Rising with the sun in 2024

In Japan, millions of people wake up early (or stay up all night) to witness the first sunrise of the year called hatsuhinode. It is said to bring good luck, so we consider it a great way to start off the year. True, we are already more than a week into January but regardless, I would like to share with you some stunning photos of sunrises from Kochi (plus some bonus content like hot springs and delicious feasts) to spread the good fortune

The first photo was taken in Motoyama Town, which is famous for producing some of the best rice in the country! You can almost feel the warm glow of the sun just beginning to blanket the mountains, and the pure serenity of this magical winter morning

In Kochi, we cannot talk about sunrises without mentioning the majestic mirage that typically occurs in colder months. It’s called the daruma sunrise (named after a traditional Japanese charm due to its similar round shape). Instagram user @masaya_vlog beautifully captured it near the mouth of the Niyodo River, as shown in the third photo!

If you’re not so much of an early bird, you can opt for trying to catch the daruma sunset in places like Sukumo City where the mirage occurs most commonly between mid-November and late February! In which case, Sukumo Resort Yashinoyu would be the perfect place to base yourself, offering cozy guest rooms, traditional Japanese-style feasts and…wait for it…an outdoor hot spring bath that overlooks the Pacific Ocean from where you can witness the daruma sunset if you’re lucky!

Motoyama Town
https://maps.app.goo.gl/HvhQGwqDFW5HwWqT6
https://visitkochijapan.com/en/topics/1099

Sukumo Resort Yashinoyu
https://maps.app.goo.gl/XRK9AAswm9vdzjCy7
https://yashinoyu.com/

Learn more about daruma sunrises and sunsets: https://visitkochijapan.com/en/highlights/darumasunset

Thank you again to Instagram user @masaya_vlog for the third photo!

@masaya_vlog: https://www.instagram.com/masaya_vlog/