ABOUT
Otoyo Town, located in the center of Shikoku, is a town full of natural charm of the four seasons, such as, Kajigamori where you can enjoy stunning 360° panoramic view and Yoshino River, a Nature’s roller coaster.
Also, it is a town where you can feel the culture and history of people living in the mountainous region, with rice terraces built by ancestors on the slopes of mountains, fermented tea made by using traditional method handed down for over 400 years since the Edo Period, and temples that have been in existence for over 1,000 years.
ENJOY
Rafting on the Yoshino River is a thrilling and an activity full of power that can be totally enjoyed by beginners and experienced rafters alike. Additionally, “Yutorisuto Park Otoyo” offers wide range of facilities where different scenery and activities of each changing seasons can be enjoyed, making it a great place to create memories with family and friends. Many experiences are available to help you refresh in the great outdoors.
In Otoyo Town, rafting, a thrilling, exciting, and exhilarating experience, can be enjoyed throughout the town.
The Yoshino River that flows through Otoyo Town is one of Japan’s leading rafting meccas, as it has hosted the World Rafting Championships in 2017. There are thrilling rapids as well as gentle points for a leisurely descend, allowing friends, couples, or family with children to easily experience according to preferences.
NATURE
Otoyo Town has many healing spots surrounded by magnificent nature and beautiful scenery. The scenery created by mountains and crystal-clear streams which change in appearance from season to season is breathtaking, and especially the mystical sea of clouds and star-filled sky seen in the mornings and evenings are exceptional and memorable experience. The lush greenery and clean air make this a place where you can enjoy a moment to refresh that you cannot experience in the city and feel the breath of nature to the fullest.
Otoyo Town is located in a complex mountainous region where the Ishizuchi and Tsurugi mountain ranges intersect, and the sea of clouds can be seen at high altitudes within the town when the weather conditions are favorable.
Otoyo Town is a town of mountains, town of water, and town of flowers. At the flower garden “Murazato”, which was meticulously cultivated on abandoned farmland, you can see flowers that change with the seasons.
The “Fukujusou (Pheasant’s Eye) Festival” is held in February, when the blooming Fukujusou flowers heralds the arrival of spring, and around May you can see azaleas in full bloom at “Mizakura no Sato”.
Otoyo Town has few flat lands and is surrounded by steep mountains; therefore, rice terraces can be seen in many places. The rice terraces in the Ananai, Youne, and Nuta areas are especially famous.
The largest cedar tree in Japan, designated as a National Special Natural Monument, is estimated to be 3,000 years old. There is a legend that the tree was planted by Susanoo-no-Mikoto in ancient times.
CULTURE
The area is filled with fascinating cultural facilities, including facilities that offer valuable experiences that allow contact with local culture and lifestyle, as well as Yakushidou (Main Hall of Buddha of Healing), designated as a National Treasure are spread throughout the area. Visitors can also experience the changing climate and people’s daily lives of each season through exhibitions and events and make new discoveries in each visit.
Yakushidou (Main Hall of Yakushi), one of the Three Great Yakushi Temples in Japan and designated as a National Treasure, is said to have been founded by the famous Buddhist monk Gyoki during the Nara period (710-794) and visitors with a reservation may view the inner sanctuary, which displays characteristics of the late Heian period.
A temple, tranquil in appearance, surrounded by the silence of the mountain village. With a history of over 1,000 years, many valuable cultural assets can be viewed here, including the principal image of a seated Amida Nyorai statue and the oldest statue of Prince Shotoku in Shikoku.
GOURMET
There are restaurants that use plenty of local ingredients, where visitors can enjoy fresh vegetables, river fish, and Gibier (wild game) cuisine unique to a mountain village. Local specialties include fragrant “Yuzu” (type of citrus fruit) and "Goishi tea," which is made using traditional method that has been carefully handed down from generation to generation, making it an ideal souvenir. The rich flavors of Otoyo Town and the warm hospitality of its people provide visitors with a special dining experience.
A popular restaurant that attracts customers not only from within Kochi Prefecture but from all over Japan. It is run by a butcher shop and the reason for its popularity is the generous portion and flavor of the food, and the “katsudon” (pork cutlet served on top of bowl of rice) is its signature dish. There are always a long line of customers, regardless of whether it is a weekday or a holiday.
Otoyo Town is home to the one and only tea in Japan known as “Goishi Tea”, a traditional tea that has been passed down since ancient times. The harvested tea leaves are steamed, then spread out on straw mats to dry, resembling the shape of “Go” stones arranged on a “Go” board; thereby naming it “Goishi” Tea.
Footnote: Tea resembles the black stones of Japanese board game “Go”.
STAY
In Otoyo Town, you can enjoy a luxurious time experiencing the country lifestyle and its abundant nature. Surrounded by mountains that change scenery from season to season, you can refresh your mind and body while gazing at the mystical view of star-filled skies and sea of clouds. The cuisine made with local ingredients and heartwarming hospitality are also appealing.
This mountain resort offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the Kajigamori Prefectural Nature Park, located at an altitude of 1,399 meters. On a clear day, you can enjoy the star-filled sky and the sea of clouds that fills the sky below from the summit.
Located at an altitude of 750 meters, it has a panoramic view of the majestic Shikoku mountains and even the Pacific Ocean. There are tent sites, log houses, cottages, and a RV park. Enjoy the natural environment with a star-filled sky at night and a sea of clouds below in the early morning.
ACCESS
Located in the center of Shikoku, Otoyo Town has excellent accessibility with Japan Railways (JR) express train stopping at Osugi Station, National Highway Routes 32 and 439, and the Otoyo Interchange (IC).
