The Mid-Autumn Festival is a seasonal celebration held on the 15th night of the eighth lunar month, when people admire the moon and give thanks to the earth deities for the autumn harvest. The full moon on this night is said to be the roundest and most beautiful of the year.
Nankinmachi holds its Mid-Autumn Festival every year as its second-largest event after the Nankinmachi Spring Festival. This year, the night of the mid-autumn moon falls on September 25 (Friday). Alongside lion dance and tai chi stage performances at Nankinmachi Square, the event features a "Moonlight Kitchen," where visitors can sample dishes by Yoshikazu Takasugi of Hontakasagoya, a recipient of the "Contemporary Master Craftsman" honor, and Manabu Takahara, deputy head chef of "Shukeien" at Kobe Portopia Hotel and a member of the Hyogo branch of the Chinese Culinary Association of Japan. A "Fukudama" lottery draw and a "Mid-Autumn Special Thanks Festival" are also planned.
Lawson, which has held a comprehensive partnership agreement with the City of Kobe since 2014, is releasing four products timed to Nankinmachi's Mid-Autumn Festival. Developed under the supervision of chefs from well-known Nankinmachi restaurants, the products let customers enjoy Nankinmachi's authentic flavors at home.
1. Festival Overview
Name: The 29th Mid-Autumn Festival
Dates: September 25 (Friday) to 27 (Sunday), 2026
Organizer: Nankinmachi Shopping District Promotion Association
Support: Kobe Tourism Bureau
Highlights:
- Chinese lion dance and traditional performing arts on stage (Nankinmachi Square)
- The "Fukudama" gapon lottery draw, offering common vouchers usable at Nankinmachi member stores (Nankinmachi Square)
- The "Moonlight Kitchen," featuring dishes by Yoshikazu Takasugi of Hontakasagoya, recipient of the "Contemporary Master Craftsman" honor, and Manabu Takahara, deputy head chef of "Shukeien" at Kobe Portopia Hotel (Nankinmachi Square)
- Limited-time mooncake sales
The program is subject to cancellation or change due to weather or other circumstances.
2. Collaboration Products with Lawson
From September 15 (Tuesday), the products go on sale at about 2,500 Lawson stores across two urban prefectures and four prefectures in the Kinki region (as of the end of August 2026).
Product: Nankinmachi-Supervised Sesame-Scented Fried Rice Onigiri
Price (tax included): ¥203
Rice, egg, and onion are stir-fried with a salt, pepper, and soy sauce-based seasoning, then finished with a touch of sesame oil and shaped into an onigiri. The rice ball offers the mild taste of egg, a pleasant saltiness, and the aroma of sesame oil.
Product: Nankinmachi-Supervised Onigiri Bento (Chinese Okowa-Style)
Price (tax included): ¥559
This bento combines three Chinese okowa-style onigiri with spaghetti, meatballs, a sausage, a rolled omelet, and zasai and nozawana pickles. Each of the three onigiri is topped differently: one with shrimp, one with char siu pork, and one with bamboo shoots and shiitake mushroom.
Product: Nankinmachi-Supervised Egg Tart Pie
Price (tax included): ¥216
A crisp pie crust is topped with a custard filling made by blending two types of custard cream with fresh cream, then baked.
Product: Nankinmachi-Supervised Malagao (Red Bean Paste)
Price (tax included): ¥167
A rich dough aged with soy sauce is steamed into this Chinese-style steamed cake, filled with smooth red bean paste.
For Visitors
- Nearby parking will be crowded during the event, so please use public transportation.
- Chartered buses should use the Motomachi District Chartered Bus Stop (inquiries: 0120-31-8924).
- Please follow the instructions of staff, security guards, and police officers on the day of the event.
