Published date: September 13, 2024
Enjoy Kochi from Morning to Night at a Hotel
Room Type Stayed
Utage Twin Room
1 ~ 2 guest(s)
660 ~
Some info has been automatically translated by AI.
Experience of the stay
Used in September 2024.
This time, I reserved the "Utage Twin Room" (the room shown in the photo of fingers). I think it's slightly wider than the "Utage Queen Room."
*When checking in, they only handed me the room key without any explanation (was it just me?). If you don't ask, you might be confused. There's a QR code that provides details on bath times, but it feels very minimal.
So, here are some detailed points:
*Checkout is at 11 AM.
*There is no bathtub in the room (there might be one in the suite).
*There is a big public bath, sauna, and open-air bath. You don’t need to bring towels; just the room key is necessary. You can enter until 1 AM at night and 10 AM in the morning.
*The parking fee is 1000 yen for a single entry and exit, regardless of whether it's for 1 hour or 1 week. You can leave your car until 3 PM on the checkout day.
*Meals are by reservation, and I couldn't make it in time for dinner on the day itself.
*You can smoke in a booth on the first floor.
*Rental items like room lights and trouser presses were not available, but the room's lighting is bright, and you can rent an iron.
*There is a luggage cart available.
*As mentioned, since I opted for a double room, it was slightly larger. However, it feels like a bed and a hallway, with limited open space and an exposed closet. The desk is convenient for work, there's no coffee service, but tea is provided.
*The big bath is about 41 degrees Celsius, and there’s an open-air bath. The open-air bath has a unique structure, with wooden fences hiding the upper half, giving limited openness, but the ceiling is high, and the sound of insects was beautiful. The sauna was about 82 degrees Celsius, and it was warm. If you prefer lower temperatures, it might feel hot. I stayed at other hotels this time, but it seems that all hotels in Kochi have a higher temperature setting.
Experiences during the trip
★Kochi is very vast, so it's a good idea to split your sightseeing into the east and west sides, with Kochi Station as the boundary. You can explore by train or bus, but I think a rental car is essential.
I stayed for three nights and enjoyed the eastern side.
●Day 1: I took a rental car from the airport to OMO. In the evening, I explored around the hotel. I enjoyed delicious sake and bonito. I think the vegetables in Kochi are also delicious.
*However, I think the food at the airport is average, and food in the city is better (it depends on the place, of course).
●Day 2: Muroto Cape, 24th pilgrimage temple, dolphin swim at the Dolphin Center, lunch at the fishing port, Iwaki Cave, dinner and drinks at the hotel.
*It says you swim with dolphins, but it felt more like touching and playing with them in the sea. Still, it was fun!
*The 24th pilgrimage temple "Hōsen-ji" at Muroto Cape had a vibrant energy that felt purifying.
*The fish from the fish market at Karyoko fishing port was fresh and delicious. It had a light flavor but packed with umami, and the seasoning was good.
●Day 3: Monet's Garden, Ryugado Cave, and the Yosakoi event at OMO.
*At Ryugado Cave, I challenged myself on the adventure course. It was quite enjoyable, but it might be tough if your stomach is bulging.
*The Yosakoi event was fun as everyone clicked castanets to the music together.
*Monet's Garden might be even more beautiful than the original, so be sure to check it out.
*Shops around Kochi Station tend to be crowded, especially on weekends. I discovered a place called "Tosa no Ippū," which had plenty of seats and I could enter without a reservation. The taste was great, and their evening set was delicious!
●Day 4: On Sunday, I took the guided tour at OMO to Sunday Market, Hirome Market, Kochi Castle, and then to the airport by rental car.
*At Sunday Market, tasting snacks and enjoying conversations is a lot of fun. People are friendly in town, too.
*At Hirome Market, if you muster the courage to speak up, families, couples, and groups will all welcome you warmly. During my trip, I often chatted in drinking establishments, and this place felt significantly easier to talk in.
*At Hirome Market, there are some shops with long lines, but I heard from a local that "Yairo-tei" is delicious. In fact, it was thickly sliced, well seasoned, and tasted great!
*You might want to eat eel outside. I was shocked to discover an eel shop that said, "Natural eel available" just outside the market. I plan to try eating here next time.
P.S. Next time I visit Kochi, I want to venture westward. I hope to explore sights like the Shikoku Karst night view, the Shimanto River, Shimanto eel, and Niyodo Blue.
*This time, I wrote extensively with many photos. I hope it becomes a reference for everyone visiting Kochi! If you like it, clicking the 'like' button would encourage me!!! Traveling is fun!Get Extra Bonus Coins! Sign up with this user's referral code now!