Kobe Rokko Meets Art

Kobe Rokko Meets Art is a contemporary art festival held annually on Mt Rokko in Kobe. Now in its 16th year, the event is a diverse celebration of culture, nature and art.

Running from August 23 to November 30, the mountain’s forests, terraces, gardens and venues are transformed into sculpture parks, open-air exhibitions and light and sound installations. Plus, it’s less than an hour from Osaka, making it a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy nature while admiring art this autumn.

This year’s focus, ‘Environmental Perspectives and Thought’, aims to inspire conversations about nature, history and culture, particularly the power that natural monuments like Mt Rokko have in shaping our world view. The work of over 60 artists from Japan and abroad will be on display, including Michael Lin, Winter/Hoerbelt and Yoshitomo Nara, whose famous Peace Head will become a permanent installation at the site.

This year also sees Ryotaro Muramatsu’s world-touring Dandelion Project come to Mt Rokko as its 65th venue. On weekends and holidays, the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden will stay open late, allowing you to take an enchanting stroll and blow on giant dandelions that scatter laser beams and lights across the garden’s rocks, trees and alpine flora.

The best way to get there is by cable car: a ten-minute ride from Rokko Cable Shita Station takes you to the top of Mt Rokko, roughly 880 metres above sea level. From the Tenran Observatory, you’ll enjoy sweeping views of Kobe, the Seto Inland Sea and Osaka before heading off on an art-filled meander across the mountain.

Start at the Hyogo Prefectural Mt Rokko Visitor Center, whose garden becomes an open-air gallery, and then visit the Rokkosan Silence Resort, which will host works by Michele De Lucchi, the resort’s restoration architect. Next, head to the Rokko Musical Box Museum & Gardens Morinone and the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden. These core festival venues also offer cafés, toilets and other facilities.

From there, you have two options: explore the scenic Rokko Garden Terrace Area, where artworks are scattered among terraces, shops and eateries, or follow the quiet wooded Miyoshi Area trail, where you’ll find a statue of Kannon overlooking a spectacular view of Kobe.

The final stop is the Chapel of the Wind, one of renowned architect Tadao Ando’s trilogy of churches. Usually closed to the public, the chapel opens its doors just for the festival, transforming from a place of worship into a space for art.

For all venues apart from the Rokkosan Silence Resort, you can take the Rokko Sanjo Bus directly from the ropeway station. However, as temperatures on the mountain are generally lower than in the city, it’s actually quite enjoyable to walk between sites, and you’ll encounter more art along the way.

While it’s possible to see the festival in a day, consider spending the night at Arima Onsen, arguably Kansai’s best hot spring retreat. It’s only a 12-minute ride away on the Rokko Arima Ropeway.

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Getting to Mt Rokko from Osaka – all in about an hour

From Hankyu Umeda Station: Take the Hankyu Railway to Rokko Station, then transfer to the Kobe City Bus No. 16 or 106 for Rokko Cable Shita Station.

From JR Osaka Station: Take a train to Rokkomichi Station, then transfer to the Kobe City Bus No. 16 or 106 to Rokko Cable Shita Station.

From Hanshin Osaka-Umeda Station: Take the Hanshin Line to Mikage Station, then board Kobe City Bus No. 16 to Rokko Cable Shita Station