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5 hrneeds an 8-hour call · fits 94% of calls here5.0★ · 2 reviewsTaxi ~15 min from the ship

Kochi Castle and Exclusive Tea and Meditation Experience

A quiet five-hour castle-and-temple visit with a matcha and meditation session, for travellers who prefer one calm experience over a busy loop.

US$181 each · US$362 for two · Taxi ~15 min from the ship

Most listings let you reserve now and pay later, and cancel free up to 24 hours before. Your ship's berth or time can change; a reservation costs nothing to hold.

Duration
5 hr
From pickup or the meeting point and back
Your call needs
8+ hours
Incl. getting ashore and the hour before all-aboard
Price
From US$181 per person
Free cancellation 24h ahead · as of 29 Oct 2026
Group
Private · up to 8
Taxi ~15 min from the ship

Checked · price, reviews and availability from the operator’s Viator listing · Takumi Yamada

What the operator lists

The day, stop by stop

Kochi Castle and Exclusive Tea and Meditation Experience (2 of 12)Kochi Castle and Exclusive Tea and Meditation Experience (3 of 12)Kochi Castle and Exclusive Tea and Meditation Experience (4 of 12)
Photo: tour operator, via Viator
  1. 1 hr
    Kochi Castle
Getting there from the ship

Not at the pier: about 15 minutes by taxi

Measured from Kochi New Port cruise terminal.

Taxi
~15 min · 7.9 kmAbout ¥2,600–3,300 (US$16–22) one way on the meter
Meeting point
Inside Harimaya-bashi Tourist Bus Terminal →The taxi ride in Google Maps
Show your driver
はりまや橋観光バスターミナル(高知市はりまや町1-14-12)
Other ways there
Free city/prefecture shuttle (or the ship's paid shuttle) from Kochi New Port to Harimaya-bashi Kanko Bus Terminal, 25–30 min.
Coming back
The same ~15 minutes; be at the ship an hour before all-aboard.

Fare from the official meter tariff in force since 2024-02-19, for the road distance; traffic, tolls and night surcharges are extra.

Why it is on this site
  • The guide takes you inside the original keep of Kochi Castle, one of only twelve that survive, with the keep entry fee included.
  • Yohoji Temple, linked to the lord who built the castle, is described as rarely visited by tourists; temple staff talk to you directly, then you have matcha and a meditation session overlooking the garden.
  • Groups are capped at eight and the tour is private to your party.
Best for

Travellers who have seen enough busy sights and want a slower, more personal hour of Japanese temple life.

Think twice if

Only 2 reviews, so the listing is thin. It meets inside a bus terminal building in town, not at the ship, so you still need the cruise shuttle or a taxi (about 25 minutes) to get there; the listing does not say how you travel between castle and temple.

Included
Entrance fee to Kochi Caste's main keepTemple Experiences (temple talk, matcha experience, meditation)
Guide: EnglishFree cancellation 24h aheadRun by Kochi Escapes
Book it before you sail

Check dates and book

Kochi Castle and Exclusive Tea and Meditation Experience5.0★ · 2 reviewsPrivate · up to 8Free cancellation 24h aheadFrom US$181 per personCheck dates →

Booked through Viator (a Tripadvisor company); there is rarely a tour desk at the pier. We may earn a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.

Against the ship's own excursions

What Princess Cruises charges for a day like this in Kochi

This tourUS$181 per person · 5 hKochi Castle and Exclusive Tea · Free cancellation 24h ahead
The ship’s closestUS$179.95 per person · 5¼ hRyugado Cave & Katsurahama Beach · strenuous, from price
The ship’s range hereUS$44.95 – US$259.9512 day excursions on Princess Cruises’ Kochi list, median US$184.95
Ship's excursion: the ship waits for its own busIndependent: be back an hour before all-aboard

Princess Cruises prices from its public Kochi excursion page, 25 October 2026, per person. Tour prices here are the operator’s current from price.

Quick answers

Before you book

Is the Kochi Castle and Exclusive Tea and Meditation Experience worth it from the Kochi cruise port?

A quiet five-hour castle-and-temple visit with a matcha and meditation session, for travellers who prefer one calm experience over a busy loop. Best for: Travellers who have seen enough busy sights and want a slower, more personal hour of Japanese temple life.

How long a port call do I need for this tour?

About 8 hours. The tour runs 5 hr; add half an hour to get off the ship, about 15 minutes each way between the pier and the start and keep the hour before all-aboard free. The meeting point is in the city, about 25 minutes from Kochi New Port by shuttle or taxi each way; the extra hour covers that.

Can I cancel if my ship skips the port?

The operator's policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What should I know before booking?

Only 2 reviews, so the listing is thin. It meets inside a bus terminal building in town, not at the ship, so you still need the cruise shuttle or a taxi (about 25 minutes) to get there; the listing does not say how you travel between castle and temple.

Does this tour pick up at the cruise pier?

No: the start is at Inside Harimaya-bashi Tourist Bus Terminal, about 15 minutes from the ship by taxi (about ¥2,600–3,300 on the meter).

Will I be back on board before all-aboard?

The operator makes no written on-time promise, so the margin is yours to keep. This site only shows the tour as fitting a call of about 8 hours or more, which already includes half an hour to get ashore and the hour before all-aboard. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before means a reservation costs nothing to hold if your ship’s hours change.

Is the price per person or per vehicle?

Per person, from about US$181, on a private basis.