Kure & Taishomachi Walking Tour: An Imperial Market, Warayaki Lunch, and the Oldest Sake Brewery in Kochi
Stroll the scenic seaside town of Kure in Kochi Prefecture, a small fishing village with a century-old market.
Overview
The small town of Kure in Kochi Prefecture (not to be mistaken for the city of Kure in Hiroshima) is a little fishing town that captures the essence of Kochi. The buildings are modest in scale against the surrounding nature, the sea exerts a strong presence, and the people are open and welcoming.
The heart of Kure is the intimate shopping street behind the port, where you find Taishomachi Market, a covered arcade lined with food and local goods. In 1915 the market was destroyed in a fire that razed 230 houses. Emperor Taisho provided the town with the funds to rebuild it, and in gratitude the residents renamed the market in his honor.
Across an afternoon, a local guide walks you through this living town: a seaside lunch at Kuroshio Kobo where guests can sear their own bonito over an open straw flame in the traditional warayaki style, the roadside station of Michinoeki Nakatosa, a striking Tsunami Tower built against the Nankai Trough earthquake, the shaded grounds of Kure Hachiman-gu, the century-old Taisho market, the nostalgic Sabo Kokuya cafe inside a 140-year-old folk house, and Nishioka Sake Brewery, the oldest sake brewery building in Kochi at over 200 years.
Details
❖ Tosa Kure Station
11:30
Your local guide meets you at the ticket gate of Tosa Kure Station, the rural train stop that opens onto the day. A short briefing on the itinerary, then a short taxi ride down to the seaside for lunch.
❖ Lunch at Kuroshio Kobo
11:40 - 12:40 (1:00 h)
Kuroshio Kobo sits on a low headland overlooking the Pacific and is a beloved local spot. If reserved in advance, guests can try warayaki, searing their own bonito over an open straw flame just as Kure fishermen have done for generations.
❖ Michinoeki Nakatosa
13:00 - 13:30 (30 min)
This roadside station opened in 2017 in Nakatosa Town, which sits between the Pacific with its Kuroshio Current and the headwaters of the Shimanto River. You can sample gourmet seafood caught fresh from the Kaiyama River, browse local crafts, sweets and produce, or hike a short way up the hill for a sweeping view of the ocean.
❖ Tsunami Tower
13:45 - 14:00 (15 min)
See this steel-framed three-storey tsunami evacuation tower built in preparation for the Nankai Trough giant earthquake. A spiral ramp, stairs and an evacuation gondola are installed, a disaster-prevention warehouse occupies the second and third floors, and a helicopter rescue space is set up on the roof.
❖ Kure Hachimangu
14:00 - 14:20 (20 min)
In the center of town lies Kure Hachiman-gu, a rustic Shinto shrine surrounded by woods. Moss-covered monuments are scattered around the grounds, and a mysterious large rock with a hole through its center stands among them: it is said that crawling through the hole helps ward off bad luck.
❖ Kure Taisho Town Market
14:25 - 14:45 (20 min)
The Kure Taisho Town Market is over 100 years old. Locals flock here for their Kure-don, an extremely fresh seafood bowl topped with your choice of ingredients. The market is adorned with fishing flags once flown by boats returning from a good catch.
❖ Sabo Kokuya
14:45 - 15:25 (40 min)
Sabo Kokuya is an old folk-house cafe created by renovating a 140-year-old residence. It is just like a traditional Japanese country house, filled with nostalgic objects. During opening hours it is crowded with regulars, who like to eat warabi mochi while taking in the relaxing green garden.
❖ Nishioka Sake Brewery
15:30 - 15:55 (25 min)
Nishioka Shuzoten stands in the town of Kure. Its storehouse is over 200 years old, the oldest sake brewery building in Kochi. A small tasting room offers several of their sake and liqueurs, and the shop carries bottles and other products to take home.
❖ Return to Tosa Kure Station
The afternoon ends back at the ticket gate of Tosa Kure Station, where the day began.
OPTIONS
Notes
This is a walking tour. The transfer from Tosa Kure Station to Kuroshio Kobo is by taxi.
Sabo Kokuya is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
If you want to try warayaki (searing your own bonito over an open straw flame at Kuroshio Kobo), please request it at booking so the venue can prepare.
Meeting Point
Tosa Kure Station, ticket gate
Your guide meets you at the ticket gate of Tosa Kure Station at 11:30. A short taxi ride takes you to Kuroshio Kobo for lunch; the rest of the day is on foot in central Kure.
What's included:
English-speaking guide
Taxi from Tosa Kure Station to Kuroshio Kobo
Photos of tour participants
Local tax
What's not included:
Lunch (¥850 - ¥2,000 per person)
Drinks at Sabo Kokuya
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Free cancellation up to 8 days before the experience starts (local time)
Private experience
1
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6
Participants
Kochi
From ¥8.000 /person
4:30 hours
Traveler Photos
From ¥8.000 /person
4:30 hours
Kochi