Several years ago, Onegai Kaeru team members were watching NHK during dinner time. We saw a special TV program on a probably cleanest and clearest river in Japan. After the program, we went there (we just packed things and left home for the river. The river we saw on TV was too beautiful to wait to see the real one).

The river is called Niyodo-gawa (仁淀川) river in Kochi. The river is so clear and looks very blue in the sun that the colour is called " Niyodo Blue ". It is supposed to be cleaner than the very famous river, Shimantogawa (Shimanto river), in the region. There were heavy rainy days around the time of our visit. The river was not clear as it should be as you can you see in the photo.

It is around 9-10 hours from Tokyo via Okayama (it is kinda fast to get Okayama from Tokyo by bullet train but it is esp. the train (and later on tram from Kochi station) from Okayama to the river which takes time). It is not most convenient place to get but it is certainly worth the visit.

You can also stay in Kochi for some days and Okayama for some days on the trip.

The most famous water fall is called Niko-fuchi.

When we were there, the place was totally unknown and there was not really a paved hiking road to these water falls. There were some path but not safe with broken bridges, slippery road. It seems like all these are fixed by now. You still need good hiking equipment. 

Kami no Koi-nobori 

There is a festival 3rd of May (lasting for 3 days i.e. till 5th of May). Onegai Kaeru team attended it once. Local people put many hand painted paper Koi-nobori (Koi Carp toy for boy's day in Japan) into the river (this event is called Koi-Nagashi (こい流し)). This area was ( still is) famous for manufacturing paper. These Koi-nobori are made of the paper from the local area.

Some of the Koi-nobori are very big. when you look at them from the bridge (Niyodogawa Bridge (仁淀川橋)), all look like real fishes swimming in the river. This Koi-Nagashi event is only on the first day if 2016, it is on 3rd of May. The time is around 09:30AM (not so late in the morning). You better be on the bridge around 08:30 or so. 

There are several stalls selling some easy foods on the river side.

There seems many events around the year. More info available on the Niyodo river tourism community council website.

If you do not mind raw fish, you must try sonito/skipjack ("カツオ" in Japanese) there.

The area is known for bonito fishing.  

Most popular way of eating bonito is "tataki (the dish is called "Katsuo no Tataki (カツオのたたき)" in Japanese)" where the fish is grilled lightly (so that most of the meat remains raw) and cut into pieces like Sashimi.

In many parts of Japan (at least in Tokyo), you eat bonito tataki with sliced/ground garlic/ginger and onion and soy sauce mixed with vinegar. But the local in Kochi taught us that they eat it with salt and vinegar with sliced garlic and onion. We try the Kochi way and it tastes wonderful.

If you are coming from Tokyo area, do not take it easy to get this town. You expect 9-10 hours. To onegai kaeru team, it was totally worth.　Your final destination is Ino station (いの駅).

Take the bullet train (Shinkansen) from Tokyo or Shinagawa to Okayama (岡山). = 4 hours

At Okayama, you change to the limited express (Nampu (南風)) to get to JR Ino station ( if the express is towards Sukumo (宿毛)).

[ If the express Nampu is towards Kochi, you first get Tosayamada (土佐山田) then changes to Dosan line(土讃線) to get JR Ino station. ] = 3.5 hours

At Okayama station, you usually need to wait for 0.5-1 hour.

From JR Ino station you walk outside and find the Inoekimae station (伊野駅前) of the tram called Tosa Den line (tram line) (とさでん伊野線).

Take the tram from Inoekimae station to Ino station(いの駅) by Tosa Den line (tram line) (とさでん伊野線). = 30mins

Note: As the final destination, you need to get to Ino station of the tram. There are "JR Ino station " and "Ino station" of Tosa Den line (tram line) (とさでん伊野線). You need to get to "Ino station" of Tosa Den line by tram which is around 30 mins from JR Ino station. 

Ino town is quite small and there are not many places to stay.  Either to see the Koi-nobori festival or go hiking into the mountain to see the water fall and the source of Niyodo river, better stay in Ino Town for 2 days. If you are expecting a lot of tourisy things, you better not go. The town is full of nature and old japan like atmosphere.

For now we introduce the places close to the Niyodo river.  It is also an idea to stay in Kochi city centre which has far more restaurants, bars and places to stay. It is around 30 mins by car to get Ino town. We will add more info so stay tuned!

From the hotel's official website

You can book this hotel from the below link!

Name: Kanpo no Yado Ino ( かんぽの宿 伊野 )

Address: 1569 Hakawa, Ino-chō, Agawa-gun, Kōchi-ken 781-2128

( 781-2128 高知県吾川郡いの町波川1569 )

TEL： +81 88-892-1580

FAX：+81 88-892-0582

Checkin: 15:00 (you need to check in at 21:00 at latest)

Checkout: 10:00

10 min by taxi from JR Ino station (2.5 km)

Note: hot-spring availalble and close to the Niyodogawa bridge where the Koi-nobori festival takes place

From the hotel's official website

You can book this hotel from the below link!

Name: QRAUD ( 土佐和紙工芸村 くらうど  )

Address: 1226 Kashiki, Ino-chō, Agawa-gun, Kōchi-ken 781-2136

( 781-2136 高知県吾川郡いの町鹿敷1226 )

You can get a pick up service (need a reservation in advance) OR take Hokubu bus from JR Ino station and get off at Iwamura Bus stop (岩村) around 20mins.  Around 30min from Kochi city centre

TEL： +81 88-892-1001

FAX：+81 88-892-1115

Checkin: 15:00 (you need to check in at 21:00 at latest)

Checkout: 10:00

10min by taxi from JR Ino station (2.5 km)

Note: hot-spring availalble. With this hotel offers various activies. You can join several outdoor activities like raffting, canuing as well as indoor actitivies like paper making, textile making (please book in advance)

On this trip we stayed at several places. We loved this small minshuku (guest house). It is a small place run by a family. The dinner and breakfast were very nice with the local food like bonito (Katsuo fish).

Name: FUJISAKI RYOKAN 藤崎旅館

address: 1702−2 Inomachi, Agawa district, Kochi, Japan  (30 sec from the station. it is almost in front of the Ino station)

You need to call this place if you want to book: +81 088-892-0433

For the website

We hope you have a great journey to the river.  

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Onegai Kaeru wants you to enjoy Japan trip.

If you are looking for more traveler"s info and can not find one, please let us know. We will try to help you with Japan Traveler Help Service (we work on hourly charge to arrange, book, find info you need). Feel free to contact us!

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Onegai Kaeru, a group of passionate travelers, bring happiness to the world with its shopping support service and original super cute items!

Source: each hotel's official website, Ino Town official website, Niyodo River Community Tourism council, Wikipedia

Disclaimer: Even though we try to make the info as updated and accurate but the accuracy of the information herein is not guaranteed by us. If you have any uncertainty, please contact the information source.