Kochi

Kochi Prefecture occupies southern Shikoku, with approximately 84% of its land covered by forests, one of Japan's most mountainous regions. The warm climate and abundant rainfall brought by the Kuroshio Current have fostered distinctive primary industries including horticulture, citrus, and bonito pole-and-line fishing. Kochi City, the prefectural capital, features Kochi Castle and Hirome Market, hosting the Yosakoi Festival every August with over 20,000 dancers. The western Shimanto River, known as "Japan's last clear stream," is a healing area offering original landscapes with submerged bridges and houseboats. The east features Cape Muroto, recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark, while the southern tip has Cape Ashizuri, with thriving marine activities like whale watching and diving. During the late Edo and Meiji Restoration period, the prefecture produced figures like Sakamoto Ryoma and Itagaki Taisuke, with the free-spirited prefectural character still alive today.