Butata's Japan Cross-Country Trip 32 [Kochi Prefecture]
This is a project I've been uploading to X (Twitter) since June 19, 2025. I will introduce recommended spots I learned about from everyone across the country and nice places I found through searching as if I had known about them all along. Please note that while I am visiting real locations, some images may differ from reality. Traveling by 'Bukuu-jutsu' (Butata-flight technique) is fast!
Travel Route
Umaji Village Yuzu Forest
I've come to Umaji Village, famous for its village-wide yuzu cultivation. Here in the Yuzu Forest, there is a yuzu processing plant you can tour and a direct sales shop lined with many yuzu products. I heard Umaji Village's yuzu is harvested around November! I'm looking forward to the new yuzu this year too!
Muroto Schoolhouse Aquarium
The Muroto Schoolhouse Aquarium building used to be an elementary school!
Hammerhead sharks and sea turtles swim in the familiar pool, and sea cucumbers and starfish are in the hand-washing basins. It's a nostalgic and mysterious aquarium with tanks made from repurposed vaulting boxes. We boosted our elementary school student vibe while touring!
※The rice ball is the hammerhead shark's personal property.
Yanase Takashi Memorial Hall
I've arrived at the Yanase Takashi Memorial Hall in the hometown of Anpanman's creator, Takashi Yanase! There is an Anpanman Museum where you can see precious original drawings, and a Poem and Fairy Tale Picture Book Museum where you can appreciate works from the magazine 'Poem and Fairy Tale'.
The massive mural of Anpanman painted across the wall is truly a sight to behold!
We also boosted our Anpanman vibe for a commemorative photo!
Katsurahama Aquarium
I came to Katsurahama Aquarium to meet the capybara. Since the capybara always lets me ride on its back, today you can relax by riding on me. Humans, please feed them from outside the fence!
There is also a bronze statue of Ryoma Sakamoto here at Katsurahama.
Kashiwajima Island
Kashiwajima Island in the southwest of Shikoku has super beautiful water!
It's a place that became famous for having such high transparency that boats look like they are floating in mid-air. We are also floating and relaxing. Meeta is floating really well thanks to his air-filled fur and lanolin oil!
Yodo Line Hobby Train
For the last part of Kochi Prefecture, we're taking the Hobby Train from Kubokawa Station on the Yodo Line to our next destination, Ehime Prefecture. The one we rode was the third of the Yodo Line triplets, designed to look like the original 0 Series Shinkansen—it's so cute and cool!
All you humans, make sure to follow the rules when riding inside, okay☆
Thank you, everyone in Kochi Prefecture! Next, we're off to Ehime Prefecture!
Traveling across Japan on Butata X (Twitter) (2026/04/19)
https://x.com/butatadecosmith