Kochi City (Japan Kochi)

Kochi (Kochi-shi) is the principal seaport and the capital city of Japan's Kochi Prefecture (on Shikoku Island's southern coast) with population over 330,000. Port Kochi (locode JPKCZ) is also the Prefecture's largest/principal cruise port and serves mainly cargo ships and ferries.

Prior to Meiji Revolution (1868), this province (named Tosa) was controlled by Chosokabe clan (until 1615) and Yamauchi clan (until 1868). The prefecture comprises the southwestern part of Shikoku Island (Pacific Ocean) and is bordered by Tokushima (north-east) and Ehime (north-west). Kochi is the largest but also least populous of the 4 prefectures of Shikoku (Ehime,  Kagawa,  Kochi, Tokushima). Most of the province is mountainous, with highest elevation point (Mt Inamura-yama) 1506 m (4941 ft) above sea level.

As of 2012, 7% of Kochi Prefecture's total land was designated Natural Parks, including Ashizuri-Uwakai; Tsurugisan Quasi, Ishizuchi, Muroto-Anan Kaigan, plus 18 other smaller-sized parks. City's best-known tourist attractions include Kochi Castle (one of japan's only 12 original fortresses); Ryugado Cave (one of Japan's top 3 caves), Katsurahama (scenic beach located approx 30-min bus travel to the south from downtown), Shimanto River (Japan's only undammed river), Godaisan Mountain (to the east), Anpanman Museum (themed on anime characters).