Kochi Castle

Kochi Castle is a castle in Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture, also known as Taka-jo. The castle ruins are designated a National Historic Site. Among castles built in the Edo period, only three nationwide still preserve both the main keep (tenshu) and the main gate (Otemon): Hirosaki Castle, Marugame Castle, and Kochi Castle. Kochi Castle also preserves the honmaru (main bailey) intact. The entire castle area is designated as a National Historic Site and is now a prefectural historical park, where volunteer guides provide free scheduled tours. Built by Yamauchi Kazutoyo, the first lord of Tosa Domain, the castle is packed with features like shinobi-gaeshi (anti-intruder spikes), musha-kakushi (hidden soldier spaces), and lookout windows. Next to the castle is the Kochi Castle Museum of History, where you can learn more. The surrounding area remains an active castle town, bustling daily with shopping streets, the Sunday Market, and Hirome Market—making it popular with both tourists and locals. As one of Japan’s 100 Famous Castles, you can also get a stamp for the Japan 100 Castles stamp rally. Access: take the streetcar from Kochi Station to Kochijomae stop, then walk 5 minutes; walking from JR Kochi Station takes about 30 minutes.