For our third day in the Iya Valley region we decided to drive to one of the main cities of Shikoku: Kochi. We had read that there is a castle worth visiting – one of the few castles surviving in its original form. Also on Sundays, the Main Street is closed with an open-air market set up that sounded worth the visit.
So we drove the 90 minutes to Kochi. The first 40 minutes on the usual windy roads, but the remainder on an expressway. The three-lane highway was a nice easy change with a surprising large number of tunnels, many of them over a kilometre in length.
We quickly arrived in Kochi and then faced a little challenge of finding a car park. The city streets there were quite narrow with no on-street parking. But we soon spotted a few little paid parking lots. They are little lots with five or six parking spaces with a self-service ticket machine. The only concern was the wheel clamp like device that locks the car in – presumably until you have paid. So slightly reluctantly we pulled into one. The wheel clamp didn’t engage automatically which we took as a good sign and then proceeded to the ticket machine. No English option, but how hard can it be with a number per car park (in English) and then about six other buttons to choose? So we press the button six for our slot and then try the most obvious buttons with no result. Ok. Maybe it needs money. But no, the money slots are behind a casing which is closed. Let’s try a few other button combinations. Again no result and the slot doesn’t open. Time for a bit of button mashing as we let the kids have a try. But still no result. We abandon this parking lot and try another spot. However, the second spot had the same unsuccessful result. It took another five minutes but we found a multi-storey car park – something more familiar looking – and we drive in and take a ticket for the boom gate to open.
With the car parked we walked the 10 minutes to Kochi castle. It is an impressive sight, with large surrounding walls and then several levels leading up to the castle. The military design of the castle is evident in the grounds and pathways leading up to the castle. All are designed defensively, to trap or mislead attackers, while having strong defensive positions. Talk of samurai and battles meant Lewis was in his element.
We take of our shoes and enter the castle. It is a timber structure with the floor height getting lower and the staircase getting steeper as you go up each level. We learn about the castle through the exhibits now located on each level, including the fact that the castle was never used in conflict – hence why it is one of the few surviving original castles in Japan. Built in early 17th century it was rebuilt after a fire in 1748. It is the only castle in Japan to retain both its original tenshu, or keep, and its palace, the residence of the local Daimyo. Also it was interesting to learn about the areas and history, including where the Mitsubishi logo came from.
Leaving the castle led us to the main street which had been setup for the Sunday market. An interesting mix of stalls with everyday items, hardware, fresh fruit and meat and food stalls. Even pet hermit crabs at one stall. We stopped at the cold press coffee stall for the adults and the melon bun stall for the kids.
At the end of the market we saw an walking route to an old samurai house. And so we had a hot 15 minute walk in the sun to find the house, glad for some assistance from Google Maps. We then headed back toward our car, stopping at a convenience store to stock up on groceries.
On reaching the car we were glad to see an attendant booth was manned, with them advising us to pay at the boom gate on exit. And so safely exited we drove to Mt Godiasan a few kilometres from the city for a view back over the city before the drive back to camp. Though Carter was ready to just head back to camp.
At camp we splurge on cup noodles for dinner and some TV on the tablet, before heading to the onsen to meet the others for a well earned soak.
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