Time really does fly as only two weeks remain of this year. In December and January, especially from the Christmas to new year holiday period, a wide variety of fun events will be organized on Mt. Rokko and Mt. Maya. It’s the perfect time to enchant your year-end with beautiful Christmas decorations and illuminations, dazzling winter day and nighttime views, and the memorable first sunrise of the year. Check out the latest information about the Christmas, year-end, and new year events as well as the public transportation schedules in the area.
◇Christmas Event◇
〈Morinone Wonder Christmas 2022〉
Period: until December 25th (Sun)
Venue: Rokko Morinone Museum
The remarkable Christmas tree, which was gorgeously decorated with fascinating German ornaments, has been showing its beautiful and heart-warming presence in the Museum. Please visit and indulge in Morinone’s wonderful Christmas atmosphere while enjoying the Christmas concert performed by mechanical musical instruments and taking a look at your favorite items from hand-made craftworks and artworks.
Source: Kobe / Mt. Rokko official outing site
https://www.rokkosan.com/top/season_event/%e3%82%a4%e3%83%99%e3%83%b3%e3%83%88/18164/?lang=en
〈Christmas Illuminations at Rokko Garden Terrace〉
Brilliantly illuminated “Rokko-Shidare Observatory” and “Miharashi Observation Tower” will definitely make your Christmas occasion with friends and family members way more romantic, and unforgettable.
About the opening hours during the Christmas period↓
https://www.rokkosan.com/top/news/%E5%85%AD%E7%94%B2%E3%82%AC%E3%83%BC%E3%83%87%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%A9%E3%82%B9/18668/?lang=en
〈Xmas Special Dinner at Mt. Rokko〉
It would be a great idea to relish a wonderful Christmas dinner at “Granite café (Rokko Garden Terrace)” or “Tenran Café (Rokko Cable Sanjo Station)”. Also, “Rokko View Palace (Rokko Garden Terrace)” will exclusively offer their window-side tables with splendid night views for only 10 groups (20 seats). They are all accepting reservations now!
https://www.rokkosan.com/top/season_event/view/18669/?lang=en
◇Nenmatsumoude (Traditional Year-end temple visit) ◇
◇Hatsumoude (Traditional New Year’s temple visit) ◇
<Mayasan Tenjoji Temple (Mt. Maya)>
Nenmatsumoude
Joya Shingyoue (Year-end gathering for the Buddhist Sutra chanting)
Joya no Kane (New Year’s bell ringing)
Source: ROKKO-SAN DAIGAKU http://653daigaku.com/faculty/13804/（Japanese）
Opening hours:
9 am ~ 5 pm on December 31st, 10 pm (22:00) ~ 2 am (26:00) on January 1st, 2023
Event schedules and venues:
Joya no Kane 11:30 pm (23:00) ~ at the precinct
Joya Shingyoue 0 am (24:00) ~ at the Kondo main hall
Hatsumoude (New year’s prayer)
Traditional Japanese hot ginger tea called Ameyu will be served from January 1st to the 3rd.
Source: ROKKO-SAN DAIGAKU http://653daigaku.com/faculty/13871/(Japanese)
Mayasan Tenjoji Temple is one of Kobe’s most popular locations for Hatsumoude (New year’s prayer). As Maya Viewline (public transportation) will run from the early morning on January 1st, 2023, it would be easy to visit the temple to feel the refreshing mountain air, welcome and celebrate the new year.
Opening hours:
January 1st: 6 am-5 pm
January 2nd and 3rd: 9 am-5 pm
◇Rokko Garden Terrace◇
Opening hours for Year-end and New year period
<Rokko-Shidare Observatory>
The observatory will open early in the morning in accordance with the first sunrise of the year.
Opening hours:
On December 31st, 2021: 10 am – 6 pm (last admission: 5:30 pm)
On January 1st, 2022: 5:30 am – 8:30 am (last admission 8:00 am)
Admission free: 500 yen
<Rokko View Palace>
The View Palace will be ready to welcome you throughout the night from the New Year’s Eve to the New Year’s Day.
Business hours:
On December 31st, 2022: 10:30 am – 6 pm (last call: 5:15 pm), 10 pm – 9 am (January 1st, 2023 / *Only a to-go menu is available.)
Source: Kobe / Mt. Rokko official outing site
<Rokko Garden Terrace Parking Lot>
Opening hours and parking fees:
On December 31st, 2022: 9:30 am – 6 pm (fee: 1,000 yen), 10 pm – 9 am on January 1st, 2023 (last admission: 8:30 am) (fee: 2,000 yen)
Detailed info about Rokko Garden Terrace during the year-end and new year is below↓
https://www.rokkosan.com/top/news/%e5%85%ad%e7%94%b2%e3%82%ac%e3%83%bc%e3%83%87%e3%83%b3%e3%83%86%e3%83%a9%e3%82%b9/18761/?lang=en
〈TENRAN CAFÉ(Mt. Rokko)〉
Business hours:
On December 31st, 2022: 11 am ~ 8:00pm (last call: 7 pm)
Official website:
https://www.rokkosan.com/top/eat/tenran_cafe/?lang=en
◇Public Transportation Services (New Year’s schedule) ◇
<Maya Viewline>
https://koberope.jp/%e3%82%a4%e3%83%99%e3%83%b3%e3%83%88/post-5193 (Japanese)
On January 1st, 2023:
The first train: 6 am (departing from Maya Cable Station)
Official Website: https://koberope.jp/en/
Related article is below↓
https://kobe-rokko.jp/en/events/1344/
<Rokko Cable Car (Bus replacement service)>
As the operation of the Rokko Cable Car has presently been suspended due to the car malfunction, please use the bus replacement service between Rokko Cable Shita Station and Rokko Sanjo Station.
Bus schedule on January 1st, 2023:
The first bus departs at 7:00 am
The last bus departs at 8:45 pm
(*both inbound and outbound)
*See the latest information↓
https://www.rokkosan.com/cable/?lang=en
