- 2022.06.12
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My day in retro Sakawa Town
As a lover of nature, traditional Japanese townscapes and delicious sake, Sakawa is one of my favorite places in Kochi
I love walking around the retro streets and appreciating the traditional Japanese houses, which are over 150 years old, dating back to the late Edo Period. For lunch, my go-to restaurant is Taishoken, which has been serving umami-rich and fluffy charcoal-grilled eel (unagi) for over 100 years
However, if the weather is warm and sunny, I love to take homemade rice balls to Makino Park for a blissful picnic. Although the park is most famous for its cherry blossoms, all kinds of flowers bloom here, which makes every visit during any warm season a sheer delight
Also…did I mention I love sake?
Sakawa is home to Kochi’s oldest sake brewery called Tsukasabotan, which was founded over 400 years ago. Although only available in Japanese, I still highly recommend the guided tour because there is so much you can gain from seeing the old architecture of the brewery, and of course, tasting their delicious sake, which need no words! The tour costs 1,000 yen, and you get to take home a 180ml bottle of sake as well as an ochoko (small sake cup)
Pro tip! Tsukasabotan’s recommended way to enjoy sake in June is to do “Hotaru Sake” (firefly sake). Nope, it’s definitely not about putting fireflies in your sake! The idea is to have a sake picnic at Nagatani Valley, located over 20 minutes away from Sakawa Station by car, which is a famous place to see fireflies light up the night. Just make sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring a flashlight so you can watch your step in the dark!
Sakawa Town is just 30 minutes from Kochi Station by train on the Dosan Line Limited Express
Taishoken Restaurant requires reservations (TEL: 0889-22-0031)
Learn more about spring in Sakawa here: https://visitkochijapan.com/en/see-and-do/10505
I love walking around the retro streets and appreciating the traditional Japanese houses, which are over 150 years old, dating back to the late Edo Period. For lunch, my go-to restaurant is Taishoken, which has been serving umami-rich and fluffy charcoal-grilled eel (unagi) for over 100 years
However, if the weather is warm and sunny, I love to take homemade rice balls to Makino Park for a blissful picnic. Although the park is most famous for its cherry blossoms, all kinds of flowers bloom here, which makes every visit during any warm season a sheer delight
Also…did I mention I love sake?
Sakawa is home to Kochi’s oldest sake brewery called Tsukasabotan, which was founded over 400 years ago. Although only available in Japanese, I still highly recommend the guided tour because there is so much you can gain from seeing the old architecture of the brewery, and of course, tasting their delicious sake, which need no words! The tour costs 1,000 yen, and you get to take home a 180ml bottle of sake as well as an ochoko (small sake cup)
Pro tip! Tsukasabotan’s recommended way to enjoy sake in June is to do “Hotaru Sake” (firefly sake). Nope, it’s definitely not about putting fireflies in your sake! The idea is to have a sake picnic at Nagatani Valley, located over 20 minutes away from Sakawa Station by car, which is a famous place to see fireflies light up the night. Just make sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring a flashlight so you can watch your step in the dark!
Sakawa Town is just 30 minutes from Kochi Station by train on the Dosan Line Limited Express
Taishoken Restaurant requires reservations (TEL: 0889-22-0031)
Learn more about spring in Sakawa here: https://visitkochijapan.com/en/see-and-do/10505
