Bought tourist bus tickets at the hotel and caught the bus to Godaisan which is an ornamental garden on top of a hill overlooking the river estuary. Bus ride was very scary going up hairpin bends hundreds of feet above the city but worth it when we reached the top. There was a viewing platform at the top and we could see all over the city and over the mountains and out to the Pacific. So high up that we were looking down onto the buzzards that were circling over the harbour.

We got back on the next bus and carried on past the temple to Katsurahama to see the sea. We got off the bus at the edge of some woods and followed a signed path down to the beach. It was very steep and led down through some beautiful woods filled with camellia trees. When we reached the bottom we found ourselves in front of the most stunning beach with grey gravelly sand and turquoise sea stretching on forever. The sun was so warm we were able to lie on the beach and also paddle in the water; it was pretty cold though. We spent about an hour or so soaking up the sun, eating a weird Japanese version of a vanilla ice cream and taking photos of the lovely views. We then walked up over the clifftops to look at the beach on the other side. There was a small shrine right on the very edge of the cliffs from which we took some more photos. We walked back down to get a drink and I had a strawberry icecream out of a vending machine - very strange, although it tasted great. Explored a few tatty gift shops and then headed back up to meet the last bus back to Kochi. Steep climb back the way the bus had come and lovely views across sea, estuary and hills. Reached Kochi feeling very hungry after sea air so enjoyed bagel and fries in a cafe. Went to the Internet cafe again and filled bag with takeaway food for hotel room picnic.