Kochi - Japan, Japan

Kochi is the capital of Kochi Prefecture on the southern coast of Shikoku. The city is small and friendly, with a casual atmosphere and a dose of southern flair. Kochi boasts several attractions of interest to travelers. A well preserved, original hilltop castle from the feudal period marks Kochi's downtown . Nearby on another mountain, Godaisan, pilgrims visit Chikurenji Temple, one of the 88 temples along the Shikoku Pilgrimage. The city is also the proud home of Sakamoto Ryoma, who played a role in realizing the Meiji Restoration. The Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum is located at the beautiful Katsurahama Beach, just south of the city center. As the former capital of Tosa province, the castle town of Kôchi played a prominent role in the Meiji Restoration. Today, however, humble Kôchi is simply a prefectural cap­ital, though there are a number of interesting sights in town, including its small but original castle. The city is also a good spot for resting your tired bones and indulging in modern conveniences before venturing out to the next set of temples.