Kochi Ryoma Airport KCZ

Kōchi Ryōma Airport is in the city of Nankoku, about 13 km east of central Kōchi, on the southern coast of Shikoku island. It is named after Sakamoto Ryōma, the local hero of the late shogunate era, and in 2003 became the first airport in Japan named after a person. It is a regional airport with domestic flights, and handled around 1.35 million passengers in 2015. For many travellers it is the quickest way to reach Kōchi, which is a long way overland from Osaka, Okayama and the rest of Japan.

Terminals

There is a single two-storey terminal: arrivals on the ground floor and departures on the first floor up. Everything is in the same building, so there are no transfers between terminals.

Airlines and destinations

The main routes are domestic: Tokyo-Haneda, Osaka-Itami, Nagoya and Fukuoka. ANA (including ANA Wings), Japan Airlines and Fuji Dream Airlines operate here. Frequencies and some routes change with the season, so check the timetable before booking.

Services

The terminal has souvenir and local-produce shops, restaurants and an observation deck for watching planes. Do not expect the range of a large airport: it is a small-to-medium regional airport with the basics well covered.

Tips

The runway is 2,500 m, enough for medium-sized aircraft, but this is not a connecting hub: if you are transferring to a long flight at Haneda or Itami, leave a comfortable margin in case of delays. The area is exposed to typhoons in late summer and early autumn, when it is worth keeping an eye on your flight status. Carry some yen in cash just in case.