Sakawa, the Perfect Day Trip from Kochi City

Sakawa at a Glance
🌸 Best For: Cherry blossoms, sake, historic streets
⏰ Time Needed: 2–4 hours
🚆 From Kochi City: 26 minutes by train
🍁 Best Season: February–April (sakura), autumn foliage
🍶 Famous For: Tomitaro Makino, Tsukasabotan Sake Brewery
🚶 Walking Difficulty: Easy

I have a soft spot for Japan’s hidden destinations—those rural historic towns that somehow remain overlooked despite their beauty. In 2022, I stumbled upon Sakawa, a small town just 30 minutes west of Kochi Station by train, where cherry blossoms paint the hillsides pink each spring and centuries-old sake breweries line quiet streets.

Sakawa is best known as the birthplace of Dr. Tomitaro Makino, often called the father of Japanese botany. His legacy lives on throughout the town, most notably in Makino Park, home to 17 varieties of cherry trees.

Because each variety blooms at a slightly different time, the park’s cherry blossom season stretches from February through mid-April—far longer than most sakura destinations in Japan. 

What I love most about Sakawa is how much there is to discover within a short walk. The town is home to Kochi’s oldest sake brewery, beautifully preserved merchant houses, a charming Meiji-era Western-style building, and several historic properties that have been transformed into cafés, galleries, and community spaces. Better yet, everything is within walking distance of the station, making Sakawa an easy and rewarding half-day trip from Kochi City.

How to Get to Sakawa  

Sakawa Station is only four stops away on a 26-minute train ride west from Kochi station to Sakawa Station on the Dosan Line Limited Express (covered under the JR pass) and an additional 10-minute walk to Sakawa’s historic townscape. 

Suggested Walking Route

1. Start at Sakawa Station
2. Walk to Makino Park
3. Visit Tsukasabotan Brewery
4. Browse the Former Takemura Drapery Shop
5. Relax at the Former Hamaguchi Residence
6. Stop by Sakawa Bunkosha
7. Visit Uemachi Station
8. Return to Sakawa Station

Visiting Makino Park During Cherry Blossom Season

One of Sakawa’s biggest attractions is Makino Park, a hillside park named after local botanist Dr. Tomitaro Makino. In 1902, Dr. Makino sent 17 varieties of cherry trees to his hometown, which were planted by local volunteers. Today, those trees have grown into one of Kochi Prefecture’s most celebrated cherry blossom destinations.

Unlike most sakura spots, where the blossoms peak over just a week or two, Makino Park’s 17 different cherry tree varieties bloom at different times. As a result, the flowering season stretches from February through mid-April, giving visitors a much larger window to enjoy the blossoms.

The busiest viewing period is typically early to mid-April. If you’re visiting during peak season, I recommend arriving early in the morning or on a weekday to enjoy the scenery before the crowds arrive.

The park’s paths gradually wind up the hillside rather than climbing steeply, making it accessible for most visitors. Along the way, you’ll find small viewpoints overlooking Sakawa’s rooftops and the surrounding mountains, as well as opportunities to see different cherry varieties as the seasons progress. While the walk itself can be completed relatively quickly, I recommend allowing extra time to wander at a leisurely pace and enjoy the changing scenery.

Although best known for its cherry blossoms, Makino Park is beautiful year-round. Fresh green foliage fills the park in early summer, while autumn brings vibrant red and golden maple leaves.

My first visit took place in early summer, when the crowds had long since disappeared. I spent nearly an hour beneath the shade of Japanese maples before slowly making my way to the summit. The quiet atmosphere and changing views made it one of my favourite places in Sakawa.

I later returned during cherry blossom season and finally saw the park at its most famous. The hillsides were dotted with shades of pink and white, and the views over the town felt completely transformed. While spring is undoubtedly the most spectacular time to visit, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the park in summer as well, when the crowds were gone and the maples provided welcome shade.

Tsukasabotan Brewery: Taste Kochi’s Oldest Sake

Sakawa is also known as a sake-brewing district with more than 400 years of history, and the “Sake Brewery Road” stretches east to west at the base of the town’s historic district. It’ll be impossible to miss Tsukasabotan Brewery, one of Sakawa’s architectural standouts, with its long chimney and white-plastered storehouses spanning 85 metres.

Founded in 1603, the first year of the Edo period, Tsukasabotan is not only the largest brewery in Sakawa but also the oldest sake brewery in Kochi Prefecture. More than four centuries later, it continues to produce the dry, clean-tasting sake for which Kochi is famous.

Even if you’re not a sake enthusiast, it’s worth stepping inside to browse the bottles and learn a little about Sakawa’s brewing history. I found the brewery’s crisp, refreshing style particularly representative of Kochi’s sake culture.

It’s also worth mentioning that Sakawa is incredibly walkable and only a short distance from the station, making it easy to enjoy a tasting—or even a glass or two—before catching the train back to Kochi City. 😉

Shopping Sakawa: Discover Style at the Former Takemura Drapery

Of all the buildings in Sakawa, this was the one I most wanted to linger in. The Former Takemura Drapery Shop (旧竹村呉服店) was once the only silk merchant operating in western Tosa (present-day Kochi) and is now a registered cultural property. Today, the building serves as a lifestyle shop selling carefully curated home goods, while its traditional kura storehouse has been transformed into a café and free art gallery.

The store owner was kind enough to show me the second floor, which turned out to be one of the highlights of my visit. Keep your eyes peeled for the original bird paintings on the paper screen doors—they looked so lifelike that they seemed ready to flutter off the paper.

If you’re lucky, you may also get the chance to see the upper floors, where beautifully carved ranma panels decorate the spaces above the sliding doors. These intricate wooden transoms are a hallmark of traditional Japanese craftsmanship and worth a closer look.

Hamaguchi Residence: Relax with Tea in a Traditional Home

The Former Hamaguchi Residence (旧浜口家住宅) once belonged to the Hamaguchi family, who operated a sake brewery in Sakawa during the Edo period (1603–1867). Today, the beautifully restored residence serves as a visitor rest stop where guests can relax on tatami mats, browse local souvenirs, or enjoy a cup of tea while overlooking the garden.

While the house itself is worth exploring, what I appreciated most was the chance to simply slow down. After wandering Sakawa’s historic streets, I found myself staying here longer than expected, sitting quietly and looking out at the inner garden. It felt less like visiting a museum and more like being welcomed into someone’s home.

Architecture enthusiasts will find plenty to admire, from the exposed wooden beams to the carefully preserved details throughout the residence. The property also has several entrances, including a pathway that winds through the traditional Japanese garden before arriving at the main house.

Of all the places I visited in Sakawa, this was one of the easiest spots to pause, rest your feet, and enjoy the town’s unhurried pace.

Sakawa Bunkosha: The Oldest Wooden Western Building in Kochi

After spending the afternoon surrounded by traditional merchant houses and sake breweries, I was surprised to come across a Western-style building in the middle of Sakawa’s historic district. It feels slightly out of place—in the best possible way.

The Sakawa Bunkosha (佐川文庫庫舎) is the oldest surviving Western-style wooden building in Kochi Prefecture. Built in 1886 as a branch police station during the early Meiji period, it reflects a time when Western architectural influences were beginning to appear throughout Japan. The building was relocated to its current site in 2010 and is open to visitors free of charge.

One moment you’re admiring traditional Japanese architecture, and the next you’re standing in front of a building that feels almost transported from another era entirely. It felt like it was there as a reminder of how quickly Japan was changing during the Meiji period.

Uemachi Station: Step Inside a Meiji-Era Railway Carriage

Next door to Sakawa Bunkosha is Uemachi Station (うえまち駅), a small tourist information centre that houses one of Sakawa’s more unexpected attractions: a preserved wooden railway carriage from the Meiji era (1868–1912).

From the outside, the carriage is painted black and looks surprisingly modest. Step inside, however, and you’ll find red velvet seating and polished wooden interiors that offer a glimpse of what railway travel might have felt like more than a century ago. Visitors are free to walk through the carriage, making it easy to appreciate the craftsmanship and details up close.

The carriage is preserved as a tribute to Mitsuaki Tanaka, who played a key role in developing the Dosan Line that now connects communities across Kochi Prefecture. Even if you aren’t particularly interested in trains, it’s worth stepping inside for a few minutes. Like many places in Sakawa, it feels less like a museum exhibit and more like a small piece of history quietly waiting to be discovered.

The station also serves as Sakawa’s tourist information centre, making it a convenient place to pick up maps, pamphlets, or local recommendations before continuing your walk through town.

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While Sakawa isn’t packed with headline attractions or famous landmarks, its appeal lies in slower pleasures: wandering quiet brewery streets, sitting under centuries-old cherry trees, and discovering pieces of Kochi’s history at your own pace.

In a country where many historic districts have become crowded tourist destinations, Sakawa still feels refreshingly local—and that’s exactly why I hope it never loses its charm.