Katsurahama Beach — Crescent Bay & Ryoma Statue

Published: Jun 3, 2026

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

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Katsurahama Beach — Crescent Bay & Ryoma Statue

Katsurahama Beach — Crescent Bay & Ryoma Statue 2

Katsurahama is a crescent-shaped beach on Kochi's southeastern coast, famous for its black sand, pine-covered headlands, and the towering bronze statue of Sakamoto Ryoma — the samurai revolutionary who helped overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate and usher in the Meiji Restoration. The statue, erected in 1928, stands 13.5 meters tall on a cliff overlooking the Pacific, Ryoma gazing eastward toward Edo (Tokyo) with the ocean wind at his back.

The beach itself is beautiful but not for swimming — strong currents and riptides make it dangerous. Instead, visitors walk the sand, explore the tide pools, and visit the nearby Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum. The beach has a poetic, windswept quality that suits Ryoma's legacy — a place where history, ocean, and ambition converge.

Opening Hours

Beach area: open 24 hours (no swimming — strong currents). Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum: 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30). Food stalls in parking area: typically 9:00–17:00.

Closed: Beach always accessible. Ryoma Museum closed on the 2nd and 4th Monday each month (open if that Monday is a public holiday, then closed the following day). Check website before visiting.

Entrance Fee

Beach area free. Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum ¥700 adults, ¥400 students. Audio guide available (¥200). Parking ¥310 for first 30 minutes.

Best Season

Spring (March–May) and autumn (October–November) for clear coastal weather. The Ryoma birthday events (January 3) and anniversary remembrance (November 15) are culturally significant visit dates.

Visit Duration

Statue viewing and beach walk: 30–45 minutes. Including the Ryoma Museum: 2–2.5 hours total. Combine with Kochi Castle (30 min by bus) for a full Ryoma-themed half-day.

Getting There

Access Information

Katsurahama is 30 minutes by bus from Kochi Station (MY Yasaka Bus). Buses run hourly. Entry to beach area: free. Sakamoto Ryoma Museum: ¥700, open 9:00–17:00. Budget 2–3 hours for visit.

Insider Guide

Premium

**Visiting the statue:** The Ryoma statue is the main draw. You can walk right up to the base and look up — the scale is imposing. Twice a year (Ryoma's birthday in January and death anniversary in No