What to know
Godaisan is a small mountain east of central Kochi. It was named after a Chinese mountain by visiting Buddhist priests from China.
Those same priests founded Chikurinji Temple on Godaisan, which became an important stop on the Shikoku Pilgrimage. As Temple No. 31 of the 88-temple route, Chikurinji draws both pilgrims and students due to its reputation as a center of learning.
The temple grounds feature an interesting collection of halls and structures, including a beautiful five-story pagoda. A treasure hall displays important Buddhist statues and scrolls, and paid entry to the hondo (main hall) lets you see the interior and a well-kept garden.
Near Chikurinji is the entrance to the Makino Botanical Garden, named after Dr. Makino Tomitaro (1862–1957), a famous botanist from Kochi. The spacious garden has extensive walking paths, outdoor parks, a greenhouse, and several large museum halls with excellent exhibits on Dr. Makino and his field.
The My Yu Bus runs between Kochi Station, Godaisan, and Katsurahama Beach. The trip from Kochi Station to Godaisan takes 25 minutes and costs 900 yen for a day pass with unlimited rides between Kochi Station and Godaisan, or 1300 yen for unlimited rides between Kochi Station and Katsurahama. A taxi from Kochi Station to the summit takes about 20 minutes and costs around 2300 yen.
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- 8:00 to 17:00 (treasure hall and garden from 8:30)
- Closed
- No closing days
- Admission
- Free (grounds), 800 yen (~$5.12) (treasure hall and garden)
- English name
- Makino Botanical Garden
- Original name
- Mount Godaisan
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.