Tosashimizu, Kochi, Japan
Today was mostly a travel day, but before heading to Kochi City, I visited the Ashizuri Underwater Aquarium and the Kochi Prefectural Ashizuri Aquarium. From Cape Ashizuri, it took two buses to reach the area. I had a few spots in mind to check out, but the underwater aquarium was the one I was most excited about.
There are three main attractions here: the two aquariums and a glass-bottom boat tour. Unfortunately, the boat tour was closed for maintenance, so I explored the aquariums instead. On the way to the underwater aquarium, I passed some interesting rock formations—one even looked like a whale. I bought a combo ticket that covered both aquariums and headed down the stairs into the first one. It's a small, submarine-like space with round windows offering views of coral and sea life. I spent quite a while just watching the fish swim by.
Next, I walked about 12 minutes to the Ashizuri Aquarium, showed my combo ticket, and got in. I saw otters, turtles, sharks, manta rays, and more. I even caught the deep-sea fish feeding session, which was a lucky bonus. Though small, the aquarium was packed with fascinating sea creatures.
Afterward, I walked along the Tatsukushi Coast trail to see more rock formations. I found a large flat rock, sat for a bit, and watched the ocean in peace before catching the bus back to the train station. There weren’t many visitors, so I had the area mostly to myself. The transportation options were quite limited so I’d recommend renting a car to explore this area.
Highlights of Tosashimizu: Tatsukushi Coast, Kochi Prefectural Ashizuri Aquarium, Ashizuri Underwater Aquarium, Cape Ashizuri
Route Detail
Distance: 3.86km from Tsumajiro Bus Stop to Kaiteikan-mae Bus Stop
Total elevation gain: 29m
Time: 1h 10m (total time with breaks 1h 46m)
Difficulty: Easy
Transportation & Miscellaneous
Bus from Matsuo Bus Stop to Tsumajiro Bus Stop ¥1300
Aquarium Ticket Combo ¥1500
Food ¥1300
