Ōtoyo, Kōchi

Ōtoyo (大豊町, Ōtoyo-chō) is a town located in Nagaoka District, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan in the mountainous district of central Shikoku. The Yoshino River (吉野川) and Ananai River (穴内川) both flow through Ōtoyo. It is the only municipality in Shikoku where over 50% of the population is aged over 65.

History

On March 31, 1955 the villages of Higashitoyonaga, Nishitoyonaga, Ōsugi, and Tentsubo joined to form the village of Ōtoyo. The name Ōtoyo came from taking the Ō (大) in Ōsugi (大杉, Ōsugi) and the Toyo (豊, Toyo) in Toyonaga (豊永, Toyonaga). Following this, a section of Ōtoyo was absorbed into the town of Tosayamada (present day Kami, Kōchi). On the April 1, 1972, the village became a town.

The town has two buildings that are recorded on Japan's National Cultural Properties list, Buraku-ji Yakushi-dō and the former Tajikawa Bansho Shoin.

Population and demographics

As of 2010, the town has an estimated population of 4,962 and a density of 15.75 persons per km². The total area is 314.94 km².

Events

• Osugi Summer Festival

• Otaguchi Summer Festival

• Wild Game Festival

• Fukujuso Flower Festival

Tourist sites

• Sugi no Osugi (杉の大スギ, Sugi-no-Osugi)

• Yutoristo Park (ゆとりすとパークおおとよ, Yutorisuto Koen)

• Whitewater Rafting - Due to its prime location on the Yoshino River and its proximity to Oboke Gorge Otoyo is the location of a large number of rafting companies.

Ryuo Waterfall (龍王の滝, Ryuonotaki)	Mount Kajigamori (ja:梶ヶ森, Kajigamori)	Hibari Restaurant (ひばり食堂, Hibari Shokudo)

Local products

• Goishicha (fermented tea)
• Yuzu lemon juice
• Wild Game

Transportation

Train

• Tosa-Iwahara Station
• Toyonaga Station
• Ōtaguchi Station
• Tosa-Ananai Station
• Osugi Station (Express Train)
• Tosa-Kitagawa Station
• Kakumodani Station

Road

Expressway

Kochi Expressway, Ōtoyo Interchange

National Highways

Route 32, Route 439 and Route 492

External links

Media related to Ōtoyo, Kōchi at Wikimedia Commons

• Ōtoyo official website (in Japanese)