|
Kochi Prefecture is difficult to get to but the nature and great views are
worth the trouble. One way to get there is by taking an overnight ferry from
Osaka, such as the "Whale Ferry" that I took.
|
|
|
My ferry went to
Cape Ashizuri. This is the only place in mainland Japan that
has tropical waters, as you will see if you take the glass bottomed boats into
the
Tatsukushi underwater park where there are coral reefs, sea urchins, and
tropical fish.
|
|
One interesting thing that you will find on the cape itself is a
museum to
John Manjiro, the first Japanese to encounter Americans. He was a fisherman
from this town but his boat got beached on a deserted island. Just as in
fairy tales he was rescued when he was near to death, but much to his surprise
his rescuers were Americans! They took him back to the US where he learned
English, but eventually he returned to Japan.
|
|
|
If you go inland from Cape Ashizuri you will reach the
Shimanto River Valley.
This is considered to be the cleanest river in Japan, a status due mainly to
it's position as the only major river in Japan that is not dammed.
|
|
|
One place to stay is the
"Canoe Cabin". You can rent a large tent and a spot
to put it for only 3500 yen per night.
|
|
There are kayaking tours each day in which you travel 8km down river and get
and excellent view of the river valley. The small whitewater areas were fun,
although the one time I flipped the kayak wasn't such a fun experience.
But there were plenty of instructors accompanying us, so they helped out those
who got stuck underwater.
|
|
