Kochi Prefecture

Shimanto

Town
Shimanto
Walk across a bridge built to sink in floods
The Shimanto River in western Kochi, on the island of Shikoku, still has many chinkabashi, low bridges built without railings so that floodwater can flow over them instead of sweeping them away. Walk slowly across one with the wide river below and green hills on both sides; locals still drive over them every day, so step aside for cars. The bridges are spread along the river, so a taxi, rental car or rental bicycle from Nakamura Station is the easiest way to get around.
Do
Sit by a clear river and let the day drift
The Kakita, the Nagara and the Shimanto are often called Japan's three great clear rivers. Spend an unhurried day on a riverside path or a low bridge, just watching the water go by. They are far apart, near Mount Fuji, in Gifu and on the island of Shikoku, so pick one.
Do
Let the scenery drift past from a slow boat
On a slow sightseeing boat you simply sit, and the scenery moves for you: a canal town, a mountain river, cormorant fishing at night, or in winter a boat with a kotatsu, a low heated table with a quilt over your legs. Choose one by the season and your mood. Most rides take 20 minutes to an hour, so one fits easily into a relaxed day.
Town
Shimanto
A river town of bridges with no railings
Shimanto, in rural Kochi on the island of Shikoku, sits on a clear river crossed by chinka-bashi, low concrete bridges built without railings so that floods can pass over them instead of washing them away. Drift under one on a covered boat, then eat wild river eel or tiny river shrimp by the water. It is about two hours from Kochi by limited express and the bridges are spread out, so stay a night and rent a bicycle or hire a taxi.

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