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Dragon Cave & Hidden Forest Tour with Licensed Local Guide & Premium Minivan (Toyota Alphard)
Discover a deeper, more authentic side of Kochi with a licensed local guide and premium minivan. This 6-hour private tour takes you from Ryugado, the dramatic “Dragon Cave,” to Ioki Cave, a hidden mossy forest valley known only to locals. For the final stop, choose one experience: a quiet local onsen in a yuzu village, a Monet-inspired garden, or the birthplace of the founder of Mitsubishi. Designed for travelers seeking rural Japan, stories, and places beyond typical sightseeing.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Kochi New Port (Cruise Ship Terminal
- I offer a convenient door-to-door meet-up service using a luxury Toyota Alphard. Please let me know your preferred meeting location and time in advance. >>> Options --Kochi New Port (Cruise Ship Terminal) / Kochi Ryoma Airport (KCZ) / JR Kochi Station /Any hotel or accommodation within Kochi City.
Ryugado (Dragon Cave)
Ryugado, known as the “Dragon Cave,” is one of Japan’s three major limestone caves.
Formed over hundreds of millions of years, the cave features impressive stalactites, underground streams, and traces of ancient human life.
In Japanese culture, dragons are water deities, and caves like this were once believed to be their dwelling places.
Walking through the cave offers a fascinating blend of geology, history, and mythology.
Optional Adventure Course at Ryugado Cave
An optional adventure-style course may be available at Ryugado Cave for guests seeking a more immersive experience.
This course requires a separate fee, which is set by the cave and confirmed individually depending on the date, group size, and conditions.
If you are interested, please let me know in advance and I will check availability and the exact cost for your tour date.
Iokido (Hidden Forest Valley)
Ioki Cave is a narrow valley surrounded by cliffs and filled with moss, ferns, and clear flowing water.
While Ryugado reveals the underground world shaped over hundreds of millions of years, Ioki Cave offers a glimpse of Japan’s living forest landscape, where water, plants, and rock coexist in quiet harmony.
The short and gentle walk makes it suitable for most visitors, and together these two locations create a rich contrast between subterranean geology and vibrant surface nature.
Local Lunch (Midday Break)
Enjoy a relaxed lunch at a local restaurant along the way, selected based on the day’s route and your preferences.
This is a chance to experience everyday regional food enjoyed by locals, using seasonal ingredients from the surrounding mountains and coast.
Simple, authentic local dishes
Flexible options depending on dietary needs
A comfortable break between nature and cultural sites
Lunch is not included in the tour price, allowing you to choose freely according to your taste.
Dietary Requirements
Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies, dietary restrictions, or preferences (such as vegetarian, no raw fish, or no pork).
I will do my best to select a suitable local restaurant and adjust lunch options accordingly. While choices may be limited in rural areas, I always prioritize safety and clear communication with the restaurant.
Choose One Final Destination After visiting the cave and forest, you can choose one of the following options:
>>>Option A – Local Onsen Experience
Umaji Village Onsen
Visit a small, rural hot spring in a mountain village known for its yuzu citrus.
This is a calm, local-style onsen experience that reflects everyday life in the Japanese countryside, rather than a large resort setting.
Choosing the onsen option, the reservation will be arranged by the guide in advance.
The onsen experience is provided as a 30-minute private family bath, offering a comfortable and private setting.
>>>Option B – Garden & Photography
Monet’s Garden Marmottan
A beautifully designed garden inspired by the works of Claude Monet, featuring seasonal colors, light, and carefully composed landscapes.
Easy and well-maintained walking paths
Excellent photo opportunities
Relaxing and visually pleasing experience
>>>Option C – History & Storytelling
Birthplace of Yataro Iwasaki
Visit the birthplace of Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi.
The traditional house itself offers an authentic glimpse into everyday life in rural Japan during the 19th century, with its simple wooden structure and original layout. Even without detailed explanation, the house alone is enjoyable to explore, while guided storytelling reveals how a man from this humble setting went on to shape modern Japan.
Insight into Japan’s modernization
Strong narrative experience with guide explanation
Enjoyable through the architecture and atmosphere alone
Ideal for guests interested in history, business, or society
Ending Point
Kochi New Port, Airport, Kochi Station, or Any Hotel in Kochi City
Want to personalize this tour?
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This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Local English-speaking licensed guide service (Regional license holder)
Door-to-door escort by Toyota Alphard (Luxury Minivan, up to 6 guests)
Hotel meet-up and drop-off (within Kochi city area)
All vehicle-related expenses (fuel, highway tolls, parking fees)
Complimentary photos taken by your guide and shared after the tour
Admission fees for sightseeing attractions (Ryugado Cave JPY1,200 for each person)
Meals and beverages
Personal expenses (shopping, souvenirs, etc.)
Personal travel insurance
Tour Important Information
Tour Notes
Physical Requirements: Moderate walking is involved. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Accessibility: Ryugado Cave involves stairs and uneven surfaces and is not wheelchair accessible.
Dietary Needs: Please inform me in advance of any food allergies or dietary restrictions.
Entrance Fees: Please prepare approximately JPY 1,200 per person for Ryugado Cave, plus additional fees if applicable depending on your selected option.
Important Note Regarding Transportation
My primary service is providing high-quality guiding as a licensed guide.
For your comfort and to ensure an efficient itinerary, I provide my private vehicle as a courtesy support.
Please note:
This is not a taxi or commercial transportation service.
The price difference from walking tours is dedicated solely to covering actual vehicle expenses, including fuel, highway tolls, parking fees, and specialized insurance.
Guests who prefer to use only public transportation or taxis are welcome to book my walking tour option instead.
On Tuesdays, the Monet’s Garden option is not available, as the garden is closed.
On Mondays, the Birthplace of Yataro Iwasaki option is not available, as the site is closed.
Important message from the supplier
I currently offer several tour options, but I can also create a fully customized itinerary based on your interests. In the photo gallery, you'll find examples of places and experiences I’ve introduced to past guests.
If there’s a specific place you’d like to visit, feel free to reach out.
For cruise ship travelers, most tours are around 6 hours, so I recommend choosing 3 to 4 spots. To make planning easier, I’ve grouped locations into Central (C), Eastern(E), and Western(W) Kochi in the gallery—please use that as a reference.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
About Tour Guide Hiroshi M.
I’m a local licensed guide based in Kochi Prefecture. I grew up by the Pacific Ocean in Kochi and spent four years each in Tokyo and the United States—giving me both deep local knowledge and a global perspective.
Although I’m new to GoWithGuide, I’ve been welcoming international guests for years through my private rental villa in Aki City and as a local guide in Kochi. Working in the travel industry, I know not only the famous landmarks but also the hidden gems of the region.
All the photos you see here were taken by me—I enjoy photography, and if you’d like, I’d be happy to capture some memorable shots for you during the tour.
Reviews
Eddyse K.
“Passionate about Kochi”
Hiroshi is a wonderful guide. He truly wanted to show us his city. He planned our tour perfectly and took us to places that are well known and some that we never would have discovered on our own. His explanations of history were amazing and gave us the background we needed to understand the importance of what we were seeing. I highly recommend Hiroshi to show you Kochi !
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Hiroshi M.
Thank you very much for your kind and thoughtful review. As someone who was born and raised in Kochi, I always enjoy sharing not only the well-known highlights, but also local history and places that even many locals do not often visit. I’m very glad I could take you to some of those spots today. It truly meant a lot to hear that the historical background helped you better understand what you were seeing. Showing you my hometown was a real pleasure. Thank you again for choosing Kochi and for taking the time to write such a warm review. Best regards, Hiroshi
Sophia B.
“Garden Tour in Kochi”
Thank you Hirosan for a lovely day out. He went out of his way to accommodate us. He took the most amazing photos and are now most cherished. We hope to come back !
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Hiroshi M.
Thank you so much for your kind review and for spending the day with me in Kochi. I’m really happy to hear you enjoyed the garden tour and that you liked the photos. That’s such a wonderful thing to say I always take photos hoping they will become cherished memories, so I’m truly happy to hear that. I also enjoyed talking with you and showing you around the gardens and the temple. I hope you’ll come back to Kochi someday – I’d be very happy to guide you again. Best regards, Hiroshi
Carmelo G.
“Hiroshi is a miracle worker!! ”
There is not enough words to describe how amazing of a time my wife and I had with Hiroshi. My wife and I traveled Japan for a total of 20 days from Kochi to Tokyo, but the two days with Hiroshi were the highlight of the entire trip! My wife and I based most of our trip on traveling to areas involving one of our favorite franchises Pokemon. Crazy thing is that Kochi's Ambassador Pokemon happens to be my wife's favorite Pokemon Quagsire; Nuoh in Japanese. I spent 8-10 hours on my own trying to surprise my wife with a special trip seeing all things Nuoh while we were in Kochi. I ran into so many problems until I finally decided to find a guide to help bring us to all the areas, but boy did Hiroshi do SOOOOO much more!! I contacted a few different traveling options, but Hiroshi was the most enthusiastic for the personal trip which left me with such a good feeling. He was so patient and quick responding during the entire process. I had even change plans (which I felt really bad about), but he completely understood and was able to quickly come up with a new plan and more. Hiroshi did so much in the background that I really had nothing to worry about. He made sure we did everything that was available and found activities we knew nothing about. Hiroshi truly knows and LOVES Kochi and that energy brushed off onto us. He even checked out activities ahead of time to make sure things ran smoothly. He put in so much more work than just those two days, and those were already a LONG two days of work for him. We relax with no worries while he stayed making sure we were comfortable. All I had to do was tell Hiroshi that my wife loves Quagsire, shopping, with minimal traveling, while I enjoy nature, and he was able to PERFECTLY blend our enjoyments together. He put in so many surprises that I didn't even know about without making us feel overwhelmed. He pays attention to so many details and truly made our trip an once in a life time experience.
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Hiroshi M.
Thank you so much for this incredible review. Reading it honestly made my day (and probably my whole month). I’m truly grateful you chose me for such a special Nuoh mission in Kochi and I’m so happy those two days became a highlight of your 20-day Japan trip. For me, just having guests come to Kochi already means a lot so I always want to do everything I can to help them enjoy it, feel relaxed, and think “I want to come back.” Because I was born and raised here, I can quickly adjust and recommend places depending on the day, and the timing and planning that kind of custom trip is something I genuinely love. Also, I would like to say… you and your wife had such a warm, happy vibe the whole time. Being around you both made me feel happy too. I had so much fun guiding you and I even enjoyed all the researching and behind-the-scenes planning. And the Doburoku festival happening on the exact day we visited with Nuoh showing up. That was just perfect! Thank you again. Please give my best to your wife! If you ever come back, I’d love to show you even more of Kochi. And one day, I hope I can visit the US too — I’ll say hello for sure! All the best, Hiroshi
$326/ per group
More tours by Hiroshi M.
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Kochi Highlights Tour with Licensed Local Guide & Premium Minivan (Toyota Alphard)
Explore Kochi’s top highlights in one day with a local licensed guide! Visit Kochi Castle, Chikurinji Temple, and Okawasuji Samurai Residence or Makino Botanical Garden, and enjoy local food at Hirome Market. The tour is flexible—we can visit other spots based on your interests. All photos were taken by me, and I’m happy to take photos of you during the tour and share them afterward as a free souvenir. Perfect for first-time visitors who want a personalized and memorable experience in Kochi.
Kochi Highlights Tour with Licensed Local Guide & Premium Minivan (Toyota Alphard)
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Explore Niyodo Blue: Japan’s Most Beautiful River with Licensed Local Guide & Premium Minivan
Niyodo Blue – Japan’s Clearest River The Niyodo River in central Kochi is known for its brilliant “Niyodo Blue.” In 2025, it was ranked No.1 in water quality in Japan. This tour visits Yasui Valley, where blue streams, waterfalls, and pools shine in the sunlight. Stroll riverside paths, breathe the fresh air, and enjoy the sound of flowing water. Come and see why this “miracle clear stream” is one of Kochi’s most iconic destinations.
Explore Niyodo Blue: Japan’s Most Beautiful River with Licensed Local Guide & Premium Minivan
Historic Town, Bold Art and Kabuki Theater with Licensed Local Guide & Premium Minivan
Discover Kochi’s culture and scenery on this 6-hour private tour with a licensed guide. Visit a samurai house, the birthplace of Mitsubishi’s founder and a museum of bold theatrical art. If available, we’ll also explore Bentenza, a traditional kabuki theater (no show), where you can step on stage. If not available, we’ll visit Katsurahama Beach, known for ocean views and the statue of Sakamoto Ryoma a beloved historical figure. Private car included. Please check the itinerary for more details.
Historic Town, Bold Art and Kabuki Theater with Licensed Local Guide & Premium Minivan
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Kochi City Walking Tour (Public Transport & Walking Only)
Experience Kochi like a local on this immersive walking tour. You will discover the heart of Kochi in a way that’s only possible on foot. We will explore iconic landmarks such as Kochi Castle, the lively Hirome Market, and the bustling Obiyamachi arcade. If you prefer a door-to-door experience in a shorter time, I also offer a "Kochi Highlights Tour with Private Vehicle Support" featuring a comfortable Toyota Alphard. Please check my profile for more details.
Kochi City Walking Tour (Public Transport & Walking Only)
Other Popular Car Tour (driving guide) Tours in Kochi
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Kochi Highlights Tour with Licensed Local Guide & Premium Minivan (Toyota Alphard)
Explore Kochi’s top highlights in one day with a local licensed guide! Visit Kochi Castle, Chikurinji Temple, and Okawasuji Samurai Residence or Makino Botanical Garden, and enjoy local food at Hirome Market. The tour is flexible—we can visit other spots based on your interests. All photos were taken by me, and I’m happy to take photos of you during the tour and share them afterward as a free souvenir. Perfect for first-time visitors who want a personalized and memorable experience in Kochi.
Kochi Highlights Tour with Licensed Local Guide & Premium Minivan (Toyota Alphard)
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Explore Niyodo Blue: Japan’s Most Beautiful River with Licensed Local Guide & Premium Minivan
Niyodo Blue – Japan’s Clearest River The Niyodo River in central Kochi is known for its brilliant “Niyodo Blue.” In 2025, it was ranked No.1 in water quality in Japan. This tour visits Yasui Valley, where blue streams, waterfalls, and pools shine in the sunlight. Stroll riverside paths, breathe the fresh air, and enjoy the sound of flowing water. Come and see why this “miracle clear stream” is one of Kochi’s most iconic destinations.
Explore Niyodo Blue: Japan’s Most Beautiful River with Licensed Local Guide & Premium Minivan
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Historic Town, Bold Art and Kabuki Theater with Licensed Local Guide & Premium Minivan
Discover Kochi’s culture and scenery on this 6-hour private tour with a licensed guide. Visit a samurai house, the birthplace of Mitsubishi’s founder and a museum of bold theatrical art. If available, we’ll also explore Bentenza, a traditional kabuki theater (no show), where you can step on stage. If not available, we’ll visit Katsurahama Beach, known for ocean views and the statue of Sakamoto Ryoma a beloved historical figure. Private car included. Please check the itinerary for more details.
Historic Town, Bold Art and Kabuki Theater with Licensed Local Guide & Premium Minivan
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Kochi Cultural Cycling Tour – with Licensed Local Guide & Premium Minivan (Toyota Alphard)
Discover the hidden beauty of Konan City on a 6-hour cycling tour with car pick-up from Kochi port, airport, or a hotel. Starting from the Konan City Cycling Terminal, enjoy a scenic seaside route with Pacific Ocean views, passing peaceful fishing villages and coastal roads. Visit Ekingura Museum for vivid Edo-period paintings, and Benten Theater, a preserved kabuki stage that still hosts performances today. I will share local stories and take photos along the way.
Kochi Cultural Cycling Tour – with Licensed Local Guide & Premium Minivan (Toyota Alphard)
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