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.

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 520 artists have participated. The theme of this year's festival, which will be the 15th iteration, is "Find new perspectives." By taking guests on a journey out of the confines of their daily lives, the festival aims to immerse them in new perspectives and vistas untethered by conventional thinking.

Works from more than 60 artists, the festival's largest number ever, are scheduled to go on display. These truly unique artworks represent a diverse array of worldviews. In addition, artists from overseas have also been invited to broaden the festival's perspective to a global scale. Three artists from Asia, a hot spot for contemporary art, will participate: Hyunmin WOO from South Korea, Khvay Samnang from Cambodia, and Waft Lab from Indonesia.

Kobe Rokko Meets Art offers a myriad of exciting things to do. Here are five tips to help you take it all in. With these in mind, you can easily make the most of the festival.

1. Take the Rokko Cable Car up the mountain to the event 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.

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

The Chapel of the Wind, which sits atop Mt. Rokko, was designed by Tadao ANDO, one of Japan's most highly regarded architects. This chapel, along with the Church of the Light in Osaka and the Chapel on the Water in Hokkaido, form Tadao ANDO's Trilogy of Churches. Visitors are generally not allowed to enter the building, but the chapel 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 chapel.

3. Buzzing on social media: Art at the Rokko Musical Box Museum & Gardens MORINONE

One of the event's main venues is the Rokko Musical Box Museum & Gardens MORINONE, where you can relish the sounds of the forest and the natural world. In 2023, the museum garnered attention for displaying a variety of eye-catching works. This year, artwork will fill each area of the museum once again. This includes the Concert Room, where self-playing instruments create a unique symphony, and the 'SIKI Garden～ The Path of Sounds～,' where various sound-producing objects wait to be discovered.

The Outdoor Art Zone in the 'SIKI Garden～ The Path of Sounds～' 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. 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 in Mt. Rokko's gorgeous natural landscape 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.

The art festival will also span several other venues. These include the Rokko Garden Terrace, a scenic spot located at an altitude of 880 meters, and the Rokkosan Silence Resort, which occupies the former Rokkosan Hotel, which was established in the early Showa period (1926 - 1989). Restaurants and cafes nearby each venue offer visitors a break from taking in the artwork and unique views of Mt. Rokko.

A nighttime event, 'Lighting Forest-Night Art Stroll,' will begin in the latter half of September. Works created using light by artist Kyota TAKAHASHI, who is well known for his numerous large-scale projects using light and projections as a medium, will illuminate the Rokko Musical Box Museum & Gardens MORINONE and the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden. Artwork on display at the venue will also be illuminated, giving each work an aura totally distinct from its daytime appearance.

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.

At Kobe Rokko Meets Art, step into new landscapes and experience all new ways of thinking. This summer and fall, encounter impactful artwork and take a trip that will open your mind to brand-new worlds.