Why You Should Visit
A free live music series held on the second and fourth Thursday and Friday evenings of each month at Meriken Park. Running since May 2024, it features professional musicians — mostly Kobe-based bands and singers — with two acts per night from 18:00 for about two hours. The open-air stage sits against Kobe Port Tower and the harbour lights, and on nights with food trucks you can watch from the lawn with a drink in hand. No booking is needed, and the timing suits a stop on the way home from work.
Schedule
9月
10月
Programs
Timetable & Map
Essentials
- location
- Meriken Park
- period
- June 11, 2026 (Thu) - March 26, 2027 (Fri)
- Time
- 18:00〜20:00
- cost
- Free to watch (food and drinks from food trucks are paid)
- Kobe · Gluten-free
- access
- About 8 min walk from Minato-Motomachi Station (Subway Kaigan Line). By car, about 5 min from the Kyobashi exit of the Hanshin Expressway Route 3 (Meriken Park car park available)
- NOTE
Upcoming nights
- Thu Sep 24: Harubaruto / Takayuki Shiino (food trucks on site)
- Fri Sep 25: Nikoichi / SUHOING
- Thu Oct 8: Split end / Paparazzi Panic
- Fri Oct 9: line-up to be announced
How it works
- Held on the second and fourth Thursday and Friday of each month, a year-round series since May 2024
- Two acts per night, roughly two hours from around sunset
- Each month's line-up is posted on the official schedule
- Some nights are skipped when other events use the park
- In August the series runs as the Meriken Beer Garden special
- A contest-style expanded edition has been held in winter in some years
Performers
- Mostly artists active in Kobe live houses and the KOBE Machinaka Performance programme
- Applications from performers are accepted on the official site
Note: Nights may be cancelled in rain or bad weather. Check the official news page on the day
Basque cheesecakeBaked with rice flour, no wheat. Whole 12cm, serves 2-3¥4,700 incl. shipping (Japan only)There are 5 car parks within a 12-minute walk of Meriken Park, and 4 public restrooms within 8 minutes. The map shows each with its walking time.
Facility data comes from OpenStreetMap. It does not include opening hours, fees or availability.
FAQ
Do I need a reservation or a ticket?
What happens if it rains?
Can I buy food and drinks there?
Is it OK to bring children?
Calendar
Add it to your calendar so you can check back on it later.
Events
Events nearby & around the same time
Other events happening around the same time or in a similar area.
5/2 - 3/20
Kobe Port Weekend Fireworks 2026–27 | Weekend Fireworks off Meriken Park
Meriken Park
10/24
MASHUP FESTIVAL kobe 2026
TOTTEI PARK and other venues across the Kobe Bay Area
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4/11 - 10/4
Felissimo Chocolate Museum Special Exhibitions
Felissimo Chocolate Museum, Stage Felissimo 2F (Chuo Ward, Kobe)
12/30
KOBE MUSIC COMMONS 2026
GLION ARENA KOBE (2-1 Shinkocho, Chuo-ku, Kobe)
10/3 - 10/4
KOBE AUTUMN FESTIVAL 2026
Sannomiya Central Street to the Waterfront (pedestrian zone)
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Events
More events at this venue
5/2 - 3/20
Kobe Port Weekend Fireworks 2026–27 | Weekend Fireworks off Meriken Park
Meriken Park
6/11 - 3/26
Meriken Music Nights!
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9/18 - 9/23
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Meriken Park (Hatoba-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe)
9/21 - 9/22
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Meriken Park
10/19 - 10/23
Minato HANABI 2026 – Five Nights Over Kobe
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