Kochi prefecture(高知県)

We left Osaka at a.m.6:00 yesterday and went to Kochi (http://www.attaka.or.jp/foreign/english/index.html)by a car. We expected that the way was congested because now Golden week(holidays) in Japan. We have off day of about a week.
We arrived earlier than our expectation from Osaka to Kochi in five hours. To meet a friend, we went to Nangoku(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nankoku,_K%C5%8Dchi) city in Kochi. He lived in Perth for about 20 years, but returns to his parents' house for two years ago. However, his family lives in Perth. I think maybe he miss Perth and his family. We like him because he is kind and attractive person:-) At first he guided us to the Ryugadou(the cave)

The Ryugadou(http://www.ryugadou.or.jp/02ryugado/ryugado.htm). It is one of the Japan's three biggest stalactite caves. We walked about 1 kilometer in the cave. It was cold and dark, very tight. I cannot recommend you to here if you were claustrophobia.

And then we visited to his house. Nice to meet you, Lucky(his name)!

We wanted to go to Katsura-hama Beach. It is a place of relation of Ryoma Sakamoto(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakamoto_Ry%C5%8Dma). It is the one of the tourist attractions representing Kochi-shi. The bronze statue of Ryoma Sakamoto sees the Pacific. We gave up to go there. Because it was very congested. So we changed the direction, we drove to the hotel along the seashore. The person of the paraglider waved his hand to us:)

The Villa Santorini(http://www.villa-santorini.com/index.html) in Tosa city.

We could look the Pacific ocean!!! And more we heard beautiful bird song♪

In the evening we visited to syouryu-ji(青龍寺). Do you know 四国遍路(shikoku henro)? The act around 88 places of Shikoku is called a henro遍路(pilgrim). The people call a pilgrim ohenro. It is said that your wish comes true if you visited 88 temples in Shikoku. We met a lot of pilgrims.They wear white clothes and a special hat.

The Kochi castle(高知城)

Can you see castle and clock. We could look a streetcar.

For 300 years, the sunday market is held on every Sunday. We ate a fresh fish. A bonito is in season now:p There are antiques, vegetables, various foods in the market.

Anyway, Kochi is far from Osaka!! We enjoyed Kochi, thank you Mr.Ohara!