桂浜

Katsurahama is a touristy beach in the city Kochi in southern Shikoku. The gravelly beach is only about 100 meters in length, and is bounded by cliffs which boast a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean on clear days. On the eastern precipice, there is a famous, massive bronze statue of local hero Sakamoto Ryoma, thoughfully gazing out to sea, while on the western cliffs there is a small Shinto shrine. Nearby is the Katsurahama Aquarium, best known for its sea turtles, the Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum, which details the patriotic figure's life and death, some ruins of Urado Castle, and the Tosa Fighting Dog Center, where huge mastiffs, ranked and dressed like sumo wrestlers, battle it out before paying spectators in a caged ring.