9 Recommended Sightseeing Spots Around Tosashimizu City, Kochi Prefecture – The Southernmost Port Town of Shikoku

Tosashimizu City, located at the southernmost tip of Kochi Prefecture, is a town famous for bonito and mackerel. It is well known for its specialty products made from bonito, such as dried bonito flakes (katsuobushi). It has also served as a filming location for the popular movie and drama series Tsuribaka Nisshi, making it a familiar place for fishing enthusiasts. Blessed with abundant ocean resources, Tosashimizu has many marine-related sightseeing spots. Here are some particularly recommended ones.

1. Usubae

Usubae is the first place in the Japanese archipelago where the Kuroshio Current meets land. This is the only place in Japan where you can observe the flow of the Kuroshio, making this coastline famous among anglers as a mecca for rock fishing.

The name Usubae comes from a rock about 2 meters above the sea and 3 meters wide, which resembles a traditional mortar (usu). The swirling current of the Kuroshio around the rock also resembles the swirling motion inside a mortar.

2. Ashizuri Aquarium

Located within Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park, Ashizuri Aquarium is known as an “aquarium where you can hear the waves.”

The aquarium’s exhibits focus on marine life related to Tosa’s Kuroshio Current, with an impressive 200 species and 3,000 specimens on display. Popular among locals, it attracts many visitors from inside and outside the prefecture, especially on weekends. It also features a touch pool where visitors can interact with safe marine creatures like hermit crabs, making it a hit with children.

3. Ashizuri Kuroshio Market

Famous as Tosashimizu City’s “kitchen of the sea,” Ashizuri Kuroshio Market not only sells fresh seafood but also serves delicious dishes prepared by skilled chefs, all while you watch fishing boats come and go.

There are also plenty of activities, such as ocean cruises on fishing boats and fishing experiences with local fishermen—safe and enjoyable even for children. This market is a great spot for the whole family.

4. Ashizuri Cape Observatory

The Ashizuri Cape Observatory, built on the cliffs at the tip of Ashizuri Cape, offers stunning views. From the lighthouse, you can look straight down at the powerful Kuroshio waves crashing against the cliffs, experiencing the wildness of the Pacific Ocean.

The 270° panoramic view from the observatory has earned two stars from the Michelin Green Guide, making it a must-visit scenic spot in Tosashimizu City.

5. John Manjiro Museum

John Manjiro, known as a pioneer of English education in Japan, is honored here with a museum. In addition to a recreation of his home, the museum uses videos and panels to clearly present his life and achievements. Notably, the honorary director of the museum is Japanese comedian Bibiru Ōki.

6. Hakusan Shrine

Hakusan Shrine, enshrined at Hakusan Copper Gate, is the guardian deity of Ashizuri Cape. The shrine can only be reached by climbing a steep rocky path without handrails or chains, making it a challenging and potentially dangerous location. However, in spring, visitors are rewarded with breathtaking views of cherry blossoms across the shrine grounds.

7. Tatsukushi & Minokoshi Strange Rock Park

This park features unique rock formations carved over time by the powerful Kuroshio waves of the Pacific. The Tatsukushi Bay area is considered a “world-famous geological museum,” making it a rare geopark with many unusual rock formations.

The park is home to three famous rock formation groups: the Minokoshi Coast Rocks, the Tatsukushi Coast Rocks, and the Ashizuri Undersea Observatory Promenade Rocks. While you can explore on foot, taking a glass-bottom boat to see the formations from the sea is also highly recommended for a different perspective.

8. Ashizuri Onsen Village

Tosashimizu City offers various accommodations, but after a day of sightseeing, why not relax at Ashizuri Onsen Village?

The hot spring is said to have opened about 1,200 years ago, when the Buddhist monk Kōbō Daishi bathed in its waters while building Kongōfuku-ji Temple. It later became a healing spot for treating injuries among locals. Many people have soaked in its waters to recover from wounds.

9. Tatsukushi Diving Center

For active visitors, Tosashimizu offers diving tours, especially popular among young travelers. Tatsukushi Diving Center, established in 2002 as part of the city’s marine leisure industry, organizes these tours.

Aside from diving, it also sells tickets for glass-bottom boats and has a restaurant and souvenir shop. The Tatsukushi area’s calm currents and shallow depths make it perfect for beginner divers.

◎ Summary

Tosashimizu City is a port town that welcomes tourists from all over Japan. With easily accessible attractions, you can enjoy a relaxed trip here. Dining while gazing out at the Kuroshio Current sweeping across the Pacific is a unique Tosashimizu experience. With plenty of activities available, both children and adults can have fun. For your next long holiday, consider visiting Tosashimizu City with your whole family.