Several kilometres east of the town centre is the mountain of Godaisan, where there are excellent views over the city from a lookout point (展望台). A short walk away at the top of the hill is Chikurin-ji (竹林寺), Temple 31. Descending the steps by the temple's Treasure House brings you to the entrance gates of the Kōchi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden , a beautiful network of gardens and parkland featuring more than 3000 different plant species.
The main hall of Chikurin-ji was built by the second Tosa daimyō, Yamanouchi Tadayoshi, in 1644. The extensive grounds also feature a five-storey pagoda and thousands of statues of the Bodhisattva Jizō, guardian deity of children and travellers. The temple's Treasure House hosts an impressive collection of Buddhist sculpture from the Heian and Kamakura periods; the same ticket gets you into the lovely late-Kamakura-period garden opposite.
The My-Yū bus stops at Godaisan, and you can also purchase a Godaisan one-day pass (¥300 for foreigners showing a passport upon purchase).
