Kobe City is the capital of Hyogo Prefecture, located west of Osaka Prefecture. The city, which has flourished as a port town for generations, is full of gorgeous, diverse scenery, from retro European buildings to its bustling Chinatown. Visitors from abroad adore this popular spot, which is easily the top tourist city in Hyogo Prefecture.

Mt. Rokko is the highest peak in the Rokko mountain range, which sits north of Kobe City and stretches about 30 km from east to west. The gorgeous mountain is covered with abundant nature and adored by Kobe residents as the perfect spot for hiking, camping or any number of other outdoor activities. This venerable symbol of Kobe, Mt. Rokko, serves as the grounds for the Kobe Rokko Meets Art festival.

Your trip to Japan this year will undoubtedly feature the ongoing Expo 2025 Osaka (World Expo) as a highlight. The venue is located in Yumeshima, Osaka, approximately an hour and a half by train from Kobe. You can also take the convenient shuttle bus from Sannomiya in central Kobe. We recommend planning an ambitious trip that includes both the art festival and Expo 2025 Osaka.

Tourist facilities on top of Mt. Rokko serve as the main venues for the Kobe Rokko Meets Art festival, where visitors can enjoy art in an open-air environment. Since the first event in 2010, over 580 artists have participated. The theme of this year's festival, which will be the 16th iteration, is "Perspectives and Thoughts on the Environment." The event aims to be an art festival that encourages visitors to consider environmental issues from a broader and more diverse perspective, all while enjoying the nature and art of Mt. Rokko, a symbol of Kobe.

Internationally renowned artist Yoshitomo Nara will be the highlight of the 2025 edition!
More than 60 artists from Japan and around the world are scheduled to participate this year. Among the invited artists is Yoshitomo Nara, one of Japan’s leading artists. His work, “Peace Head,” will be permanently displayed inside the SIKI Garden: Sound Nature Trail at the Rokko Musical Box Museum & Gardens MORINONE, the main venue, and will continue to be exhibited after the festival ends.

This year, the festival will also feature workshops designed to give children the opportunity to experience contemporary art surrounded by nature, making the festival more enjoyable than ever for people of all ages.

Kobe Rokko Meets Art offers a myriad of exciting things to do. Here are six tips to help you take it all in. If you check these out before you go, you can easily make the most of the festival.
*Photo is from 2024.

1. Take the Rokko Cable Car, which travels up the mountain to the venue

At the foot of Mt. Rokko, hop on the Rokko Cable Car, which began operation in 1932. There are two types of cable cars, classic and retro. Both types feature two connected cars, a box car on the upper half and an observation car on the lower half, which is a rare configuration for a cable car unlike any in the world. Once at the top, the "Rokko Sanjo Bus" conveniently connects the various art sites. Since the exhibits are spread across a wide area, make the most of your visit by purchasing a 1-day bus pass or a combined ticket for both the cable car and bus to travel freely and efficiently between the venues.

2. Open to the public only for this festival! Tadao ANDO's Chapel of the Wind

The Church of the Wind, which sits atop Mt. Rokko, was designed by Tadao ANDO, one of Japan's most highly regarded architects. This church, along with the Church of the Light in Osaka and the Church on the Water in Hokkaido, form Tadao ANDO's Trilogy of Churches. Visitors are generally not allowed to enter the building, but the church will be open to the public especially for the festival. Additionally, artwork will be exhibited in the plaza on the site of the hotel that once stood near the church.

3. Stand-out works at Rokko Musical Box Museum & Gardens MORINONE

The Rokko Musical Box Museum & Gardens MORINONE is the main area for this art festival, where you can relish the sounds of the forest and the natural world. Artworks will be exhibited in various places within the area, including in the SIKI Garden: Sound Nature Trail, where various sound-producing objects wait to be discovered, and in the MORINONE Hall, where self-playing instruments create a unique symphony.

The Outdoor Art Zone in the SIKI Garden: Sound Nature Trail continues to display artwork even after the festival ends. The emotions and atmosphere of each piece change depending on the time of day and the season. Tourists and anyone else passing through can enjoy an encounter with contemporary art.

4. Enjoy gorgeous natural landscapes and artwork joined at the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden

The Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden takes excellent advantage of the Rokko mountain range's uniquely cool climate to house approximately 1,500 types of alpine and cool-weather plants, including varieties native to the Rokko area and mountain wildflowers from around the world.

In this garden, plants thrive in a nearly wild environment. Visitors can experience seasonal natural scenery and enjoy the guided flower tours, offered daily. Most years from mid-October to mid-November, a variety of artworks are displayed against the background of autumn leaves.

5. Breathtaking views at the Rokko Garden Terrace Area
Nestled near the summit of Mount Rokko, at about 880 meters high, the Rokko Garden Terrace is one of Japan's premier viewpoints. From the Viewing Terrace enjoy stunning views of the Rokko mountain range, the Seto Inland Sea, and the cityscape below. As you explore the art pieces scattered throughout the area, don't miss the chance to relax at the restaurants and cafes boasting spectacular views, or to browse the shops offering official art festival merchandise.

6. View art while hiking a mountain!? The Trail Area

The Trail Area is a veritable outdoor gallery where artworks are exhibited along a hiking route bathed in sunlight filtered through a canopy of leaves. Hikers can immerse themselves in Mt. Rokko's rich natural landscape and culture while viewing artwork. This is a hike through the mountains, so it's best to wear comfortable shoes, a long-sleeved top and long pants. Make sure to grab an official guide map to avoid getting lost.

As you leisurely explore the expansive venues and your appetite grows, take a break to enjoy some delicious cuisine. Stop by the various restaurants and cafes scattered throughout the Kobe Rokko Meets Art sites. There, you can savor festival-exclusive dishes made with local ingredients, including Kobe pork, milk from the Rokko foothills, and honey harvested from Mount Rokko, known as "yamamitsu."

Be sure to check out the official festival merchandise that includes everyday items adorned with the festival's logo, the mountain. Treat yourself to pies and candies made with yamamitsu, the honey produced by bees from flowers blooming on Mount Rokko, all branded with the festival's logo. These make perfect souvenirs to remember your visit or to share with family and friends.

The nighttime event Hikari no Mori - Night Art Stroll will start in late September. For the first time this year, the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden will showcase the DANDELION PROJECT, an interactive art project by Ryotaro Muramatsu/NAKED.INC. conveying a message of peace. Additionally, video and light artworks by Yasuaki Kagii and Kyota Takahashi will be exhibited at the Rokko Musical Box Museum & Gardens MORINONE. Some of the artworks on display at both venues will be illuminated, giving them an aura totally distinct from their daytime appearance.

Here's another special tip for those visiting the art festival. Arima Onsen, one of Japan's three most famous ancient hot springs, known as the "hidden retreat of Kansai" and loved by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (ancient Japanese samurai and warlord), is just a 12-minute ride from the top of Mount Rokko via the Rokko Arima Ropeway. Why not enjoy the art festival during the day and unwind with an overnight stay at Arima Onsen?

So, how do you get to Mt. Rokko? From Osaka Umeda Station, take the Hankyu Railway to Rokko Station (about 35 minutes), then take the Kobe City Bus to Rokko Cable Shita Station, the gateway to the mountain. Taking buses or walking, you can make it to every venue featured in the event. A recommended route showing how to visit every site will be available on the festival's official website before the event.

Multiple types of tickets are available. In addition to the Admission Passport, which grants admission to all venues that require a ticket, the special Passport with Night Pass lets you enjoy the nighttime event Light Forest-Night Art Stroll as well. Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at ticket counters in downtown Kobe or on Mt. Rokko.

If you are traveling in the Kansai region from summer to fall, we highly recommend attending the Kobe Rokko Meets Art festival. It will be a valuable experience to contemplate the world and society through the nature and art of Mt. Rokko.