12th KOBE Kutsu Marche

Kobe Goes German for Golden Week — Kobe Oktoberfest 2026 Opens May 1

Kobe Oktoberfest 2026 runs May 1–10 at Takahama Quay, Kobe Harborland. Now in its 11th year, the event features 12 German beer brands including Japan debut releases, authentic food stalls, and daily live music from German folk bands. Around 60,000 visitors expected.

Hydrangeas in Bloom at Kakogawa's Enshoji Temple | ~90 Varieties, Peak Through Around July 5

At Enshoji Temple in Shikata-cho, Kakogawa, more than 350 hydrangea plants of around 90 varieties are in bloom. The city says the peak lasts through around July 5, the staggered bloom relay through early July, and the overall season through mid-July. A rain-friendly flower temple, home to rare varieties like Hakujuko, which shifts from white to red.

Halal-Friendly Japanese Restaurant 'Honolu Premier Kobe' Opens in Sannomiya on May 26

Honolu Premier Kobe, a halal-friendly Japanese restaurant, opened in Kobe’s Sannomiya area on May 26, 2026. The restaurant offers authentic Japanese cuisine including rich chicken paitan ramen, premium wagyu dishes, vegan options, and more — all prepared to halal standards.

The Veranda Kobe: 4 New Spots Open with Forest-Floating Terraces and a 5m Hammock Net

The Veranda Kobe, the mountaintop resort above Shin-Kobe, is renewed in April. The terrace area roughly triples in size with four new spots — Garden Terrace, Emerald Lounge, Sky Bar and Hammock Sanctuary — featuring terraces that float above the forest, water mirrors reflecting sky and greenery, and a hammock net suspended about 5m above the ground. About 10 minutes by ropeway from Nunobiki Ropeway 'Herb Garden Sanroku Station'.

NIGHT PICNIC 2026 Opens May 26 — Four Nights in Kobe's Higashi Yuenchi Park

NIGHT PICNIC 2026 takes place May 26–29 at Higashi Yuenchi Park in Sannomiya, Kobe. Themed 'Dress code: unguarded,' 58 rotating food vendors and 13 programs light up the night park. Free admission. A pre-opening preview.