Hirome Market

Hirome Market is one of Kochi’s most popular gourmet and tourist attractions. It is located in the heart of Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture, just a two- to three-minute walk from Kochi Castle. Opened in 1998, the market was developed to revitalize the shopping district while preserving Kochi’s food culture and commercial traditions. Around 60 shops, including restaurants, fishmongers, butcher shops, souvenir stores, and general goods stores, are gathered inside. Visitors can enjoy local specialties and shopping in a lively atmosphere reminiscent of a street-food village. Loved by both tourists and local residents, it is also known as “Kochi’s kitchen.”

The name “Hirome Market” comes from **Fukao Hirome Shigeaki**, who served as a senior retainer of the Tosa domain under four successive lords during the final years of the Edo period. Fukao Hirome was known for his generous personality and outstanding political skills, and was a respected senior retainer who was also loved by the townspeople. Although his residence disappeared after the Meiji Restoration, the area continued to be known affectionately as “Hirome Yashiki,” or “Hirome Residence,” for many years. The market was given its name in honor of this history, with the hope that it would help spread the region’s food culture and become a place where people could gather.

The market consists of several areas, including Oshiroshita Hiroba and Ryoma-dori. Numerous shops serve Kochi specialties such as seared bonito, Tosa wagyu beef dishes, moray eel dishes, Shamo chicken dishes, whale meat dishes, fresh seafood, and local cuisine. There are also restaurants offering a wide variety of international fare, including Italian, French, Spanish, and Chinese cuisine. The chance to enjoy Kochi’s local flavors alongside dishes from around the world is one of the market’s greatest attractions.

Hirome Market’s most distinctive feature is its flexible, food-stall-style dining system. Visitors purchase the dishes and drinks they like from individual shops and enjoy them at approximately 400 seats arranged around shared tables throughout the market. Since diners can bring food from different shops to the same table, the market is a popular place to sample a variety of Kochi specialties in small portions during a trip. Many of the restaurants do not have their own seating areas. After eating, customers simply place their dishes in the designated collection area, where market staff take care of them.

Many shops in the market serve Kochi’s famous straw-seared bonito. At some establishments, visitors can watch as the bonito is dramatically grilled over roaring straw flames. The freshly seared fish can be enjoyed with salt or ponzu sauce, and many people pair it with Tosa sake or shochu, allowing them to experience Kochi’s distinctive food culture to the fullest. The sight of local residents enjoying a meal with a glass of regional sake during the daytime also reflects Kochi’s relaxed and easygoing atmosphere.

In addition to restaurants, the market is home to fishmongers selling fresh seafood, butcher shops, specialty liquor stores, souvenir shops, and general goods stores. A wide selection of Kochi products is available, including locally produced specialties, processed foods, sweets, and traditional crafts, making the market an ideal place to shop for souvenirs. Some shops also provide tourist information, offering details about attractions in Kochi City and throughout the prefecture, so the market is also used as a base for exploring the area.

In 2016, Hirome Bar opened, adding an area where visitors can casually enjoy Italian, Spanish, French, and other dishes that pair well with alcoholic beverages. The entire market is bustling from daytime through the evening, making it a popular destination not only for lunch and dinner but also for bar-hopping and sampling food from one shop to another.

Hirome Market is also known as a place where local residents and tourists can naturally interact. At the shared tables, it is not unusual for people seated next to one another to strike up casual conversations. The opportunity to experience the warm and friendly nature of the people of Kochi is another unique attraction of the market.

The market is within walking distance of major attractions in central Kochi, including Kochi Castle, the Kochi Castle Museum of History, and the Sunday Market, making it easy to visit during a day of sightseeing. Many travelers follow the popular itinerary of visiting the market before or after touring Kochi Castle and enjoying Kochi’s local cuisine.

Hirome Market is one of Kochi’s premier gourmet destinations, where visitors can savor local cuisine and regional sake while experiencing the lively atmosphere of the market and interacting with local people. With its casual, free-form food-stall style, the market offers a wide variety of dishes as well as shopping and tourist information. It is a popular attraction that should not be missed when visiting Kochi.