fans, this is a must-see place to visit when sightseeing on Katsurahama Beach.
- Ryoma Sakamoto Memorial Museum
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830 Urado Shiroyama, Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture MAP
25 min. from JR Kochi Station by car.
From JR Kochi Station, take the local bus. 2 min. walk from Ryoma Kinenkan-mae bus stop.
9:00-17:00 (last admission 16:30)
No holidays
Adults 700 yen during special exhibitions (500 yen during other periods), free for high school students and younger
088-841-0001
Free of charge
5Ryuga-do Cave
Enter a mysterious world created by the forces of nature over a long period of time
The cave is considered one of the three largest limestone caves in Japan and is designated as a national historic site and natural monument. These huge limestone caves are approximately 4 km long and are said to have been slowly created over a period of 175 million years. About 1 km of the cave has been developed as a sightseeing course. Visitors can enjoy stalactites of various shapes and sizes, including the "Memorial Waterfall," the largest waterfall in the caves, and the 11-meter-high "Tenkuseki," or "descending stone," as they stroll through the mysterious atmosphere. Each part of the cave is illuminated, and you will be able to appreciate the beauty of each individual stalactite from corner to corner.
Full-fledged adventure course for those who love to explore
For those who want to enjoy the limestone caves more deeply, there is an adventure course where visitors crawl through narrow rocky passages, and the Nishimoto-do Course where they can feel the flow of underground water. These activities are recommended for those who enjoy exploration and adventure.
After exploring the limestone caves, visitors can take a rest at "Komorebi," a rest area in the forest on the site, or deepen their knowledge of limestone caves at the Ryuga-do Cave Museum, which exhibits pottery and other artifacts excavated in the caves. The limestone caves continue to grow. Why not enjoy the mysterious world created by nature to the fullest?
- Ryukawadou Cave
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1424, Sakagawa, Tosayamada-cho, Kami, Kochi MAP
Approximately 40 min. from JR Kochi Stn. by car.
Take a local bus from JR Tosa-Yamada Station and get off at Ryuga-do (Ryuga Cave).
8:30-17:00 (last entry into the cave), Dec-Feb - 16:30 (last entry into the cave)
No holidays
Sightseeing course: Adults: 1,200 yen, Junior high school students: 700 yen, Elementary school students: 500 yen
Adventure course (reservation required): Sightseeing course fee + 1,700 yen
Nishimoto-dong course (reservation required): Sightseeing course fee + 1,200 yen
0887-53-2144(Ryuga Cave Preservation Society)
Free of charge
6Kami City Yanase Takashi Memorial Museum
Anpanman Museum located in the hometown of Takashi Yanase, the creator of Anpanman
The Anpanman Museum is located in the hometown of Takashi Yanase, the creator of Anpanman. It consists of the Anpanman Museum, where visitors can experience the world of Anpanman through original picture book drawings, the Poetry and Meruhen Picture Book Museum, where visitors can view works from the magazine "Poetry and Meruhen," and an annex where public exhibitions are held.
Inside the Anpanman Museum, Anpanman and his friends are hidden everywhere, including on the stairs and floor, making it a thrilling experience even for adults. There are also many outdoor attractions such as Yanase Takashi Memorial Park and the "Fighting Anpanman Statue.
Rare original drawings that can only be seen here are also on display.
The Anpanman Museum has four floors. The main exhibit, the 4th floor gallery, displays large tableau paintings of Anpanman and original picture book drawings by Yanase. On the first basement floor is the "Soreike! Anpanman World" where you can experience the world of "Anpanman" and play with Anpanman and his friends. The diorama of the town where Anpanman and his friends live is also worth seeing. There are no difficult pictures in the museum, and there is no fixed route. Please return to your childhood and enjoy the world of Anpanman as much as you like.
- Kami City Yanase Takashi Memorial Museum
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1224-2, Mirabu, Kohoku-cho, Kami, Kochi MAP
Approx. 50 min. by car from JR Kochi Station.
From JR Tosa-Yamada Station, take Anpanman Bus. 5 min. walk from Mirabu (Anpanman Museum) stop.
9:30-17:00 (last admission at 16:30)
Tuesdays*If Tuesday is a national holiday, the museum will be open on Tuesday and closed the following day.
Admission 800 yen for adults, 500 yen for junior and senior high school students, 300 yen for children over 3 years old (shared with the Poetry and Fairy Tales Picture Book Museum)
0887-59-2300
Free of charge
Closed for renovation from November 5, 2024 to March 28, 2025.



