Kochi Sunday Market tour with castle and local guide

Browse 420 market stalls, taste seared bonito, and climb a 12th-century castle

A 5-hour guided walking tour of Kochi starting at the Sunday Market, where over 420 vendors sell fresh produce, local foods and crafts along a 1,300-meter stretch. You'll sample regional specialties like seared bonito at Hirome Market, visit Kochi Castle for panoramic views from the tower, walk the covered Obiyamachi shopping street, and finish at the Kochi Yosakoi Information Center to learn about the city's signature festival. Hotel pickup and an English-speaking guide are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Kochi's market and cultural sites

• Visit Kochi Sunday Market stalls
• Sample local foods at Hirome Market
• Enjoy coffee at W/O STAND KOCHI
• Tour Kochi Castle and view city
• Walk Obiyamachi Old Town Shopping Street
• Visit Kochi Yosakoi Information Center

The experience

The Sunday Market has run every Sunday for over 300 years, and you'll walk its full length with a guide who knows what to stop for. The 420 stands stretch roughly 1,300 meters east from Kochi Castle, mostly supplied by local farms and small producers. Beyond fresh vegetables and seafood, vendors sell country-style sushi, potato tempura, ice cream and local antiques. All meant to be sampled as you walk. The guide points out what's worth tasting and answers questions about what you're seeing.

After the market, you'll head to Hirome Market, a large indoor hall with about 40 restaurant stalls. This is where you try katsuo no tataki, the seared bonito fish Kochi is known for. The guide will show you how to dress it with salt and sliced garlic. Just next door sits W/O STAND KOCHI, a new coffee spot, if you want a break. Then comes Kochi Castle, one of only 12 pre-Edo castles still standing in Japan. The main tower was rebuilt in 1747 and sits intact with its surrounding buildings, stone walls and corridors, a rarity. The gazebo at the top overlooks the whole city.

The tour wraps with a walk through Obiyamachi, Kochi's largest shopping street, which is fully covered so rain doesn't stop you. There are restaurants, shops and a department store if you need souvenirs or a rest. The final stop is the Kochi Yosakoi Information Center, where you can learn about the Yosakoi Festival (one of Shikoku's three major festivals, started in 1954), and try on the colorful dancer costumes for a photo. Hotel pickup and drop-off bookend the day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• English-speaking guide.
• snacks during the tour.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesSundayDepartures at 09:00 and 10:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 to 80 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 14 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Trip Designer Inc.

Is this one for you?The tour moves at a walking pace through markets and streets for the full 5 hours, so it suits travelers comfortable with moderate activity and plenty of standing. The fixed route hits all the major stops (market, castle, shopping street, festival center) in one morning, which works well if you want to see Kochi's highlights without arranging separate visits.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is at the Sunday Market in Kochi?

The Sunday Market holds about 420 stalls selling fresh produce, seafood, local foods like country-style sushi and potato tempura, antiques, pottery, cutlery and souvenirs. Most vendors are local farms and small producers, and items are meant to be eaten and browsed as you walk the 1,300-meter stretch.

Is katsuo no tataki something I have to eat, or can I skip it?

Katsuo no tataki, seared bonito fish, is a Kochi specialty served at Hirome Market, and the guide will show you how to prepare it with salt and garlic. You're free to try other foods at the market stalls or the restaurant hall instead if you prefer.

Can I get inside Kochi Castle, or do I just see it from outside?

You enter Kochi Castle and climb to the gazebo on the top floor of the main tower, which overlooks the city. The castle is one of Japan's 12 remaining pre-Edo castles and is notable for having its entire building complex (the main tower, palace, corridors and stone walls) still intact.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The tour is 5 hours and includes walking the full length of the Sunday Market (about 1,300 meters), exploring Hirome Market indoors, climbing Kochi Castle, strolling the covered Obiyamachi shopping street, and visiting the Yosakoi Information Center. Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour is wheelchair accessible and strollers are welcome.

What's included in the price, and do I need to pay extra for food?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking guide, and snacks are included. Food at the markets and restaurants is not included in the tour price. You'll buy what you want to eat as you go. Private car or taxi transport can be arranged for an extra fee if you prefer not to use the standard pickup option.