| Susaki ((ja)須 崎 市) | |
 | |
| View from Daizen-ji | |
| Information | |
| Country |  Japan |
|---|---|
| Regions | Shikoku Kōchi prefecture |
| Ocean | Peaceful (Susaki Bay) |
| Watercourse | Shinjo |
| Area | 135,46 km² |
| Population | 21 586 hab. (2018) |
| Density | 159,35 inhab./km² |
| Postal code | 785-8601 |
| Spindle | UTC 09:00 |
| Location | |
 33 ° 25 ′ 12 ″ N 133 ° 19 ′ 36 ″ E | |
| Official site | |
Susaki is a municipality and a city of Kôchi prefecture on theshikoku island. The city has a mascot, Shinjô-kun, a Japanese otter (Lutra lutra whiteleyi) (日本 川 獺). The otter has been considered an extinct species in Japan since 2012 and the last place it would have been seen in Japan would be the Shinjo River hence the name for Susaki's mascot.
Understand
Tourist information
To go
By train
JR Line: You can travel around Susaki and its surroundings by train (JR Line) but pay attention to the schedules because there is on average one train every hour during the day.
By bus
You can also take the bus but here too you have to pay attention to the timetables and the price of the trip can climb very quickly. In addition, the bus stops are not always well signposted which can be annoying.
- JR Shikoku Bus: Buses leave every day from Kôchi station to reach some towns located on Honshû (Okayama, Kôbe, Kyôto, Ôsaka and Tôkyô).
- Japan Bus Line: On the Japan Bus Line, you can find buses leaving from Kôchi to Kyoto and Nagoya.
- Willer express: On Willer Express you can find buses operated by other companies (ex: Chûgoku bus) which leave for Kyoto and Nagoya.
By car
On a boat
Circulate
To walk around Susaki and its surroundings, it is possible to rent bicycles and cars.
Machikado gallery: It is possible to rent two bikes at Machikado gallery.
Susaki Ôma Eki: You can rent a car at this petrol station by having made the reservation in advance on the internet.
JR Rent a car: You can rent a car at Susaki station by booking it in advance on the internet.
To see
The city of Susaki includes many tourist places and organizes various events and festivals throughout the year.
Daizen-ji:
Daizen-ji is a temple that was built in 815. It is said that Kûkai went to where the temple was built on a preaching trip and prayed to the Buddha that those who died in sea rest in peace. He would also have prayed to the God of road safety.
During the month of August, Daizen-ji organizes the Otonashi-sama festival where young and old alike dance a paper dragon from which smoke comes out of its mouth. For the occasion, the streets are pedestrianized, various stands are installed and some shops remain open to welcome visitors.
The temple is about 05 min walk from Tosa Shinjô station.
Otonashi jinja:
Otonashi Shrine was built over 1,500 years ago. One of the torii in the sanctuary is made of stone which is quite rare. The access path to the sanctuary faces the sea which gives a breathtaking view.
The shrine holds a summer and an autumn festival. During the summer festival, which usually takes place on August 24 and 25, flags with large fish drawn on them are hung on boats and palanquins are also carried there. Afterwards, the boats parade in the sea. For the autumn festival, which takes place on September 20 and 21, people show their gratitude to the god for their harvest of the year and pray that the next year be good.
There is a rumor that someone from the Imperial Family went to Otonashi Shrine to pray and that some time later they got married.
The sanctuary was classified as a cultural property of the country in 1953.
The sanctuary is located 20 min by car from Susaki station. To go by taxi from Susaki station to the shrine, it takes about 3 500 JPY. Large buses are prohibited within one kilometer of the sanctuary.
Awa seaside:
The seaside of Awa offers a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean. This place is also known to be a good place for angling. If you go to a height, you can admire the magnificent view created by the contrast between the sea and the mountain.
The closest place to access the seaside is at Awa Station on the JR Dosan Line. From Susaki station with the JR Dosan line, it takes about 10 min to get there.
The Yokonami Kuroshio line:
The Yokonami Kuroshio Line stretches for about 10 kilometers and gives a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean. To the north you can also see Uranouchi Bay and the beautiful mountainous landscape of Shikoku.
Being about 17 kilometers from Susaki station, the only real means of transportation is the car. You can try to rent one by booking in advance on the internet or go there by taxi (it takes about 4 500 JPY to get to the start of the Yokonami Kuroshio line).
Straw-cooked bonito tataki:
Katsuo no tataki is a typical dish from the Kôchi department. On the day it was caught, the fresh bonito is grilled on straw with a strong fire so that the flesh is seared in one go. The bonito is only grilled on one side to maintain the flavor. She very often eat sashimi with a little salt.
Some places give you the chance to experience grilling a bonito on your own that you can then take out and enjoy.
Thursday and Sunday market:
The Thursday and Sunday market, which starts around 6 a.m. and ends around noon, has been going on for about fifty years. It is a place where you can buy fresh and local produce there. It's also a great way to get in touch with the locals and discover their kindness. The market is located near the port of Susaki (about 10 min on foot).
Suga shrine:
The Suga Shrine is home to the Ohtani camphor tree which is to this day the largest camphor tree in Shikoku and is approximately 1300 years old. It was designated as a Japanese natural monument in 1924. The measurements of the Ohtani camphor tree are also surprising; its roots have a circumference of about 20 meters, the circumference of the trunk is about 16 meters and it is around 25 meters high.
It is also possible to enter the trunk where the divinity of the camphor trees rests. Many visitors come to pray for the good health and growth of their babies.
The Suga Shrine Autumn Festival is held annually on October 18. Young people from the region do a dance called "Hanatori de Otani" as an offering to the deities to thank them for the good harvest, good fishing, etc. This dance has been designated as part of the intangible heritage of the department.
Suga Shrine is about 15 minutes from Susaki station by car. If you want to get there by taxi, count a little less than 2 000 JPY. From Onogo station, you can walk there in about an hour.
Bandaga Forest:
The Bandaga Forest, which rises to about 769 meters above sea level, is the tallest forest in the city. From the top, you can contemplate magnificent landscapes and find very pretty plants in bloom at the time of their blooming. It is also here that the Japanese Yukiwari cherry trees bloom between mid-February and mid-March. At the foot of the mountain there is also a hot spring which would have been recommended by Kûkai. The surroundings of the forest are designated as part of the prefectural natural park.
Starting from Susaki station, it takes about 30 min to get to the foot of the mountain. From Susaki station by taxi, it takes about 2 500 JPY.
Cruise on the bay:
By taking a cruise on Uranouchi Bay, you will be able to admire the scenery in another way. It is a cruise all the more interesting when you know that Kûkai has accepted that this is the one and only path taken by a boat. Most of the people who take the boat are students or locals. Tourists are also welcome, of course.
You also have to pay attention to the schedules because there are only 3 boats during the day.
The boats do not operate on Sundays, public holidays and during the period from December 29 to January 3.
From Susaki station to Saka Uchi embarkation point, it is necessary to count 20 min by car. Getting there by taxi from Susaki station, it takes a little less than 3 000 JPY.
Taru waterfall:
Taru waterfall is 37 meters high and 6 meters wide. The plus of this waterfall is that you can admire it from behind by going around it. This gives a very mystical side to the place because nature is present all around. In addition, the waterfall is part of the prefectural natural park.
To get to the Taru waterfall, it takes a good twenty minutes by car. If you want to go there by taxi, it will cost you around 2 800 JPY.
Christmas lights:
Throughout December and part of January, you can enjoy Christmas lights on Kawabata Symbol Road. The light of the illuminations is reflected like jewels and the scene resembles a romantic winter. The stores located on the Kawabata Symbol Road also participate in this event by decorating their storefront.
The illuminations extend for about 200 meters and are lit every day from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. approximately.
The location is approximately 10 min walk from Susaki station.
Nomi no shiobakari:
This festival takes place every year on February 18 and is made to pray to the god of the sea so that the fishing is successful and the village prosperous. During the day a large bamboo adorned with small cards is erected in the middle of the village and in the middle of the night the young people carry it to the sea by knocking it on the ground. Seeing them put so much effort into erecting this bamboo and then back into the cold sea in the middle of the night is an unusual but very interesting sight. It is said that during the night if the bamboo fell on the sea side then the fishing will be good. However, if it fell on the shore side, then the harvest will be plentiful.
This festival is designated as part of the intangible heritage of the department.
If you want to get to this festival, it takes about twenty minutes by car. By taxi and leaving from Susaki station it will cost you around 2 500 JPY.
Night by candlelight under the sakura trees:
This event takes place every year in February in the Sôdayama mountain. Candlelight night features lights, whether garlands or candles, to bring out the beauty of sakura. Not content with seeing the illuminated sakuras, you will also see ground shapes that are created with candles. This event is only for one evening, if the opportunity arises, do not hesitate to go there.
To get to this event, it seems that there are shuttles making the trip between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The starting point is at the Marunaka supermarket and takes approximately 15 min.
Dragon Canoe Competition:
The origins of this competition go back to when high schools built a dragon canoe and gave it to the municipality. This competition is the one and only dragon canoe competition in the Kôchi department. It's a fierce battle that takes place in Uranouchi Bay, the configuration of which makes her look like a dragon. The dragon canoe competition is part of the Susaki festival program during the month of August.
Starting from Susaki station, it takes about 20 min by car. If you want to get there by car, allow about 3 000 JPY.
Susaki Festival:
The Susaki festival usually begins on the first Friday in August and spans three days. During these three days, all kinds of festivities and activities are organized. On the first day of the festival, a palanquin race is organized and after that, scenic events are also organized. On the second day, and only in the afternoon, a self-defense vessel is open to the public. From 8 p.m., fireworks are fired on Fujigaoka Beach. It takes about 10 min on foot from Susaki station. On the last day, the dragon canoe competition takes place in Uranouchi Bay.
Bon Odori Festival:
The Bon Odori festival takes place in August in the park just behind the Mac supermarket. Starting around 5:00 p.m. and ending around 9:00 p.m., it's an opportunity to spend a pleasant evening in the company of the locals and have fun with the various activities that punctuate the evening. The evening ends with a lottery where you can win surprising prizes if the number written on your uchiwa is drawn. You can pick up these uchiwa by arriving at 5:00 p.m. as they are limited in number. In addition, you can also eat takoyaki or yakitori for a very affordable price.
Shinko festival:
The Shinko festival is organized every year around the end of August / beginning of September so that people come to taste the shinko. The shinko is a small fish that can only be caught during the months of August and September in Tosa Bay. Losing its freshness quickly, it is a fish that you will certainly not find in Tokyo. If you want to get there, try to get there early as there may not be enough for everyone.
The shinko festival takes place in Kirima Tamokuteki Park about 10 min walk to Marunaka supermarket.
Festival of local mascots in Susaki:
The two-day Local Mascot Festival has been held every September since 2014. It's an opportunity to see mascots from across the country and meet Susaki's mascot, Shinjô-kun. Throughout the day, the mascots take a walkabout to let visitors take photos with them and take to the stage. You will find various stands selling objects (magnets, folders, stuffed animals) like the mascots.
The local mascot festival takes place in Kirima Tamokuteki Park about 10 min walk to Marunaka supermarket.
Hachimangû Shrine Autumn Festival:
The Hachimangu Shrine Fall Festival is held annually on October 15 and has been around since the Sengoku period (1467-1568). On the evening of October 14, the night festival takes place and on October 15 from noon, various events take place: wearing mikoshi, dancing swords, tengû cosplay, etc.
The Hachimangû shrine is a 15-minute walk from Susaki station.
Kamo Shrine Fall Festival:
Taking place every year on October 20, the Fall Festival of Kamo Shrine offers us a dazzling spectacle with these bird feathers and young boys dancing with sabers in offering to the deities. This festival is part of the intangible heritage of the department of Kôchi.
Kamo Shrine is a ten-minute drive from Susaki Station. To get there by taxi, it will cost you around 1 000 JPY.
Do
To buy
Susaki's memories (omiyage):
If you want to gift Susaki souvenirs, you will find most of these at the Kawauso no sato rest area.
Wood products:
Susaki's pride in woodwork. They are usually made from Japanese cypress from Shimanto.
Bamboo crafts:
The products made from bamboo in Susaki are made from bamboo shoots that are only found in the Awa region. The technique used for making bamboo products is a traditional technique.
Eat
Susaki town is full of specialties, don't hesitate to try them.
Mejika from Susaki (shinko):
Mejika is one of Susaki's dishes. Shinko, which is a mejika less than a year old, can only be eaten during the months of August and September.
Nabeyaki ramen:
The nabeyaki ramen has the particularity of being eaten in a nabe. You can taste it in many restaurants in Susaki. Some restaurants have their own take on nabeyaki.
Susaki Bonito:
Susaki's bonito, or katsuo no tataki, is often eaten in sushi. The particularity of katsuo no tataki is that it is grilled with a straw.
Dried fish from Susaki:
Very close to the port of Susaki, you will find a large number of shops preparing dried fish. Many shops have their own method of drying and use a variety of fish.
Susaki lobster:
The Susaki lobster is a lobster with firm flesh that is caught only in the fishing port of Ikenoura.
Susaki moray:
Susaki moray eel is usually lightly grilled or fried before eating.
Aisukurin:
Aisukurin is an essential dessert if you come to the Kôchi department because it is only produced here. Aisukurin looks like ice cream but it tastes very refreshing.
Tosa Ginger Drink:
Tosa's ginger drink is, as the name suggests, made with Tosa ginger and caster sugar. It is a drink that you can find only between May and October.
Susaki sweets:
Susaki's sweets are small cakes produced locally and with seasonal products.
Kamaboko:
Kamaboko is a food product made from white fish. It is possible to come and observe the manufacturing process.
Soya sauce:
It is a soy sauce made since the Taishô era. It is most often eaten with sushi because legend has it that fishermen said that "even fish love this sauce".
Rice cakes:
These rice cakes are made in the town of Shimanto and come in a discreet box that hides their flavor well.
Yoshihira's cold candies:
Yoshihira's cold candies have a refreshing ginger flavor that is ideal for hot summers.
Have a drink / Go out
Housing
Below you will find a list of different hotels that can be found in Susaki.
Susaki Prince Hotel
Kurashi no nekko
Sôdayama hot springs
Business hotel Korigoe (bed and breakfast)
Bed & breakfast Asahi
Micchan Bed & Breakfast
Ryokan Yanagiya
Ryokoan nishimura
Guest House Sante
