Tosa Province

Tosa Province was a historical region on southern Shikoku that extended along the Pacific coast. The area featured mountains, river valleys, and productive farmland, with its administrative center located in present-day Nankoku.

The region developed as a province during early imperial times and was later governed by the powerful Yamauchi clan from Kochi Castle during the Edo Period. This clan controlled the territory for generations and shaped its political development.

The name Tosa appears in classical Japanese literature through a famous 10th-century diary that portrays life in the region. This work remains influential in describing the local landscape and customs of that era.

Visitors can explore the historical region today through its geography on the Pacific side of Shikoku and its connection to modern cities like Kochi. Those interested in the past can find traces of the old province in Kochi Castle and surrounding cultural sites.

The province's name was given to a battleship of the Imperial Japanese Navy that became the lead vessel of its class. This ship remains a fascinating example of how historical regional names lived on in modern Japanese naval history.

Location: Nankaidō

Capital city: Nankoku

Part of: Chūgoku, 遠国

Shares border with: Iyo Province, Awa Province

GPS coordinates: 33.61639,133.40083

Latest update: December 6, 2025 21:21