Kochi Prefecture Specialties, Souvenirs, Shrines, Temples, and Travel | 47 Prefecture Guide

About 84% of Kochi’s prefectural area is forest, giving it the highest forest coverage rate in Japan Human land is narrowly wedged between the mountains and the sea.

Specialties

Seared bonito is a way of eating it by searing the surface strongly over straw while leaving the inside raw.

Why sear it? One theory says that only the surface was treated with fire to help prevent food poisoning. Another theory says that because the Tosa Domain prohibited eating it raw, people took the form of saying it had been “seared.” Either way, it is a specialty born from working around restrictions.

Yuzu ranks No. 1 in Japan for both harvest volume and planted area. Ginger, eggplant, and garlic chives also rank first in Japan by harvest volume.

Souvenirs

bonito flakes, yuzu ponzu, and yuzu kosho. And Tosa washi.

Tosa tengujo paper is said to be thinner than the tip of a fountain pen nib, making it one of the world’s thinnest classes of handmade paper It is used in overseas museums for restoring paintings.

Shrines and Temples

Tosa Shrine in Kochi City is the ichinomiya, or highest-ranking shrine, of former Tosa Province, and its main hall and other structures are Important Cultural Properties of Japan. It is built in a rare layout called “iritonbo-zukuri,” which looks like a dragonfly when seen from above.

In the 88-temple pilgrimage, Kochi corresponds to the Path of Discipline It has that role. Although it has the fewest temples of the four prefectures, with 16, the route is the longest. This is because some sections between temples are separated by dozens of kilometers, including the pilgrimage paths. The terrain itself gives meaning to the training.

Chikurinji Temple the five-story pagoda and garden of (Kochi City), Hotsumisakiji Temple in Muroto City is said to be the place where Kukai trained and received the name Kukai. Mikurodo Cave at Cape Muroto is regarded as the place of that training.

Kongofukuji Temple (Tosashimizu City) is one of the most remote temples in the 88-temple pilgrimage Iwamotoji Temple and Shoryuji Temple.

Sightseeing

Shimanto River is, is called Japan’s last clear stream because there are no dams on its main course. Low-water crossings without railings, called chinkabashi, which submerge when the water level rises, are still in use today.

the street market on Otesuji (Sunday Market), Kochi Castle (with an original surviving keep), Katsurahama, and Akaoka.

Traditional Crafts

Nationally designated items are Tosa washi and Tosa forged blades are the two items.

Tosa forged blades are known for not standardizing their shapes. A nata hatchet for the mountains, a hoe for the fields. Each tool has a different shape, matched to the body of the person using it and to the land. It is the opposite direction from Sakai, which created standards for professionals. Behind this is the broad forested landscape and the constant demand for tools used in mountain work.

For details, see 【VILLAGE Report vol.10】The Choice Not to Standardize

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References: Kochi Prefecture, Kochi City, Tosa City, Ino Town, Forestry Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Agency for Cultural Affairs, Association for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries — Value Village Editorial Team