Recommended Courses

Shimanto River Source Nature and Culture Stroll Course in Tsuno & Yusuhara

Experience the Nature and Culture of the Oku Shimanto Sky Area!
The towns of Tsuno and Yusuhara also possess a rich history and culture. In addition to mountains, forests, and the great outdoors are the local food culture, tea farms that have existed since antiquity, Dappan no Michi, a road walked by revolutionaries, and countless other spots exuding the lifeways of the people here. From the architecture of Kengo Kuma that blends tradition and modernity to encounters with rustic locals, come embark on a journey to experience the history and culture of Tsuno and Yusuhara,
Day 1: START 8:00 am: Kochi
About 1 hour by car
1
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM: Inakazushi Making Experience
The town of Tsuno is said to be the birthplace of Kochi's local delicacy inakazushi, which uses wild vegetables such as shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and Japanese ginger. Here, you'll make inakazushi and homemade miso soup with women from the Kubogawa area of Tsuno. The ingredients have been prepared in advance, so you will start by shaping the sushi and you eat the sushi you make on the spot.
Address:
251-1 Nagano, Tsuno, Takaoka District, Kochi Prefecture (Inside Hayama no Sato Farm Visit Training Center)
Telephone:
090-1323-5940 (Kubokawa Lifestyle Improvement Group)
Fee:
¥2,500 per person (2 hours, starts at 5 people)
See Details Page
About 20 minutes by car
2
11:20 AM to 1:00 PM: A Trip to the Katsura Tea Fields in a Rental Tuk-Tuk
Tuk-tuks are the three-wheeled taxis running in Thailand and Southeast Asia. The town of Tsuno has the Tsuno Tuk, a tourism promotion tuk-tuk that offers tours and can be rented and operated by tourists themselves. The Tsuno Tuk course we recommend explores the tea fields in the Katsura area of Fusegasaka. The Tsuno mountain area was once known for Rokuzo Tea, one of Tosa's three famous teas, and beautiful, well-maintained tea gardens still sprawl across the area.
Address:
1321 Funato, Tsuno, Takaoka District, Kochi Prefecture (Yuzan Shimanto Seiran no Sato) (Boarding spot: the parking lot of the Manten no Hoshi Main Shop Processing Area)
Telephone:
090-4472-8291
Fee:
4 hours ¥7,000 / 8 hours ¥13,000 (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
To the booking site
About 20 minutes by car
3
1:20 PM to 3:20 PM: Guided Walking Tour of Yusuhara Town
A guided tour of two courses, the Dappan no Michi Trail and the Guided Tour of Yusuhara and Kengo Kuma Architecture. The Dappan no Michi Walk is a guided walking tour around historical sites related to Sakamoto Ryoma and other revolutionary samurai that remain in Yusuhara. Guided Tour of Yusuhara and Kengo Kuma Architecture traces the footsteps of the renowned architect Kengo Kuma in Yusuhara and the architecture of Kuma that breathes life into the town.
Address:
1426-1, Yusuhara, Takaoka District, Kochi Prefecture (Yusuharakumonoue Sight Seeing Information Center)
Telephone:
0889-65-1187
Hours:
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Fee:
¥3,000 per guide
See the Kengo Kuma Architecture Guided Tour Details Page
See Sakamoto Ryoma Dappan no Michi Trail Details Page
4
Kumo no Ueno Hotel Annex Marche Yusuhara
Based on the concept "the entire town as a hotel," Kumo no Ueno Hotel Annex Marche Yusuhara is located in the center of Yusuhara, with an exterior designed by Kengo Kuma after a thatched roof. On the first floor, as the name suggests, there is a market (marche) that carries local specialties, while the second and third floors are lodging facilities. Guests can use the free shuttle bus to the Kumo no Ue Hot Springs. This facility only has a small kitchen for breakfast. This is to encourage guests to visit local eateries to foster interaction and deepen their understanding of the town's charm.
Address:
1196-1 Yusuhara, Takaoka District, Kochi Prefecture
Telephone:
0889-65-1288
Hours:
Check-in 3:00 PM / Check-out 11:00 AM
Closed:
Open year-round
Fee:
Starts at ¥12,540 per person per night, two meals included
To the booking site
Day 2: START 9:40 AM: Marche Yusuhara
About 20 minutes by car
5
10:00 AM to 1:00 PM: Contemplate Torataro Yoshimura as you take the Guided Walking Tour of Yoshiuno
The area of Yoshiuno in the town of Tsuno is the birthplace of Torataro Yoshimura, the director-general of the Tenchu-gumi. With a local guide, you'll visit Torataro's ancestral graves as well as Hayase no Ippon-Bashi Bridge, considered the prototype for submersible bridges, Suwa Shrine, where a magnificent festival is held in autumn, and a tea house standing on a hill overlooking Tengu Highlands, all while reflecting on the Meiji Restoration. After the walk, enjoy a meal at Torataro’s residence made from local produce that has received rave reviews. After your meal, relax on the veranda overlooking the garden. (Meal included; reservation required)
Address:
1456-1 Yoshiuno Ko, Tsuno, Takaoka District, Kochi Prefecture (Torataro Yoshimura Residence)
Telephone:
0889-62-2601
Hours:
April to November, Activity Hours: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Closed:
Year-end and New Year’s period (Dec. 29 to Jan. 3)
Fee:
Activity Fee: ¥3,000 per person (includes meal), Capacity: 4 to 10 people, Reservation: Required 5 days in advance
See Details Page
6
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM: Torataro Yoshimura Residence & Hayase no Ippon-Bashi Bridge
The birthplace of Torataro Yoshimura, one of the four great leaders of Tosa who organized the Tenchu-gumi and devoted his life to overthrowing the shogunate in the Meiji Restoration. Restored in 2015 as the Torataro Yoshimura Residence, this facility provides guidance on the cultural landscape of Tsuno. Inside the facility, you can enjoy udon, soba, and tea. (Meals require a reservation)Hayase no Ippon-Bashi (“Single Log”) Bridge, near the Torataro Yoshimura Residence, spans the Kitagawa River, a tributary of the Shimanto River, and is said to be the prototype for submersible bridges. This simple yet profound bridge is made from just three wooden planks across a bridge girder.
Address:
1456-1 Yoshiuno Ko, Tsuno, Takaoka District, Kochi Prefecture
Telephone:
0889-62-2601
Hours:
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Closed:
Year-end and New Year’s period (Dec. 29 to Jan. 3)
Fee:
Free
See the Torataro Yoshimura Residence Details Page
See the Hayase no Ippon-Bashi Bridge Details Page
7
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM: Eraser Stamp Making / Newspaper Bag Making Experience
Experience making eraser stamps and newspaper bags in a tranquil facility with a thatched roof. Come make a souvenir of your travels.
Address:
1456-1 Yoshiuno Ko, Tsuno, Takaoka District, Kochi Prefecture (Torataro Yoshimura Residence)
Telephone:
0889-62-2601
Hours:
Reservation required 3 days in advance
Closed:
Year-end and New Year’s period (Dec. 29 to Jan. 3)
Fee:
Activity Fee / ¥500 each (Time required: about 2 hours)
GOAL 5:30 PM: Kochi
The map for this course