What to know
The heart of Kochi's downtown is marked by Harimayabashi, a small red bridge on the west side of the main street. Though unassuming at first glance, this bridge is famous for its role in a local love story.
One popular version tells of a priest from Godaisan and a girl from Kochi. Since the priest's temple forbade relationships, they met in secret and exchanged hidden gifts. Their romance was discovered when the priest was caught buying a hair comb for his lover at Harimayabashi. The couple then fled the city to escape punishment.
Beyond Harimayabashi, downtown Kochi offers pedestrian shopping arcades and pleasant streets for strolling. Shops selling hair combs—like the one in the love story—cluster around the bridge and throughout the arcades. They also sell naruko, noise makers originally used to scare birds from rice fields, now used in the Yosakoi Festival, Kochi's famous dance festival.
Harimayabashi is a ten-minute walk or a four-minute tram ride south of Kochi Station.
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- Closed
- Admission
- English name
- Original name
- Kochi Downtown
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