The Tosashimizu Geopark Plan
The city of Tosashimizu spreads out on both sides of Cape Ashizuri in southern Kochi Prefecture. It occupies land formed by tectonic and magma-related activity millions of years ago, and has a mild climate thanks to the warm Kuroshio, also known as the Japan Current, which flows north from the East China Sea along Japan’s Pacific coast. This combination of tectonic and oceanic forces gave birth to the seaside landscape and ecosystems that have provided a livelihood for the local people, who have practiced fishing and agriculture here for centuries. Tosashimizu works to conserve and highlight this unique natural environment and the seaside lifestyles it supports, and to pass the legacy on to future generations.