ROKKO Autumn & Halloween Fair at ROKKO Forest Sound Museum

ROKKO Forest Sound Museum, operated by Rokko Mountain Tourism Co., Ltd. (headquarters: Nada-ku, Kobe City; President: Akitaka Senoo), will hold the "ROKKO Autumn & Halloween Fair" from August 29 (Saturday) to November 13 (Friday), 2026.

ROKKO Autumn & Halloween Fair Overview

This event features Halloween-themed photo spots in the natural garden "SIKI Garden – Sound Walking Path" (hereinafter, SIKI Garden), which makes the most of Mount Rokko's natural surroundings, along with music fitting for the season performed on antique music boxes and other automatic musical instruments.

Additionally, from August 29 (Saturday), 2026, the contemporary art festival Kobe Rokko Meets Art 2026 beyond and the nighttime event Hikari no Mori – Night Art Walk (details below) will also be held, letting visitors enjoy outdoor artworks and SIKI Garden at night.

Schedule: August 29 (Saturday) to November 13 (Friday), 2026

Time:

10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (ticket sales end at 4:30 PM)

*Hikari no Mori – Night Art Walk will be held Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from September 19 (Saturday) to November 29 (Sunday), 2026, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM (ticket sales end at 7:00 PM).

Daytime Event Highlights

(1) Concert Room

In the Concert Room inside Forest Sound Hall, the "Concert Without Performers – Autumn & Halloween –" will be held, featuring mysterious, fantastical music inspired by witches and other fantasy themes, performed on antique music boxes and other automatic musical instruments.

Additionally, during the final approximately 10 minutes of the ★-marked concert sessions below, the "Music Box Theater: Yoshitomo Nara's 'The Puppy Who Wanted a Friend'" will be performed. The picture book "The Puppy Who Wanted a Friend," illustrated and written by Yoshitomo Nara (published by Magazine House, first edition 1999), is projected onto a screen, accompanied by antique music box sounds and narration matched to each scene.

Schedule:

Concert Without Performers – Autumn & Halloween –

August 29 (Saturday) to November 13 (Friday), 2026

Music Box Theater: Yoshitomo Nara's "The Puppy Who Wanted a Friend"

August 29 (Saturday) to November 29 (Sunday), 2026

Time:

Weekdays

10:00 AM★ / 11:00 AM / 12:00 PM★ / 1:00 PM / 2:00 PM / 3:00 PM / 4:00 PM (approximately 30 minutes each)

Weekends & Holidays

10:00 AM★ / 10:30 AM / 11:00 AM / 11:30 AM / 12:00 PM★ / 12:30 PM / 1:00 PM / 1:30 PM / 2:00 PM / 2:30 PM / 3:00 PM / 3:30 PM / 4:00 PM (approximately 20 minutes each)

*Concert times may change suddenly in the event of crowding, such as from group visits.

Program Examples:

• "Merry-Go-Round of Life" from the film Howl's Moving Castle (composed by Joe Hisaishi)
• "The Phantom of the Opera" from the musical The Phantom of the Opera (composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber), and more

(2) Music Box Assembly Experience & Instrument-Making Experience

With support from music box artisans, visitors can choose their favorite song, case, and course (standard or advanced) to build their own original music box. Instrument-making experiences, such as castanets and tambourines, are also offered at the same times. Halloween-themed decorative items (from ¥330 each) are available as well.

Schedule: Held every business day

Meeting Time: See the schedule below for this event period

Price:

• Music box assembly experience: from ¥3,800

*Price varies by case and course. Admission fee required separately. Decoration item fees are also separate.

*The advanced course requires reservation via Jalan (by 9:00 AM the day before the experience) or by phone (078-891-1284, by 4:00 PM two days before the experience).

(3) SIKI Dome Forest Library

SIKI Dome Forest Library, renewed on April 25 (Saturday), 2026, offers relaxing spaces inside and around the dome where visitors can unwind with staff-selected books. During this period, Halloween-related and other autumn-appropriate books are available, and the dome's interior is decorated for the season.

*Available with admission fee only.

*Outside food and drinks are not permitted.

Schedule: Available every business day (may close for sudden maintenance)

Time: 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM

(4) SIKI Garden – Sound Walking Path

Mount Rokko's autumn foliage turns earlier than in the city, typically reaching its peak from late October to late November. The garden, rich in natural trees, is wrapped in natural autumn colors, and visitors can enjoy autumn flowers such as Japanese anemone. Photography using free Halloween-themed decorations, available for rental, is also recommended in the garden.

Schedule: Free Halloween-themed decoration rentals available August 29 (Saturday) to November 13 (Friday), 2026

Time: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Nighttime Event Highlights

Hikari no Mori – Night Art Walk (ROKKO Forest Sound Museum Area)

Visitors can view night-only artworks from Kobe Rokko Meets Art 2026 beyond, and enjoy the Forest Café's Twilight Café and Night Tree House in the lantern-lit garden.

Venue: ROKKO Forest Sound Museum, Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden

Price:

Night Pass — Adult ¥2,000, Child ¥1,000

*A Night Pass or Day & Night Pass is required to stay past 5:00 PM.

Schedule: Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, September 19 (Saturday) to November 29 (Sunday), 2026

Time:

5:00 PM to 8:00 PM (ticket sales end at 7:00 PM)

*Night Pass sales and admission begin at 4:00 PM.

*Twilight Café: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM (last order 6:30 PM). Museum Shop Toon closes at 7:30 PM.

Recommended Menu & Products at On-Site Shops During the Fair

Business Overview

Admission Fee:

Adult (junior high school and above): ¥1,700

Child (ages 4 to elementary school): ¥850

Operating Hours:

10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (ticket sales end at 4:30 PM)

*Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from September 19 to November 29, 2026: 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM (ticket sales end at 7:00 PM)

Closed Days: Open every day during this event period

Parking Fee: ¥1,000 per regular car

*¥2,000 per car on September 20 (Sunday) to September 22 (Tuesday, public holiday), 2026

About Kobe Rokko Meets Art 2026 beyond

This is a contemporary art festival set on Mount Rokko in Kobe. At this facility, in addition to Yoshitomo Nara's Peace Head, a permanent installation since last year, visitors can view numerous outdoor artworks by artists active in Japan and abroad, including Yayoi Kusama's Pumpkin, currently on special loan display.

Period: August 29 (Saturday) to November 29 (Sunday), 2026

Venues: Museum Area (ROKKO Forest Sound Museum, Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden, Shinike Pond), Rokko Cable (Rokko Cable Lower Station and Mountaintop Station), Tenrandai Observatory, Hyogo Prefectural Rokko Mountain Visitor Center (Kinenhi-dai), Banno Sanso, Kaihatsu-san no Koya, Rokko Mountain Silence Resort (former Rokko Mountain Hotel), Rokko Garden Terrace Area, Natural Experience Observatory Rokko Shidare, Wind Church Area

About Hikari no Mori – Night Art Walk

Period: Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, September 19 (Saturday) to November 29 (Sunday), 2026

Venue: ROKKO Forest Sound Museum, Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden

*Adult = junior high school age and above; Child = ages 4 through elementary school; free for age 3 and under.

*A "Free Admission for 2,000 Children" campaign is underway for ages 4 to 12. See the official website for details.

★Natural Experience Observatory Rokko Shidare is open 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. The 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM slot is accessible with a Day Pass or Day & Night Pass. Night Pass does not include admission to this venue.

Organizers: Rokko Mountain Tourism Co., Ltd., Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd.

Co-organizer: Rokko Maya Tourism Promotion Council

Special Grants & Sponsors: City of Kobe, Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Inc.

Grant: Kobe Culture Support Fund (public interest incorporated foundation)

Grant & Cooperation: Kobe Citizens' Cultural Promotion Foundation (public interest incorporated foundation)

*All prices include tax.

*Events without a listed price can be joined with admission fee only.

*Prices and stock availability may change without notice.

Mount Rokko Portal Site: https://www.rokkosan.com/