Kochi Castle
Kochi Literature Museum
Registration Site on Saturday
Booth
Food stall
Food stall
- On Friday night, I took on the highway bus bound for Kochi at 21:10 from Shinjuku Station. The bus was fully occupied.
- The bus stopped twice at parking areas and arrived in Kochi Station at 7:30 AM on Saturday, 30 minutes earlier than scheduled.
- I thought it might be warm since Kochi City was located in the southern part of Japan. However, contrary to my expectation, it was cold in the morning. It was fine.
- Since I had enough time to spare, I made sure the location of hotels, registration site on Saturday and gathering site on Sunday. The cold wind was blowing and it was cold in the early morning.
- Gathering site on Sunday was very close to Kochi Castle. Thus I decided to visit Kochi Castle built by Mr. Kazutoyo Yamanouchi. I could enjoy the 360-degree scenery from the top of the castle due to fine weather.
- Then, I visited Kochi Literature Museum, where the pieces of writings of novelists from Kochi Pref. were exhibited. The building was gorgeous, however, only three visitors including me was there when I visited.
- I registered on Saturday at the small park called "Central Park". I reached there before 13:00 and completed the registration immediately although official start of registration was 13:00.
- I still had a time for hotel's check-in, I visited food stall called "Hirome Market". The market was filled with many customers in the daytime. I drank locally brewed Japanese sake named "Suigei" with side dish of cooked firefly squids. I felt very good.
- After check-in, I had early dinner and went to bed earlier than usual.
- According to the weather forecast in the morning, it would be fine and the temperature would be 11 degrees of Centigrade. It's not warm.
- I checked out the hotel at 7:15 AM. It was fine and cold outside.
- I walked to Josai Park. Cold north wind was blowing.
- It took almost 30 minutues to the park. A lot of runners were already there. It was still cold.
- Since the locations of start and finish were different, the runners had to deposit their luggage by 8:15. However, it was so cold that I didn't want to pull off my jacket. I waited for a while and deposited my luggage past 8:00 AM. I should have stayed hotel more.
- I wore the vinyl bag for cold.
- Runners had to line up at the designated block (A to F) and move to the start line of Grand Street.
- I took off the vinyl bag before start since it was finally getting warm.
- This marathon race was a renewal of conventional Kochi Marathon Race.
- The marathon race started at 9:00 AM. Only full marathon race was made. Around 3,500 runners joined. Since my starting position was very close to the front (Bloack B), the loss time was only one minute.
- Runners ran on the wide main street of Kochi City eastward for a while. A lot of citizens cheered for runners.
- The course went out of urban district after passing 5 km. Around 10 km point, the rice field appeared. Good old rural scenery could be seen.
- After passing 10 km point, the course went southward. The runners headed to the Pacific Ocean. My running pace was faster than usual until 15 km point.
- I managed to pass the middle point smoothly. However, after that, I suddenly felt tired owing to faster running pace in the first half and the pace slowed down. Up to then, there were almost no food at water-supply points and I felt hungry. I took a few caramels in my waist-porch.
- Soon steep slope to Urato Bridge started. I tried to run up, but it was hard to do. My running pace was the same as that of walking.
- The view from the bridge was wonderful, however, I could not enjoy it until I reached the middle of the bridge.
- When I finally arrived at the top of bridge, I could see blue Pacific Ocean in front. It was an exquisite view. I regretted that I didn't have a camera.
- Soon I reached Katsurahama Beach. The runners ran the course alongside the shore toward west. It was almost windless and the sea was calm and reflecting the sunshine.
- However, my running pace was still slow. I was passed by other runners. So I took my M & M chocolates.
- I met runners returning from the first turn-round (32.5 km point) when passing 29 km point. They had already passed 36 km point. I was wondering if I could complete the race this time.
- Anyway, I managed to pass 30 km point. I could find and have bread at water supply point. But the first turn-around was still far away.
- I could reach Niyodogawa River Bridge (the first turn-around).
- I was worrying about final result, but, fortunately, my running speed recovered a little bit. I could reach the point 5km to the finish.
- However, it was hard to run the last 5 km owing to strong head wind.
- The 40 km point was the second turn-around. Owing to slow pace in the second half, the passing time was more than 4 hours.
- Finally I reached the 1 km point to Haruno Athletics Stadium. However, the stadium was located on the hill. I had to run up the slope. My running pace slowed down again and I started to walk at last.
- After entering the stadium, runners had to run around the truck field. I put forth my final effort to run and finish the race. When finished, a senior high school boy put the towel on my shoulder.
- The finish time was 4 hours 23 minutes. I was satisfied with the result. It was very hard for me to run in the second half.
- The weather was fine, but the wind blew than expected and it was not warm. I didn't sweat at all.
- I was encouraged by fervent cheers of local people.
- I saw a few runners dressed in Ryoma costume. They received loud cheers from local people. I realized that Ryoma Sakamoto was a hero for Kochi people.
- By the way, I was impressed that there were a lot of fine tombs alongside Katsurahama Beach. It might be a prime site for local people.
- After completing the race, I returned to Kochi Station by free shuttle bus and checked in the second day's hotel.
- I stayed Kochi one more night to go sightseeing to Muroto Cape.
- I took JR local train at 6:35 AM from Kochi Station. I changed the train from Gomen Station of Tosa Kuroshio Railroad to the terminal station of Nahari. It was fine and I could see blue and calm Pacific See from the train continuously.
- I took on the bus from Nahari Station at 8:52 AM. The bus was almost empty and arrived in the bus stop of Muroto Cape around 10:00 AM.
- After receiving the sightseeing map from Sightseeing Information Center in front of the bus stop, I started sightseeing.
- First, I noticed a large statue of Mr. Shintaro Nakaoka.
- Then I walked on the nature trail alongside the shore. The sea was calm and the waves were gentle. There were many large rocks on the shore.
- Especially, Eboshi Rock and Bishago Rock were noticeable.
- I also went to the cave where Kukai once lived and performed the ascetic practices. I was much impressed by the blue see viewed in the cave.
- Then I headed #24 Fudasho Temple "Hotsumisakiji" via Henro route. The route was a long slope with stone stairway. It was hard for me to climb just after running 42.195 km.
- When reaching the temple, no one was there and I could spend a quiet time. It might be off-season for pilgrimage.
- Descending 50m from the temple, there was a lighthouse. I could not enter into the lighthouse, but I could enjoy seeing wonderful view of the Pacific Ocean.
- There were no other tourist attractions. So I went down via Muroto Skyline Road on foot. I took on the local bus available only one per an hour and went back to Aki City.
- I took "Chirimen bowl", a specialty of Aki, and got on the train of Tosa Kuroshio Railrod to back to Kochi Station. When returned to Kochi Station, it was around 16:30.
- I still had a time, so I went to "Hirome Market" again. It was not so crowded as weekend around 17:00.
- I enjoyed tasting lightly-roasted bonito with Japanese sake.
- With slightly drunk, I got on the highway bus bound for Shinjuku at 19:40.
- The bus safely arrived in Shinjuku at 6:00 AM next morning. It was colder in Tokyo than Kochi in the morning.
Tosa Kuroshio Railroad
Gomen Station
Nakaoka Statue
Muroto Cape Beach
Cave
Cave
Bishago Rock
No. 24 Fudasho
Main Temple
Lighthouse
Pacific Ocean