|
Katsurahama , some 13km south from the centre of Kochi, is famous for two things: its beach and the Tosa fighting dogs, who compete in mock sumo tournaments. Neither attraction is what it's cracked up to be. The cresent-shaped beach, though capped off at one end with a picturesque cliff-top shrine, is rather pebbly and swimming is not allowed, while the dogs in the Tosa Token Centre (daily 9am-4pm; tel 088/842-3315) are such lethargic, over-fed lumps that it's hard to believe they walk for 10km every day, let alone take part in sometimes bloodily vicious fights (Y1500). Animal lovers should give these bouts a wide berth, and the small museum, which includes several Onagadori roosters cooped up in cramped boxes designed to display their long tail feathers, and a Tosa dog lounging in a small cage. The rest of the centre is a giant giftshop selling tacky souvenirs, including cuddly toy sumo dogs. Far more interesting is the Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum (daily 9am-5pm; Y400), the architecturally stunning building on the headland above the beach. Dedicated to local hero Sakamoto , the building uses bold colours and a radical free-standing design for the main exhibition halls. Inside, as well as state-of-the-art displays using computers, you can see the blood-spotted screen from the room in which Sakamoto was assassinated in Kyoto. Next to the beach is a large statue of Sakamoto and a small aquarium (daily 8.30am-5pm; Y1000), which has dolphin and sea-lion shows. To get to Katsurahama from Kochi by public transport, you'll need to take a bus (Y610) from beside Kochi Station; the journey to the beach takes 35 minutes.
Your Tip for Katsurahama
Help other backpackers! Write your own guides and backpacking tips to Katsurahama - they will appear instantly on this page - Please only write a tip/guide to Katsurahama - visit the main Katsurahama forum to ask a question!
Please do not post links to your site here (they won't work) - please use the Katsurahama webguide section below! Thanks.
| 
