Nora Clock (野良時計)

Flow of the course

About this spot

A white-walled clock tower standing alone amid the rice fields, long cherished as a symbol of Aki City. In an era when clocks had not yet spread to every household, landowner Genma Hatanaka is said to have taught himself how clocks work, repeatedly taking one apart and reassembling it, and built this hand-made tower clock himself. Because it told the time to people working the fields, it came to be called 'Nora Dokei' ('field clock'). Nearby remains Idokaku-chu (土居廓中), a former samurai residence townscape lined with hedges and plastered walls, and strolling through it along with the clock tower is the classic route for sightseeing in Aki. The city is also home to the birthplace of Yataro Iwasaki, founder of the Mitsubishi Group, so end your day with a historical walk from the clock tower to the streets that still carry traces of the old castle town.

Tips

The inside of the clock tower is not open to the public, so viewing is from the outside only. It takes about 30 minutes to walk from Aki Station, so a rental bicycle from Jibasan Ichiba is convenient. If you plan to visit Idokaku-chu as well, wear comfortable walking shoes. It's reassuring to check the time of your return train in advance.

Best time to visit

About 2 hours (including a walk through Idokaku-chu). Evening, when the setting sun softly lights up the white-walled clock tower, makes for a picturesque scene.

Access & map

〒784-0042 高知県安芸市土居６３８−４