Why You Should Visit
An exhibition marking 80 years since the first Thomas the Tank Engine book was published. See about 40 original picture-book illustrations rarely shown in Japan, the author's handwritten drafts, and models and scripts used in filming the TV series. A Sodor Island diorama and digital hands-on corners round out the show, with a special illustration and audio guide by actor Rihito Itagaki. Rewarding for children and grown-up Thomas fans alike.
Events
Events nearby & around the same time
Other events happening around the same time or in a similar area.
3/27 - 3/31
EXPO Legacy HYOGO Stamp Rally
Various locations across Hyogo Prefecture (Hyogo Field Pavilion sites & Expo Legacy facilities)
6/20 - 8/30
The Endless World of Picture Books: Kaiseisha Children's Book Exhibition
Kobe Fashion Museum

3/14 - 7/5
Forest of Illuminations at Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens
Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway

4/17 - 8/16
Kimyoi Plants Exhibition in Rokkō Garden Terrace 2026
Rokko Shidare Observatory

7/1 - 7/29
Ultraman × Kobe Port Tower | 60th Anniversary Collaboration
Kobe Port Tower
Essentials
- location
- Main Gallery, 2F, Takarazuka Arts Center
- period
- May 2, 2026 (Sat) - June 28, 2026 (Sun)
- Time
- 10:00–18:00 (entry until 17:30); final day June 28 closes 15:30 (entry until 15:00). Closed Mondays and May 7 (open May 4)
- cost
- Adults ¥1,200 (advance ¥1,000); high school and younger ¥800 (advance ¥500); preschoolers free; disability certificate holders and one carer free
- Links
- Where to stay nearby
- access
- About a 7-minute walk from Takarazuka-Minamiguchi Station (Hankyu), or 10 minutes from Takarazuka Station (Hankyu/JR).
- TAGS
- NOTE
- [Highlights]
- About 40 original picture-book illustrations
- Rare materials including the author's handwritten drafts
- Models, scripts and footage from the TV series
- Sodor Island diorama
- Digital hands-on corner
- Special illustration and audio guide by Rihito Itagaki
* Closed Mondays and May 7 (open May 4)

ホテル グレースイン宝塚
Based on Rakuten Travel listings. Rates and availability may change.
FAQ
How much is admission for children?
Are there closed days?
Related
People who read this also read
- Local Buzz
6 Best Glamping & Villas on Awaji Island, 1 Hour from Kobe [2026]
Just one hour from Kobe across the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge, Awaji Island is home to a growing number of private glamping resorts and villas. We compare 6 top properties for 2026 — from hilltop bridge views to pet-friendly all-inclusive stays, exclusive one-group villas, and a new wellness retreat designed by Pritzker laureate Shigeru Ban.
- Openings & Closings
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.
- Openings & Closings
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'.
- Events
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.
- Local Buzz
Daimaru Kobe 'Kyo-Kyoryuchi Beer Garden' 2026 — Pick Your Length: 60, 120, or 180 Minutes, From April 22
Daimaru Kobe runs its Kyo-Kyoryuchi Beer Garden from April 22 to October 13, 2026. The new format lets you choose a 60-, 120-, or 180-minute slot from 3,800 to 7,000 yen (general), with around 30 dishes and 40 drinks across the 10th-floor Pizza House Italico and the 11th-floor open terrace.
Events
What to do in Kobe this weekend?

6/20 - 6/21
Hyogo Kobe Ennichi 2026
Kobe Meriken Park

6/20
Kobe Port Weekend Fireworks – Jun 20, 2026 | An Early Summer Night Show by the Harbor
Meriken Park

6/20 - 6/21
Nada Gogo Sake Fair in Kobe-Sanda
Kobe-Sanda Premium Outlets

6/25 - 6/28
Craft Beer General Election 2026 in Kobe | Taste Craft Beers and Vote for Your Favorite
Sankita Hiroba (Sannomiya)
6/29 - 6/30
Platz Craft Beer Garden 2026
Sannomiya Platz

7/1 - 7/29
Ultraman × Kobe Port Tower | 60th Anniversary Collaboration
Kobe Port Tower
Explore