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You may also be looking for the Indian city of Cochin.KÅchi (高知) , known in ancient times as
Tosa (土ä½), is the eponymous capital of Kochi prefecture on the Japanese island of Shikoku.
Get in
By planePint-sized
KÅchi RyÅma Airport () has flights to Osaka-Itami, Osaka-Kansai, Tokyo-Haneda, Nagoya-Komaki and Naha (Okinawa). Buses to/from Kochi station (35-45 min, ¥700) leave roughly twice an hour.
By trainThe
JR Dosan Line (土讃線) runs down from Okayama on Honshu via Takamatsu and the Oboke gorge, passing through Kochi on its way to the terminus Kubokawa.
The fastest way to get to Kochi from Okayama is to take the
Nanpu Limited Express train, which departs every hour. It costs ¥5990 (no cost with the Japan Rail Pass) and takes 2 1/2 hours.
See
Kochi CastleSunday MarketKatsurahama BeachMt. GodaisanMakino Botanical GardensHarimaya-Bashi (Harimaya bridge)Do
Yosakoi - A very loud and colorful festival.Nichi O Ichi (Sunday Market) - Every sunday rain or shine, Kochi's skilled farmers and fisherman flock to the capital to present their goods. At the market you will find friendly vendors offering everything from antiques to zucchini.hynjl.ij;tioyr[pwtry0po64kiu
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Buy
Katsuo Bushi - Bonito flakes. This is a staple of the Japanese diet and is best in Kochi. It is used as a topping for many dishes and will surely be appreciated by a Japanese friend.Eat
Katsuo no tataki - This is Kochi's specialty dish and does not taste as good anywhere else! Katsuo is a type of Tuna fish which in English is called Bonito. Tataki is the style in which it is prepared. The tataki style means that the Fish is held over a fire and cooked only on the outside layer (about 3mm to 1cm deep), leaving the inside of the fish red and raw. After the firing it is cut into thick juicy slices that look like oversized sashimi, and served with sliced garlic and onions, shiso (a Japanese leaf with a distinct and delicious taste), some other garnish, a special sauce that may vary, and ofcourse some fresh wasabi. Once it is at your table clutch a slice with your chop sticks along with a generous portion of the garlic, onions, wasabi etc. Take it all in in one bite. Katsuo is best during the Summer and early Fall when the fish arrive off the coast of Kochi after fattening up in the tropics during the winter. Katsuo no tataki can be found in many, many restaurants throughout Kochi Prefecture, but for the cream of the crop go to Kuroson in Kochi City. Kuroson is a small sushi restaurant near OhashiDori, nestled in a narrow alley just behind the Mos Burger on the East West Densha Dori. On most nights you will need a reservation booked well in advance, but if you are on your own or as a couple, you might get lucky and find a spot on a week day. Ask for Shiyo Tataki, a specialty of Kuroson. It a variation of katsuo no tataki prepared in salt, giving it an even more unforgetable taste. For the bolder among you, ask for chichiko (Katsuo hearts) as an appetizer.Drink
Denizens of Kochi drink a lot; see the Kochi prefecture article for the full scoop.
is located on the south coast of Shikoku, Japan. The capital is the city of KÅchi.
History
Prior to the Meiji Restoration, KÅchi was known as Tosa Province.
Geography
KÅchi Prefecture comprises the southwestern part of the island of Shikoku, facing the Pacific Ocean. It is the largest but least populous of Shikoku's four prefectures. Most of the province is mountainous, and in only a few areas such as around KÅchi and Nakamura is there a coastal plain. KÅchi is famous for its many rivers.
CitiesEleven cities are located in KÅchi Prefecture:
AkiKamiKÅchi (capital)KÅnanMurotoNankokuShimantoSukumoSusakiTosaTosashimizu Towns and villages These are the towns and villages in each district.
Ç‚Scheduled to dissolve after the mergers
MergersOn October 1, 2004 the village of Hongawa from Tosa District and the village of Gohoku from Agawa District merged with the old town of Ino (also from Agawa District) to form the new town of Ino in Agawa District.On January 1, 2005 the villages of Tosayama and Kagami from Tosa District merged into the city of KÅchi.On February 1, 2005 the villages of Hayama and Higashitsuno from Takaoka District merged to form the new town of Tsuno.On April 10, 2005 the city of Nakamura and the village of Nishitosa from Hata District merged to form the new city of Shimanto.On August 1, 2005 the town of Ikegawa and the village of Agawa (both from Agawa District) and the village of Niyodo from Takaoka District merged to form the new town of Niyodogawa in Agawa District.On January 1, 2006 the village of ÅŒnomi from Takaoka District merged into the town of Nakatosa.On March 1, 2006, the towns of Akaoka, Kagami, Noichi and Yasu and the village of Yoshikawa (all from Kami District) merged to form the new city of KÅnan.On March 1, 2006, the towns of Tosayamada and Kahoku and the village of Monobe (all from Kami District) merged to form the new city of Kami. Kami District was dissolved as a result of these mergers. On March 20, 2006, the municipalities of Kubokawa from Takaoka District and TaishÅ and Towa from Hata District merged to form the new town of Shimanto in Takaoka District.On March 20, 2006, the towns of Saga and ÅŒgata from Hata District merged to form the new town of Kuroshio.Future mergersThe town of Haruno from Agawa District is scheduled to get absorbed by the city of KÅchi on New Years Day 2008. Sports
The sports teams listed below are based in KÅchi.
BaseballKochi Fighting DogsYosakoi Festival External links
Official KÅchi Prefecture homepage 
