Kochi City高知

Kochi is the home of the much-loved "Toden" trams. It also hosts 20,000 dancers in the annual Yosakoi-matsuri Festival.

Kochi City is located on the Kagami-gawa River delta, at the head of Urado Bay. The city is the political, cultural, economic, and trading center of the prefecture. Kochi Castle dominates the center of the city, and Harimaya-bashi Bridge is famous for its red lacquer railings, which are retained to this day. There are also several famous ruins within the city itself. Obiya-machi is an arcade, which runs through the city, and Kyo-machi is a shopping street with many shops selling high-quality decorations made from coral. The city's trams are affectionately known as "Toden" and are a favorite method of transport for citizens. At Urado Bay in the south of the city is Katsura-hama Beach. This spot is famous for the pleasant contrast between the beach's pine tree forests and rocky coastal scenery.

The prefecture's largest event is the Yosakoi-matsuri Festival, which brings together 20,000 dancers. The festival is held annually between 9 and 12 August, and features dancers wielding wooden clappers who compete at various locations around the city. Starting in 1954, the festival is held to pray for a bumper harvest, continued prosperity, and the health of local residents. Each team has its own unique costume with various colors, designs, hairdos, and make-up styles on display. Every unique dance is energetic, and the pulse of this festival stirs the spirits and paints the city in even brighter summer hues.