Kochi Castle, Shrine & Hirome Market: Half-Day Guided Tour

Overview

Available languages

Chinese

Japanese

English

4 hours

Mobile ticket

Discover the best of Kochi on a guided half-day walking tour.

・Explore Kochi Castle and the vibrant Hirome Market with a friendly local guide

・Visit Kochi Hachimangu Shrine to experience Japan’s spiritual culture and learn traditional Shinto customs

・Enjoy a well-paced route featuring history, food, and local culture

・Perfect for cruise passengers & first-time visitors – hotel and port pickup available on request

・All entrance fees included for a smooth, worry-free experience

・Taste local flavors with a complimentary citrus juice and Biscuits

・Stroll through the lively Obiyamachi shopping street and soak up the city’s charm

Additional Info

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Because Kochi Castle has stairs and steep slopes.

Because this tour involves extended walking.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

English-speaking guide (Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, or Taiwanese available upon request)

Admission fee to Kochi Castle

Local snack & drink (Gokkun citrus juice & Mille Biscuits)

Meeting at JR Kochi Station South Exit (free of charge)

Walking tour in Kochi city center

Lunch (at Hirome Market is at your own expense)

Taxi fares for optional spots and pick-up/drop-off at hotels, Kochi Airport, Kochi Port, or Harimayabashi Bus Terminal (if requested).

Personal expenses and souvenirs

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

The Crown Palais New Hankyu Kochi

4 2 50 Honmachi Kochi, Kochi Japan

Kochi Airport

Kochi Japan

What To Expect

Kochi Hachimangu Shrine

One of Kochi’s oldest and most revered Shinto shrines, known for its serene atmosphere and deep cultural roots. Visitors can learn about the history and traditions of the shrine, experience rituals such as praying and drawing omikuji (fortune slips), and practice proper etiquette like hand purification and bowing. Surrounded by tranquil nature, it offers a peaceful and authentic glimpse into Japan’s spiritual culture.

30 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Obiyamachi Ichibangai

Kochi’s central shopping street filled with local stores, souvenirs, and everyday life. On Sundays, this stop may also include a visit to the famous Sunday Market (Nichiyo-ichi), Japan’s largest open-air market.

30 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Kochi Castle, Shrine & Hirome Market: Half-Day Guided Tour

Reviews

4.33

3 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Best local guides
hblizzie,
Nov 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
We are on a cruise & have booked a series of Viator tours across Japan- I can say without question this was the best. The guides here were warm, knowledgeable, personalized the tour, & made our stay in Kochi memorable. When picking a city guide one wants someone knowledgeable about local culture & history but also fun to be with. These guides hit the mark. Upon our next visit we will absolutely stop by to say hello
Great day in Kochi
Bert B,
Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Wonderful experience. Ti and Kana came prepared with a lot of historical information and did a great job. My wife is passionate about history and they had answers for everything. It was a delight visiting Kochi with them. Plus, their smiles and their warmth were a total pleasure. We highly recommend them.
Needs seasoning
Lucy L,
Oct 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00
We arrived into Kochi by ship. The cruise port is far from the train station meeting point so our tour guides pre-arranged a taxi pick-up/drop-off for us for an additional fee, payable to the taxi drivers. While the tour guides were great, unbeknownst to us, the guides admitted that this was a brand new tour and we were their first customers! Overall we enjoyed Kochi Castle and Hirome Market, but we could feel the lack of tour experience during the Kochi Castle portion as the guides had to look up answers to many of our questions about the castle. Hirome Market is quite busy and lunch was on our own but our guides suggested we try the local specialty, smoked seared bonito, which was delicious.