The Big Kochi Prefecture Adventure - Nakatsu Gorge

 On this day of our Kochi adventure we are visiting Nakatsu Gorge. 

We started at the Kochi city main train station. We took this train to get to Sakawa station and from there we rode a bus to get to the gorge.  

From the Nakatsu Gorge bus stop it was a long walk uphill to get to the gorge nature trail. When we arrived at the nature trail I could tell from my first glance the long journey to get here was well worth it! 

We start the walk full of excitement not knowing for sure what we will see. Or, how difficult the trail may be. This is an adventure!

I'm surprised that we're the only people on the trail.

The trail goes up and down, mostly up, lots of stairs... we press on! 

The scenery is impressive. These boulders are huge.

I'm all smiles - this is fun!

The trail follows the Nakatsu river.

I'm stopping this gigantic boulder from rolling over so that Emi can pass by safely. 

The trail crosses back and forth over the Nakatsu river. We're heading for the Uryu no Taki waterfall.

We finally encounter one other person on the trail. 

We have arrived at the Uryu no Taki waterfall observation point.

Emi took my picture.

The waterfall is 20 meters tall but it is extremally difficult to photograph. It's one of those things that one has to see in person to get appreciate it.

From the water fall there are two options. (1) go back the way we came, or (2) continue on and enjoy the full length of the nature trail. Of course we continued on, how hard could it be?

Man! this trail is getting harder faster! 

Passing by another waterfall. 

The trail keeps going up.

...and up...

...and, up some more!

Okay, it seems to have leveled off and now we're heading back down.

I'm starting feel like Indiana Jones!

These are the famous "Stone Pillars". It's another one of those things that one has to see in person to appreciate.

Pressing on; the moss is thick and the trail is wet and muddy. We don't care, we're tough!  

Thankfully we have reached the end of the trail and it's all down hill from here.  

Now all we have to do is follow this road to get to the bus stop.

We walk down the road in peaceful silence enjoying all the green trees around us. 

Looking down at the Nakatsu Valley Yunomori Onsen facility. That's where the nature trail started.

At the end of the road we caught our bus and returned to Sakawa train station. 

And, here comes our train to take us back to Kochi city.

The end.

All the best,

Mike

The Big Kochi Prefecture Adventure - Botanical Garden, Temple and Beach

 Today we're taking a self-guided bus tour. First we will visit the Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden and then we'll go to the Chikurin-ji Temple. After the Temple we'll go to Katsurahama to enjoy lunch and a walk on the beach.

First up is the Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden. https://www.makino.or.jp/

Here's Dr. Tomitaro Makino hard at work drawing a picture of a plant. 

Per the internet: Tomitaro Makino (24 April 1862 – 18 January 1957) was a pioneer Japanese botanist noted for his taxonomic work. He has been called "Father of Japanese Botany", having been one of the first Japanese botanists to work extensively on classifying Japanese plants using the system developed by Linnaeus. His research resulted in collecting more than 500,000 specimens, many of which are represented in his Makino's Illustrated Flora of Japan. Despite having dropped out of grammar school, he eventually attained a Doctor of Science degree, and his birthday is remembered as Botany Day in Japan.

The botanical garden is quite large and unfortunately when we visited there was a lot of major maintenance going on. So we just wondered around enjoying what we could enjoy.

When we stepped into the green house it was so hot and humid that my camera lens got all fogged up. I thought it would be fun to take a picture with the lens fogged up.

After wiping off my lens I started taking pictures of whatever looked interesting to me.

Hello Emi! Now, how do I get down from up here?

There are so many interesting and beautiful plants and flowerers in the green house.

There's a place in the garden set up for taking portraits.

Next we walked a short distance to the Chikurin-ji Temple.

http://www.chikurinji.com/

Of course we have to go up some stairs to get to the Temple.

Here we are at the entrance gate.

Next to the gate is a big bronze bell. Buddhist Temples always have a bell. 

Okay, let's go in.

Wow! this place is nice.

There's even a small forest here.

The temple grounds are magnificent. If one is looking for some peace and quiet, this is the place to be.

More stairs!

There's Emi wondering around.

There I am with the five-storied pagoda behind me.

This is the main hall.

Per the temple's website: The main hall, also known as the Monjudo Hall as it enshrines Manjusri Bodhisattva, was constructed in 1644 by Yamauchi Tadayoshi, the second lord of the Tosa domain. It is the oldest structure remaining at the temple today and has been designated a National Important Cultural Property. Built in the Muromachi period style, this one-story, gabled, five-ken square-wide hall with a shingled roof has a solemn appearance, yet features unique styles, even within the context of esoteric Buddhist temple architecture, such as the graceful curves of the Chinese-style eaves and the radiating fan-shaped rafters.

It would be nice to stay here longer but we have a bus to catch.

One needn't be a Buddhist to enjoy a visit to a Buddhist Temple; especially one as nice as this.

Next we got back on the bus and headed to Katsurahama.

Per the internet: Katsurahama is a beach in Kōchi, Japan, located on Urado Bay and overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is a local recreation spot known for its statue of Sakamoto Ryōma overlooking the beach.

Yep, here we are overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The fist thing we did was visit Kochi Lighthouse.

Kochi Lighthouse was the first lighthouse installed and lit in Kochi Prefecture in June 1883 (Meiji 16). It is a white tower shaped at 15.46m in height, and its light reaches up to 19.5 nautical miles (approximately 36km) offshore, serving as a guide for ships sailing off the coast of Kochi Port.

Here's the statue of Sakamoto Ryōma overlooking the beach and Emi too!.

We ate lunch in one of the Katsurahama restaurants and then we went for a walk on the beach.

The sunlight was getting really strong and harsh so I changed to taking pictures in black & white. 

There's nobody else here! 

This bridge leads to a small shrine. This is as far as we went because... we had a bus to catch.

Next to the bus stop is a map of Kochi Prefecture. Where will we go tomorrow?

There's more to come on the big Kochi prefecture adventure!

All the best,

Mike

Bonus shots from Kurihama