The Makino Tomitaro Memorial Hall was designed by architect Naito Hiroshi, and is highly acclaimed not only for the warmth of its woodwork, but also as an outstanding building that shows the direction of environmentally friendly architecture that takes the landscape into consideration. The curving beauty of the building is also a must-see. It should also be noted that the large wooden roof synonymous with JR Shikoku’s Kochi Station was also designed by Naitohiro.
The museum also houses the Makino Tomitaro Memorial Hall, which serves as a center for education and research on plants, and continues the legacy of Tomitaro Makino, who devoted himself to the study of plant taxonomy. The beautiful 4K video theater in the exhibition hall is well worth a visit.
The second day started at the Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden, an 8-hectare garden opened on Mount Godaisan in Kochi City to honor the achievements of Tomitaro Makino, the “father of Japanese plant taxonomy” who was born in Kochi.
Finally, the climax of the tour. Ride “Shikokudosa: The Dawn of the Age (Toki no Yoake no Monogatari: Koukai no Shou”)!
The “Shikokudosa: Dawn of the Age (Toki)” sightseeing train, the pride of JR Shikoku, features an “empty” fantasy design that combines the dynamism of steam locomotive and rocket engine design as a motif of elation for a new journey with decorative expressions of the Meiji period, in reference to the dawn of Japan as dreamed by the samurai warriors of the closing days of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Monogatari: Koukai no Shou” (The Story of the Dawn of the Toki Era), which is the pride of JR Shikoku. The train runs only on Fridays during certain periods on the Gomen-Nahari Line section of the Tosa Kuroshio Railway, which passes through an area blessed with a rich natural environment with a spectacular view of the scenic Pacific Ocean.
It departed from Kochi Station at exactly 12:00 noon. Shikokudosa Jidai no Yawn no Monogatari Kiyo Kaikai no Sho is a two-car train consisting of Car 1 “KUROFUNE” and Car 2 “SORAFUNE”.
The “KUROFUNE” in Car 1 is designed to resemble a steamboat sailing across the ocean under an endless blue sky while talking with friends about “aspirations” for a new era, and is decorated with a design reminiscent of late 19th-century art at the dawn of civilization.
Car 2, “SORAFUNE,” is based on the concept of a “dream” of the future that extends beyond the sky to outer space beyond the atmosphere, and is designed to resemble an imaginary scientific spaceship as depicted in retro science fiction novels.
When I took my seat in the box seat of car No. 1, I found that a sumptuous meal had already been prepared: the “Higashi Kochi no Saitori Gozen,” a dish served every Friday from October to December only. The head chef of the long-established ryokan in Kochi, Josaikan, carefully selects seasonal ingredients from Higashi Kochi to create this colorful dish. Not only beautiful to look at, but also super tasty. The dishes are also “attractive” when photographed, and are sure to make you feel happy.
At 12:34 p.m., just as we were finishing our meal, we arrived at Yasu Station. The train stopped here until 1:11 p.m., and we were free to go outside. Right in front of the station is “Michi no Eki (Roadside Station),” which offers a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. We also enjoyed shopping for local specialties.
Departing again, the next destination is Aki Station. It is the birthplace of Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi Zaibatsu, and is famous as the camp site of the Hanshin Tigers professional baseball team. The tour will arrive at Aki Station at 1:40 p.m., and visitors can take a walk around the station until the departure at 2:12 p.m. Adjacent to the station is the Aki Station Jibasan Market, which sells a wide variety of seafood such as bonito and local vegetables. Also, Kochi Prefecture produces the largest amount of yuzu in Japan, so I tried a yuzu sorbet. The refreshing taste was just right for the sweaty weather.
At 2:35 p.m., the train finally arrived at Nahari Station, the last stop of the journey, and the train trip of “Shikokudosa Jidai no Dawn no Monogatari: Kankai no Sho” came to an end.
The return train at 15:18 departs for Kochi Station as “Shikokudosa Jidai no Yoake no Monogatari: Yuuhi no Sho. Incidentally, the Kochi-Tosa-Kure-Kubokawa train heading west from Kochi Station is operated as “Risshi no Sho” and the return Tosa-Kure-Kubokawa-Kochi train as “Kaika-no-Sho”.
JR Shikoku offers a precious opportunity to experience the joy of train travel and the charms of Kochi under the concept of “Taste Tosa to your heart’s content. The desire to do so is so strong that one can feel its strong aspiration. A journey is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I was even moved by the heartwarming hospitality of the many local people waving to me from along the train line.
© Source travel watch
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