Hirome Market
Kochi's beloved covered market — open since 1998 but feels like a 50-year institution. Locals come daily for katsuo no tataki (seared bonito) and sake, sitting elbow-to-elbow at communal tables.
1–2 hours
Free; food from ¥500
Mon–Fri 8:00–23:00; Sat 7:00–23:00; Sun 7:00–22:00
Year-round
5 min walk from Kochi castle tram stop
Location
Why Visit
- 1
Katsuo tataki is uniquely made with straw fire here — the smokiness is irreplaceable
- 2
Best visited at lunchtime on weekdays to avoid weekend tourist volumes
- 3
Local sake breweries have stalls — Tosa sake is known for being dry and high-alcohol
Local Tips
Hirome is Kochi's communal food hall — order katsuo no tataki (seared bonito grilled over straw) from one vendor, sake from another, and carry to any empty bench. The bonito tataki here, cooked warayaki-style, is the definitive version. Weekends are extremely lively. Arrive hungry — the social energy of the shared tables is half the experience.
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