Go maple hunting in “Gotogoto Iwa” and “Yamanba Waterfall”

 

   When Japanese people go to see the autumn leaves and trees, we call it, “maple hunting”. Normally, “hunting”means to chase animals and birds to kill them, and this is the same in Japanese, but according to the dictionary, it also means, “going into nature to look at plants and to enjoy them”. This time, I’d like to introduce a place where you can enjoy hiking and beautifully coloured leaves.

 

NIITAKA-nashi (Pear)

 

   The Japanese nashi (pear) is a completely different shape compared to its Western counterpart. Japanese nashi are round, like apples. Two kinds of nashi cultivated in Kochi and Niigata were cross-bred, producing a new variety. “NIITAKA-nashi” was named in 1926; “NII” comes from Niigata and “TAKA” comes from Kochi. (Ko is also read as Taka.)

 

Kinoko Gari (Mushroom Picking)

   Autumn is the season when many mushrooms are harvested in Kochi. Sadly, no farms open their doors for the public to enjoy mushroom picking. On the other hand, it is not recommended that you pick mushrooms unless you have knowledge about them because some of them are poisonous. However, there is one farm-stay where you can harvest mushrooms as part of its hands-on activity program.

Momiji gari (Maple Tree Viewing)

   The season of Autumn colors will come soon. The red color of autumn leaves comes from the pigment anthocyan. As autums progresses, glucose and sucrose levels increase inside the leaves, and under the influence of ultra-violet rays, the leaves turn red. Although my recommended spot is Omogo Ravine & Mt. Ishizuchi, I am limited to telling you about spots within Kochi! With this in mind, I would like to recommend Kuroson Ravine.

Autumn Cuisine

＜Lightly salted charbroiled Mackerel Pike＞
The time to eat “sanma” has come! The best way to cook it is charcoal roasted!! Very smoky....but try it!
・Mackerel pikes (Sanma)
・Grated daikon (white radish)
・Splash of soy sauce and salt
(1) Put some salt on each side of the mackerel.
(2) Just broil on the bbq until the color turns golden brown.
Serve with soy sauce & grated daikon.

International Rapport Square 2012

Fureai Hiroba in 2011

   On the 14th of October (Sun.), at Hirome Ichiba in Kochi City, KIA (Kochi International Association) and JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Shikoku Branch Office will be holding the "Kokusai Fureai Hiroba 2012" (International Rapport Square), an event devoted to international cooperation.

   There will be booths selling traditional crafts from Laos and Guatemala, as well as cheap Chinese, Korean, Mongolian and Vietnamese home cuisine. There will also be Asian music and hula dancing.

   All profits from the sale of the crafts will help improve the lives of people in developing countries. For example, you will be able to contribute to the construction of an elementary school in Laos if you buy one craft item from Laos, where there are still many children who don`t have any opportunity to receive an education. We are looking foward to seeing you at this event.

Opening hours: 10a.m.-5p.m.
Contact: Kochi International Association (KIA)
TEL: 088-875-0022
Mail: info_kia@kochi-kia.or.jp

Kinoko-gari: mushroom hunting

   Now make no mistake about it, I’m a kinoko fan. I remember coming to Japan hoping to go on what they call “kinoko-gari”, which, like hunting for animals, you hunt for mushrooms. I used to daydream about the day I would get to see the beautiful Dictyophora indusiata, or as they call it here the “Queen of Mushrooms”. While everybody has an obsession about one thing or another in Japan, mine undoubtedly has to be kinoko.

Lifestyle Information - Preparing for Typhoons

   The typhoon season lasts from July to October in Kochi. In 2006, 10 typhoons landed in Japan, and six of them landed or approached Kochi. Typhoons bring very strong winds and very heavy rain, and cause people to be killed and go missing every year. So be sure to prepare for them!

Cosmos Festival

   Every year there is a Cosmos Festival in Ochicho from October the first to October the sixteenth. About 1,500,000 flowers bloom in a large park.  Cosmos in the park make a lane. We can walk and see cosmos very close up.  The air of the park is very clear because the park is encircled by the river and the mountains.

Autumn Leaves Festival

Autumn Leaves Festival with maple
trees and flowers in the back



   It is October already….the fall season has arrived! We can see that many maple trees have turned red on the streets outside; it is very beautiful. Also, it is a great time to go out and look for something fun to do!

   One of the things I highly recommend to do is to go and experience the Autumn Leaves Festival.

 

Enjoy reading in autumn!

   In Japan autumn is known as the best season for reading. Why not try reading at least one book this autumn even if you are always busy? Unlike TV or movies, one of the charms of reading is that you can take your time and enjoy it at your own pace. At the Kochi International Association (KIA), there are about 1,700 foreign books mostly written in English, and all of them are possible to be checked out.

 

River Shrimp

Deep-fried river shrimp

   Autumn is the season when people have the biggest appetite. Kochi has so many delicious foods particularly in autumn, so I am worried about gaining weight because of eating too much…

   Talking of local dishes of Kochi, katsuo-no-tataki (light roasted bonito) is famous but kawa-ebi (river shrimp), aosa-nori (laver), unagi (eel) and ayu (sweetfish) in the Shimanto River are also famous. Of these, let me introduce you to kawa-ebi.

Marathon Kingdom Kochi

Shimanto Ultra Marathon

   Autumn, the season for sports has come! It is a good time to start exercising if you are lacking in activities everyday. I would recommend you do yoga or walking which can be begun easily.

   I have been crazy for marathons since some years ago. Kochi, needless to say, is a Marathon Kingdom! There are so many marathon races throughout the year. Let me introduce you to three interesting marathon races held in autumn.

International Rapport Square 2011

Last year's Kokusai Fureai Hiroba 

   On the 23th of October (Sun.), at Hirome Ichiba in Kochi City, KIA (Kochi International Association) will be holding the "Kokusai Fureai Hiroba 2011" (International Rapport Square), an event devoted to international cooperation. 

The 29th Annual Cosmos Festival in Ochi Town

   The Cosmos Festival is a famous event that has come to represent the town of Ochi. It will be held in the main arena of the Miya-no-mae park. The festival boasts around 1.5 million Cosmos plants, which sway gently in the Autumn breeze. There will also be horse-drawn carriage rides and food and drink stalls. A perfect family day out.

Silent Comedian GAMARJOBAT to come to KOCHI！！

Kochi City cultural plaza Cul-Port

   Do　you　know　a recent popular Japanese　silent　comedian　duo　named GAMARJOBAT which means Hello in Georgian?　Their　style　is　unique.　One　of　them　is　red　mohican haircut man Ketch! and　the　other　is　yellow mohican haircut man HIRO-PON and　both　are　wearing　business suits.

　

The 28th Annual Okawa Village Beef Festival (Shanikusai)

Have you ever wondered what people get up to in the smallest village in Japan? Okawa village has a population of around 400 people, and while it might not be the most bustling of metropolises, there’s at least one day out of the year that makes the long trek up into the deep interior of the Reihoku region worth it.

Mikan-gari (Picking Mandarin Oranges)

   If you ask a local what fruit is Kochi’s best, most will say “mandarin oranges”. You can pick this fruit at Tosa-no-Kochi-no-Kudamonobatake, in Kagami-cho, Konan city.

   This mandarin orange grove is spread over 8 hectares, with straight rows of trees spreading in all directions. It is as if you have been transported to a scene in California.

Ringo-gari (Apple picking)

   There are only a few farmers who grow apples in Kochi. Our climate is a little too warm for apple growing. But in Sakawa Town and Tosa Town, nonetheless, some farmers cultivate apples. Let me introduce to you one farm from each town above that offers you such a service.

Nashi-gari (Pear Picking)

   We can pick nashi pears at the following place:

Tsuchimoto Kanko Kajuen

   This orchard has the following types of pears. Kosui (very sweet and juicy; picking season: mid to late August), Hosui (sweet and slightly tart, picking season: late August to mid September), Shinko (juicy and tart, picking season: early to mid October).
   Apple picking is also available at this orchard.