Kōchi Prefecture Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Kōchi Prefecture

Prefecture}

Flag

Symbol

Country

Capital

Subdivisions

Districts: 6, Municipalities: 34

Area

• Total

7,103.93 km² (2,742.84 sq mi)

Area rank

14th

Population

(December 1, 2011)

• Total

757,914

• Rank

45th

• Density

106.68/km² (276.3/sq mi)

ISO 3166 code

JP-39

Website

Symbols

Bird

Fairy pitta (Pitta nympha)

Flower

Yamamomo (Myrica rubra)

Tree

Yanase Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica)

Kōchi Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the south coast of Shikoku. The capital is the city of Kōchi.

History
Municipalities
Geography
Tourism
Food
Related pages
Images for kids
See also

History

Prior to the Meiji Restoration, Kōchi was known as Tosa Province and was controlled by the Chōsokabe clan in the Sengoku period and the Yamauchi clan during the Edo period.

Kōchi City is also the birthplace of noted revolutionary Sakamoto Ryōma.

Municipalities

Kōchi Prefecture comprises the southwestern part of the island of Shikoku, facing the Pacific Ocean.

It is bordered by Ehime to the north-west and Tokushima to the north-east.

Hiking trail - Mount Inamura

It is the largest but least populous of Shikoku's four prefectures.

Most of the province is mountainous, and in only a few areas such as around Kōchi and Nakamura is there a coastal plain.

Kōchi is famous for its many rivers.

Inamura-yama in Tosa-cho is the highest peak in Kōchi prefecture with an altitude of 1,506 meters above sea level.

Sukumo City

As of April 1, 2012, 7% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks and eighteen Prefecture Natural Parks.

Geography

Cape Ashizuri

Kōchi is in the southwestern part of Shikoku. The prefecture faces the Pacific Ocean. Ehime Prefecture is to the northwest. Tokushima Prefecture is to the northeast.

Kochi is famous for its clear streams. The most famous stream is Shimanto. The head of the Yoshino River is in Kōchi.

Tourism

Anpanman Museum

Kōchi Castle, one of only 12 original castles left in Japan
Okō Castle, Chōsokabe clan`s prime castle ruins now Kōchi Prefectural Museum of History is on site
Katsurahama
Ryugado Cave, one of Japan's top three caves
Shimanto River, the only undammed river in Japan
Godaisan
Anpanman Museum
Yosakoi Festival - Yosakoi is a unique style of dance that originated in Japan and that is performed at festivals and events all over the country.

Food

Katsuo no Tataki

Bonito

Like most areas of Japan, Kōchi advertises itself as specialising in a major food item, in this case, Katsuo no Tataki. Katsuo no Tataki is Skipjack Tuna or Bonito, lightly seared. Traditionally this is done over the straw generated as a by-product of the rice harvest.

People eat Sawachi in the situation of "Enkai" which refers to a gathering of family, friends and relatives. They surround "Sawachi", feasts on large dishes, and take own portions by themselves. The style represents the cultural climate of Kochi prefecture which does not like formal arrangements and respects freedom.