“Kobe Rokko Meets Art 2026” Runs Until November 29; Getting Around About 60 Artists’ Works, Including Yayoi Kusama’s “Pumpkin,” and Tickets

“Kobe Rokko Meets Art 2026 beyond,” a contemporary art festival staged on top of Mt. Rokko in Kobe, runs until Sunday, November 29. Launched in 2010, the festival is now in its 17th edition, running for a total of 93 days from Saturday, August 29. About 60 artists and groups present works at ten venues on the mountaintop, including the ROKKO Forest Sound Museum, the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden and the Church of the Wind (Chapel on Mt. Rokko) designed by Tadao Ando. It is organized by Rokkosan Kanko Co., Ltd. and Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd.

The 17th edition’s theme is “beyond,” with mountaintop architecture and nature as venues

The theme “beyond” reportedly expresses an attitude of deeply understanding the stories of the land and then drawing in what lies beyond them: unknown sensibilities, intersections with other cultures and new questions. The general director is Yoshino Yamakawa of Rokkosan Kanko. The festival is co-organized by the Rokko-Maya Tourism Promotion Council, with Kobe City and Hankyu Hanshin Holdings providing special grants and sponsorship.

The venues include buildings that are normally closed to the public and facilities that have returned as venues after a long absence. The Church of the Wind, designed by Tadao Ando, is normally closed and is opened as an exhibition venue only during the festival. The Rokko Shidare Observatory (maximum elevation 888 meters), designed by Hiroshi Sambuichi and completed in 2010, has returned as a festival venue for the first time in four years. At the Rokkosan Silence Resort, the former Rokkosan Hotel restored under the direction of Michele De Lucchi, De Lucchi himself takes part in a special exhibition.

For this edition, the organizers set out four pillars: promoting the appeal of nature and culture, strengthening the lineup of participating artists, developing a hub area and creating opportunities for children to encounter art. The hub area being developed is the ROKKO Forest Sound Museum, which can be visited together with the adjacent Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden. The fact that the festival is organized by a railway company and a tourism company and uses the mountaintop tourist facilities themselves as venues reflects its character.

What can be seen? Yayoi Kusama’s “Pumpkin” and the open-call grand prix work

About 60 artists and groups take part: 58 participating artists and groups, one special exhibition and one specially deposited work. In the list of works on the official website, works are concentrated at three venues: 17 at the ROKKO Forest Sound Museum and Shin-ike Pond, 15 in the Church of the Wind Area and 12 at the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden.

In the “SIKI Garden: Sound Walk” at the ROKKO Forest Sound Museum, Yayoi Kusama’s large three-dimensional work “Pumpkin” (2014) is on display. It is a specially deposited work entrusted by its owner and has been on view since March 14. In the same area, Yoshitomo Nara’s “Peace Head,” on continuing display since 2025, and Hiraki Sawa’s “shadow step,” on continuing display since 2024, can also be seen. Kyota Takahashi, who creates public projections with light and video, presents “Fruits of Light in SIKI Garden.”

The Church of the Wind Area features “Crossing a Bridge That Does Not Reach” by Koji Tanada, who continues to carve human figures from single blocks of wood (ichiboku-zukuri), and “Nigimitama” by brain scientist Nobuko Nakano. At Tenrandai, right by the cable car’s summit station, a new video work by Ryo Inoue is on display.

In the open-call section, the prizes were decided after a second round of judging from among 15 open-call artists. The grand prix (prize money of 1.5 million yen) went to reiko tsubota’s “Shifting the Dusk” (Rokko Garden Terrace Area). It is an installation in which the setting sun strikes mirrored objects placed on a slope and the light is reflected onto the ground and surroundings; according to the official website, its viewing hours have been changed to “until sunset.” The runner-up prize went to Mitsuru Noda’s “Monster Tree” (Church of the Wind Area).

Areas and how to get around: paid and free venues, and the mountaintop bus

The paid venues, which require a viewing passport, are Tenrandai, Banno Sanso, the Museum Area (ROKKO Forest Sound Museum and Shin-ike Pond, Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden), Kaihatsu-san’s Hut, the Rokko Shidare Observatory and the Church of the Wind Area. The Rokko Cable Car (lower and summit stations), the Hyogo Prefectural Mt. Rokko Visitor Center (Kinenhidai), the Rokko Garden Terrace Area and the Rokkosan Silence Resort (former Rokkosan Hotel) can be visited free of charge.

Venues are generally open from 10:00 to 17:00, with some variations. The festival is open every day, but the Rokkosan Silence Resort is closed every Monday (or the following weekday if Monday is a holiday). Opening hours as of October 19 on Rokkosan Kanko’s official website are as follows: the ROKKO Forest Sound Museum and the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden are open 10:00–17:00 (admission until 16:30), the Rokko Shidare Observatory 10:00–21:00 (admission until 20:30) and Tenrandai 7:10–21:00.

The Rokko Sanjo Bus is said to be convenient for traveling between facilities. The official model course (Day Pass, about 7 hours) goes up the mountain on the Rokko Cable Car and heads to the Church of the Wind on the mountaintop bus. After the Rokko Shidare Observatory and Rokko Garden Terrace, it continues to the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden and the ROKKO Forest Sound Museum and Shin-ike Pond, finishing at Tenrandai next to the cable car’s summit station. The autumn leaves at the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden are said to be at their best from late October to late November.

Some works cannot be seen. Chu Chih-Kang’s “Dialogue” at the Hyogo Prefectural Mt. Rokko Visitor Center was closed to viewing for maintenance as of October 9. Yukihisa Ito’s “Invaders” at the Rokkosan Silence Resort cannot be viewed from 10:00 to 15:00 on Saturday, October 24, because of an event.

At the same resort, three works cannot be seen all day on Saturday, October 31, because the old building is reserved for a private function: Rio Sasaki’s “Road and People,” Michele De Lucchi’s “MONOFIORE 2024 MONOFIORE 2025” and the Kyoto University of the Arts graduates’ “Rokkosan Silence Resort Collection.” The resort’s operating schedule can be checked on its official calendar.

Tickets and prices: the Day-and-Night Pass, Day Pass and Night Pass

Paid venues are entered with a viewing passport. Adults are junior high school students and older, children are ages 4 through elementary school, and children 3 and under are free. Prices are as follows (web discounts for adults only).

• Day-and-Night Pass: adults 4,300 yen (web discount 4,200 yen), children 1,800 yen. Gives entry to all paid venues and to “Forest of Light” in the evening

• Day Pass: adults 3,300 yen (web discount 3,200 yen), children 1,300 yen. Gives entry to all paid venues (Forest of Light not included)

• Night Pass: adults 2,000 yen (web discount 1,950 yen), children 1,000 yen. Valid on the day of use only, on days when Forest of Light is held

The Day-and-Night Pass and the Day Pass allow one entry to each paid venue during the festival. Because entry is recorded venue by venue, the passes can be used over two or more days, and re-entry is permitted on the day of entry. Day Pass holders who add a Night Pass on the same day pay 1,400 yen for adults and 700 yen for children by showing their Day Pass at the window. Refunds are not available after purchase.

Web-discount passports are exchanged for paper passports at exchange counters on the mountain. Vouchers to be issued at a convenience store must be printed before arriving, since there are no convenience stores on the mountain. Exchange counters are located at each paid venue and at Rokko Yusan Information Center Shop 737 inside the Rokko Cable Car summit station (not for Night Passes). Adult tickets are also sold until November 29 at counters in the city, such as Hanshin and Hankyu stations and the Kobe City Information Center (Night Passes not available).

“Forest of Light: A Night Art Walk” is a nighttime-only light art program at the ROKKO Forest Sound Museum and the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden, held from 17:00 to 20:00 on weekends and holidays until November 29. No reservation is needed, but passport sales at the on-site counters end at 19:00. As a same-day bonus, the Night Pass includes entry to Tenrandai during its evening hours, but not to the Rokko Shidare Observatory. The official catalogue (A5, 120 pages) costs 1,980 yen (tax included) and is sold at Shop 737 and the shops at each venue.

Access: the Rokko Cable Car, value tickets and driving

By public transportation, the trip takes about 50 minutes from central Kobe and about an hour from central Osaka. The official website recommends routes that transfer to Kobe City Bus (Route 16 and others) from Hanshin Mikage Station, JR Rokkomichi Station or Hankyu Rokko Station. The Rokko Cable Car covers the 1.7 km between its lower and summit stations in about 10 minutes, with fares of 800 yen one way (400 yen for children) and 1,550 yen round trip (780 yen for children). From the Arima Onsen side, the ropeway reaches the summit in about 12 minutes.

The “Rokko-Maya Leisure Ticket,” which covers Hanshin or Hankyu trains, Kobe City Bus, the Rokko Cable Car and transportation on the mountain with a single ticket, costs 3,350 yen for the Hanshin version and 3,500 yen for the Hankyu version (adults only). It is sold at the ticket windows of designated Hanshin and Hankyu stations until November 30 and cannot be bought on the mountain. The Rokko Cable Car and the Rokko Sanjo Bus accept cash and credit cards with contactless payment, such as VISA and JCB; IC cards cannot be used.

If you are driving, “ROKKO Forest Sound Museum” or “Rokko Garden Terrace” is said to be a convenient destination to set in car navigation. It takes about 40 minutes from the Kobe side and about an hour from the Osaka side. Most venues have parking, and a shared parking ticket (1,000 yen, unlimited use for one day) is available for the ROKKO Forest Sound Museum, the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden and the Rokko Garden Terrace Area. Note that some venues cannot be reached by car. Other events in November are compiled in our November 2026 art event calendar, and art festivals across Japan in our [2026–2027] art fair and art festival calendar.

Frequently asked questions

Can I see everything in one day?

The official model course covers the main daytime venues in about 7 hours. Since passports can be used over two or more days, you can also plan to visit on separate days. The model course that adds the evening “Forest of Light” takes about 3 hours.

Can I take photos?

Except for works whose captions say photography is prohibited, you may take photos for personal enjoyment and post them on blogs and social media. The conditions are that you do not damage the works or disturb other visitors; commercial use requires contacting the festival office in advance and obtaining permission.

What should I wear, and what about the weather?

Hiking gear is not necessary, but comfortable shoes are recommended because there are dirt and gravel paths and slopes. In October and November, temperatures on the mountain are 5 degrees or more lower than in the city, so warm clothing is needed. If wind and rain are strong enough to be dangerous, for example during a typhoon, some works may be withdrawn from display.

Overview

Name: Kobe Rokko Meets Art 2026 beyond
Dates: Saturday, August 29 – Sunday, November 29, 2026
Hours: 10:00–17:00 (varies by venue). “Forest of Light: A Night Art Walk” 17:00–20:00 on weekends and holidays
Closed: Open every day during the festival (the Rokkosan Silence Resort is closed every Monday, or the following weekday if Monday is a holiday)
Venues: Mt. Rokko summit area (Museum Area, Rokko Cable Car, Tenrandai, Hyogo Prefectural Mt. Rokko Visitor Center, Banno Sanso, Kaihatsu-san’s Hut, Rokko Garden Terrace Area, Rokko Shidare Observatory, Church of the Wind Area, Rokkosan Silence Resort)
Admission: Viewing passport: Day-and-Night Pass adults 4,300 yen, children 1,800 yen; Day Pass adults 3,300 yen, children 1,300 yen; Night Pass adults 2,000 yen, children 1,000 yen (web discounts available for adults)
Organizers: Rokkosan Kanko Co., Ltd., Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
Co-organizer: Rokko-Maya Tourism Promotion Council
Official website: https://rokkomeetsart.jp/
*Information as of October 19, 2026. Please check the official website for the latest information.

*Top image: from a press release by Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd.

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on press releases from Rokkosan Kanko Co., Ltd. (June 1 and August 27, 2026) and information on the official website.

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team