Japan in 1841 and rescued by whaling captain William H. Whitfield of Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Whitfield brought the young Manjirō back to Fairhaven and New Bedford at the end of the whaling voyage, and Manjirō spent several years there before eventually making his way back to Japan. Because of this history, Tosashimizu became the sister city of both Fairhaven and New Bedford in 1987. He became popular as John Manjirō after Ibuse Masuji depicted him in his novel John Manjiro. The Castaway: His Life and His Adventures. Wildlife tours There are several wildlife tours popular on Ashizuri peninsula; wildlife swims are organized in the town of Iburi on the foot of Ashizuri peninsula. Whale shark swim Whale sharks migrate off the Ashizuri Peninsula between June and September, and some are kept captive in a cage 300 m offshore. Ocean sunfish swim Between April and the end of July each year, ocean sunfish are kept in a net cage 10 m by 10 m and 5 m deep. When the water temperature rises, they release the fish into the wild. Whale watching Whale watching is also offered on the east side of the peninsula, based at Kubotsu town to the middle and Shimonokae to the north. The Shikoku Pilgrimage The Shikoku Pilgrimage passes through the city, and the longest stretch of 80.7 km on the route is between the 37th temple () in Shimanto and the 38th temple () on Cape Ashizuri. Descending from toward Tosashimizu, there is , a small wayside hermitage 28 km from Kongōfuku-ji. It was designated to provide a free lodging for pilgrims on that section, where people could also leave their luggage while visiting Kongōfuku-ji, come back to Shinnenan and continue on to the 39th Enkō-ji in Sukumo 50.8 km away. Roadside stations Mejikano sato Tosashimizu roadside station is near scenic Tatsukushi along route 321. Mejika means sōdagatsuo (frigate mackerel) in the local dialect, and they manufacture and sell sōdabushi, the main sea food produce of the city, processed for demonstration at the factory at the back of the store for direct selling. Farm produce is also sold at this roadside station. References External links City office, Tosashimizu city Tosashimizu Tourist Association Shikoku Pilgrimage in Kochi - official website for Shikoku Hachijū-hakkasho Reijokai Cities in Kōchi Prefecture Port settlements in Japan Populated coastal places in Japan