Sankayou (サンカヨウ / Diphylleia grayi) flowers are now at their peak at Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden on Mt. Rokko in Kobe. The garden expects visitors to enjoy the blooms through late April 2026.
Sankayou: A Flower That Turns Transparent in Rain
Sankayou flowers are normally white, but when dampened by morning dew or rain, they absorb moisture and their petals become transparent — giving them a glass-like appearance. The flower has attracted widespread attention on social media for this unusual and striking characteristic.
Sankayou (Berberidaceae) / Diphylleia grayi
A perennial herb growing on the forest floor of deciduous and coniferous woodlands, Sankayou blooms for only about 5 to 7 days after the buds open. The berries that follow are a powdery indigo color and are edible.
In Chinese, "荷葉 (kayou)" refers to lotus leaves. Since Sankayou's distinctive leaves resemble those of a lotus, the plant was given its Japanese name "Sankayou" (山荷葉). While the transparent petal effect is well known, the transformation takes time and the blooming window is short, making it a genuinely rare sight.
The Sankayou at Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden are currently at peak bloom, with the display expected to continue through late April.
Event: "Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden × Koyomi Life: Flower Day"
An exhibition linking the traditional 72-season Japanese calendar (shichijuniko) with the colors of flowers, along with a flower-collecting stamp rally, is running during the open season. Alpine flowers from the Alps, the Himalayas, and Japan's mountain regions can be enjoyed in a setting that encourages visitors to appreciate the changing seasons.
Dates: Through July 12 (Sunday), during the open season
Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (ticket sales end at 4:30 PM)
Admission: Free (separate garden entrance fee required)
Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden: Opening Information
Open Season: Through November 29 (Sunday) ※ Some closure days apply. Check the official website for details.
Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (ticket sales end at 4:30 PM)
Admission:
- Adults (middle school and older): ¥900
- Children (ages 4 to elementary school): ¥450
Parking: ¥1,000 (¥2,000 on busy days during Golden Week)
※ Operations and events may be changed or cancelled due to inclement weather.
Nearby: "Harmony of Garden" Fair at ROKKO Mori no Oto Museum
ROKKO Mori no Oto Museum, a five-minute walk from Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden, is hosting the "Harmony of Garden" fair — themed around the coming together of garden, music, and art during the flower season.
During the fair, visitors can experience natural sounds including music, instruments, and birdsong in the "SIKI Garden — Sound Promenade." Outdoor artworks are also on view against the seasonally changing garden landscape. The event is designed around engaging all five senses with genuine nature, live performances, and art.
Dates: March 14 (Saturday) to August 21 (Friday), 2026
Venue: ROKKO Mori no Oto Museum
Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (ticket sales end at 4:30 PM)
Closed: Every Thursday during the fair ※ No closures from July 17 (Friday) to December 2 (Wednesday), 2026
Admission: Adults (middle school and older) and children (ages 4 to elementary school); ages 3 and under free
Flowers in Season During the Fair
Concert Without Performers — Harmony of Garden
Music related to "waltz," "concerto," and "symphony," as well as pieces inspired by plants, is performed on automatic instruments including antique music boxes.
※ Contents may be changed at short notice depending on crowd conditions.
Dates: March 14 (Saturday) to August 21 (Friday), 2026
Performance Times: 10:00 AM / 11:00 AM / 12:00 PM / 1:00 PM / 2:00 PM / 3:00 PM / 4:00 PM (each session approx. 30 minutes)
Sample Program:
- "Waltz of the Flowers" from the ballet The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky)
- Piano Concerto No. 21, 2nd Movement (Mozart)
- Symphony No. 9 "From the New World," 2nd Movement (Dvořák), and more
Outdoor Art Zone
Outdoor works from "Kobe Rokko Meets Art," a contemporary art festival, are on display.
Works on display:
- Mayu Ueda — Daikon
- Yayoi Kusama — Pumpkin (special loan)
- Risa Sato — Kohachi
- Hiraki Sawa — shadow step
- Ruri Takahashi (※1) — Spending Time Between Our Two Secrets
- Yoshitomo Nara — Peace Head
- Hideki Nishida — fragile distance A-A', B-B', C-C' (point A point B)
※1: The "高" in Takahashi is written with the ladder character form (はしごだか)
Official website: https://www.rokkosan.com/
