From Away to Kochi! "Kochi's charm and experience" heard from 15 supporters

Kochi United SC has been a member of J3 since 2025. Many away supporters from outside the prefecture visit the home game. The appearance of enjoying food, sightseeing, and interaction with the citizens of Kochi after watching soccer is exactly the charm of "Away Tourism".
This time, we interviewed 15 supporters who actually came to Japan at the Giravanz Kitakyushu match, AC Nagano Parseiro match, and Zegen Kanazawa match between June and July.

June 21, 2025 | Supporters of Giravanz Kitakyushu

From Kitakyusyu, take a long time to Kochi by car. Many people said, "It's farther than I expected," but were looking forward to the food and nature beyond that.

"They prosper unexpectedly. I thought it was more rural.” (2 years old supporter). The two of you who were the first raitaka)

"Kochi Castle was magnificent, and I was surprised by the cityscape that felt history rather than reconstruction," said Takeuchi and his wife, who first visited Kochi from Kitakyushu City.

"The Anpan-Man tram train is cute!" (Hanada's parent and child of the first high school)

"Gather stamps with Ryoma passports. We plan to extend our foot to Shimanto River” (Kochi is the third time. Two people from Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture)

"I'm here thanks to the promotion of Kochi United SC. "I wanted to go to Nikobuchi" (from Kitakyushu City, the first Kozono couple of Kochi)

Kochi would not have visited without a match. Watching football is creating a new journey.

June 29, 2025 | Voice of AC Nagano Parseiro Supporter

A big move from Nagano using a JR airplane. There were many voices saying, "I want to see the sea!" And many comments that touched the charm of food.

“The high school baseball is strong, the climate is warm. I also wanted to go to Ryukawa-dong” (the third Kochi in seven and a half hours on JR). Koike couple who visited from Nagano Prefecture)

"Ponzu from Umaji Village is delicious! The Hirome Market is also lively." (No. 3 Kohei Tomita's four-member team. From Nagano Prefecture and Ehime Prefecture.)

"I visited Katsura-hama Beach, Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Hall and Oboke Koboke" (20 years as a supporter). Mrs. Ogawa in Kochi for the first time)

"The people of Kochi are warm and interesting. It's amazing that there are natural grass grounds everywhere." (The parents of No. 17 Kyoji Kutsuna. From Ehime Prefecture.)

"The bonito is too delicious. I can’t eat anything else anymore! I like the atmosphere of Kochi!” (Mr. Yamazaki, who lives in Tokyo, from Nagano)

Many supporters realized the charm of Kochi, which has three beats "food, nature, and personality".

July 12, 2025 | Voice of Zegen Kanazawa Supporter

Kanazawa supporters who visited Ishikawa, Fukui, Mie and Tokushima for a long time from Hokuriku to Shikoku. Despite being far away, there were many voices saying "I love Kochi!"

"I've come to Kochi to see the first sunrise. I've never met anyone who speaks badly about Kochi. Next time, I would like to come to see the real Yosakoi.” (Nakashima, who dances Yosakoi in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, and Ikebata, president of the Zegen Kanazawa Blind Soccer Team)

"There is a tram and traffic access is good. "I want to go to Katsura-hama Beach and Kochi-jo Castle" (Aoyama-san, who is the first high school by train from Fukui Prefecture)

"The food is delicious, and the people in Kochi have strong alcohol. I'm happy to be able to play in Shikoku." (No. 11 Kyohei Sugiura's friend, Fujita of Mie Prefecture and Hayashi of Tokushima Prefecture)

"I'm usually a Kochi United SC supporter, but I'm supporting Kanazawa today! I'm a Kochi citizen, but I love Kochi." (No. 8 Keisuke Oyama's wife from Kochi and Ninomiya's family)

"The food is delicious, the nature is rich, and Kochi has only fun memories. The atmosphere of the venue is like a festival.” (Sister Shinomiya and Nishitani from Tokushima Prefecture)

In addition to sightseeing and food, many people cited "Yosakoi" as the reason for the next visit, and watching soccer was a catalyst for cross-season exchange.

Summary| A new form of journey created by “far away but glad to come”

The 15 supporters we met in three games had in common.

• Impression of food (katsuo, eel, yuzu ponzu, Hirome market gourmet)
• Impressment of nature and history (Katsura-hama Beach, Kochi Castle, Shimanto River, Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Hall)
• The warmth and distance of citizens of the prefecture, the heart of hospitality

“Without the game, I might not have come to Kochi. A lot of words were heard, but it was good to come.”
Kochi, who visits after watching soccer, seems to be giving supporters a "special experience of travel" not only to matches but also to matches.

Why don't you visit Kochi as an away supporter next weekend?