5 Photogenic Gourmet Treats & Souvenirs of Kochi

When you think of Kochi, you probably picture seared bonito (katsuo no tataki) or the Yosakoi festival... but there's so much more! In fact, Kochi is packed with adorable, photo-worthy gourmet treats. This time we introduce five carefully selected Kochi foods and souvenirs that will make you want to keep snapping photos.

01 | Straw-Grilled Bonito Tataki at Hirome Market

Kochi's iconic soul food can shine as the ultimate photo subject — if you know how to shoot it! At a Hirome Market stall, order the straw-grilled bonito tataki and wait for the dramatic moment when flames roar up right before your eyes — that is your photo opportunity. The deep-red, thick-cut bonito contrasts vividly with the bright green of spring onions.

• Instagram tip: Burst-shoot the "fresh-off-the-flame" moment with fire and smoke rising!
• Best shooting time: Midday to evening. The market interior is rather dim, so Night Mode can help.
• Angle: Hold the plate by hand and shoot from a 45-degree angle to create a three-dimensional, stylish look.
• Access: About a 5-minute walk from Kochi Castle.

02 | Sweet Potato Imokenpi Street Snacking at the Sunday Market

Kochi's Sunday Market, held every Sunday, is a treasure trove for food lovers on the go! Above all, strolling with a paper bag of Kochi's beloved imokenpi (fried sweet potato sticks) in hand makes for a shot brimming with travel vibes. The heaping golden color is simply irresistible.

• Instagram tip: Overflowing imokenpi in a paper bag + the retro market backdrop.
• Best time: Morning (the earlier you go, the more variety you'll find to photograph).
• Angle: Tilt the bag slightly, with a soft-focus blur of the bustling market in the background.
• Access: About a 15-minute walk from Kochi Station / Otesuji Street. Held every Sunday from around 6:00 a.m. to around 2:00 p.m. (closed on January 1–2 and August 10–12 for the Yosakoi Festival).

03 | Tosa Tea and Sweets at "Hidamari-koji Tosa-cha Cafe"

"Hidamari-koji Tosa-cha Cafe" in Obiyamachi, Kochi City is a cozy town café where you can enjoy teas from different Tosa tea-growing regions alongside sweets and dishes made with local ingredients. Arrange a freshly brewed cup of tea and a sweet side by side for a serene, Japanese-style photo.

• Instagram tip: Place the tea cup and sweet together, making the clear green of the Tosa tea the star.
• Best light: The hour when soft natural light streams in through a window-side seat.
• Angle: Shoot the tea and sweet from a 45-degree angle, or go straight overhead for a flat-lay of the whole table.
• Access: 2-1-31 Obiyamachi, Kochi City (inside Hidamari-koji). Open 11:00–17:00 (L.O. 16:30) / closed Wednesdays.

04 | Kochi's Beloved "Ice Cream"

Ice cream (aisu kurin) — Kochi's soul sweet — has become a hot topic on social media thanks to its nostalgic look and vivid colors! Snap a shot of the pastel-colored soft serve piled high in a cone against a blue sky, and it looks like a scene straight out of a movie.

• Instagram tip: The tall, pointed silhouette × the openness of the blue sky.
• Best season: Summer! The vivid blue of the sky and river makes the ultimate backdrop.
• Angle: Hold the cone up a little higher and shoot with the sky as the background in a "looking-up" composition.
• Access: Widely available at tourist spots, roadside stations, and other locations throughout Kochi City.

Kochi's food scene is endlessly satisfying — both to eat and to photograph. Fill your camera roll with the colors of Kochi on your next trip!

📚 Sources

The straw-grilled bonito tataki at Hirome Market, the imokenpi street snacking at the Kochi Sunday Market, and the aisukurin ice treat introduced in this article are organized based on tourism and specialty information published by Kochi City and the prefectural tourism and convention association, along with information from each shop and the market. Descriptions such as straw-grilling of bonito tataki and the Sunday Market being held along Otesuji also draw on public information. Because each shop operation, offerings and event days may change, please confirm official information before you visit.

Visitor Checklist

• Time estimate: A short time for a meal at Hirome Market alone, or about half a day combined with street snacking at the Sunday Market.
• What to prepare: Street snacking is the focus, so a hand wipe and an eco bag are handy. Do not forget to charge your camera or smartphone for photos.
• Best timing: The Sunday Market is best in the morning when there is more variety. At Hirome Market, aim for the just-grilled moment to capture the straw-grilling flames.
• Suggested route: On a Sunday, first snack on imokenpi and more at the morning Sunday Market, then enjoy straw-grilled bonito tataki at Hirome Market at midday.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Opening hours / closing days: Hirome Market is open 10:00-23:00 on weekdays, Saturdays and public holidays, and 9:00-23:00 on Sundays (hours and closing days differ from stall to stall). The Sunday Market runs every Sunday from around 6:00 a.m. to around 2:00 p.m., and is closed on January 1 and 2 and from August 10 to 12 during the Yosakoi Festival. Hidamari Koji Tosa Cha Cafe is open 11:00-17:00 (last order 16:30) and closed on Wednesdays.
• Budget and fees: Admission to both Hirome Market and the Sunday Market is free of charge. At Hirome Market you buy food from the individual stalls and eat it at shared tables, and payment methods differ from stall to stall.
• Access: Hirome Market is about a 5-minute walk from Kochi Castle. The Sunday Market is held on Otesuji in front of Kochi Castle, about a 15-minute walk from Kochi Station.
• Parking: Both are in the central district of Kochi City, so it is easiest to use public transport such as the streetcar or bus, or a nearby paid parking lot.
• Photography rules: The Sunday Market, with its roughly 300 stalls, is a market that serves the daily life of local residents. Always ask permission before photographing the produce or the stallholders. Avoid using tripods that block the walkways or taking photos in ways that get in the way of shoppers. Other customers easily end up in the frame at Hirome Market too, so get each stall's permission before photographing inside or in front of it.
• Points to note: Some stalls at the Sunday Market close once they sell out, so a morning visit when the selection is fullest is the surest bet. Seats at Hirome Market fill up quickly at the lunch and dinner peaks, so shifting your timing lets you shoot at a more relaxed pace.

(Sources: Hirome Market official website / Kochi City official website, Sunday Market / Works Mirai Kochi, Hidamari Koji Tosa Cha Cafe / Kashidokoro Aoyagi official website)