Cape Muroto
Cape Muroto, The Rocky Cape At The South Eastern Tip Of Shikoku In Kochi, With A Lighthouse, A Cave Where The Monk Kukai Is Said To Have Trained, Whale Watching And Hard Edged Coast In A Typhoon Zone. A Pilgrim Stop On The Shikoku Route. · Muroto, Kochi
Cape Muroto is the rocky tip of Shikoku's south-east, a long finger of land in Kochi that juts into the Pacific. The coast is rough, with sea cliffs, big surf and a sky that feels very wide. The area is a UNESCO Global Geopark - confirm - and the rocks show uplifted seabed layers. An old lighthouse stands on the cape. Nearby is Mikurodo, the sea cave where the monk Kukai, later called Kobo Daishi, is said to have trained and reached enlightenment, seeing only sky and sea, which is often told as the origin of his name Kukai, meaning sky and sea - confirm. Temples 24 and 25 of the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage are close by, so you will meet henro pilgrims in white. It is a pilgrim and scenery stop, not a resort. The journey from Kochi is long, about two hours or more by bus or car - confirm. It is worth it for the wild coast and the cave, less so if you have only a short day or the weather is poor.
Muroto, Muroto, Kochi, at the south-east tip of Shikoku, a long bus or drive from Kochi on the coast road, Muroto, Kochi, Japan
The cape and coastal paths are open at all hours and free to walk. The temples, caves and small museums keep daytime hours, commonly from about 8:00 to 17:00, with last entry earlier - confirm. From Kochi a bus runs along the coast, taking roughly 2 to 2.5 hours, with few services a day and the last return early, so check the timetable or go by car - confirm. IC cards may not work on all local buses, so carry cash. Whale watching boats run in season only and need booking. Go early in the day, since daylight is short in winter and sea fog can arrive in the afternoon.