Tove Jansson and the Moomins: In Search of Something Special 2026

Dates & time: October 10, 2026 (Sat) - December 13, 2026 (Sun) 9:30–17:30 (until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays). Last entry 30 minutes before closing
Price & booking: Same-day: adults ¥2,200 / university students ¥1,100 / high school and younger free
Advance (sales ended Oct 9): adults ¥2,000 / university students ¥1,000 Tickets are sold through the exhibition's official online ticketing, asoview!, e+, Lawson Ticket (L-code 55746), Ticket Pia (P-code 996-120), Seven Ticket (code 116-055), KKday, Rakuten Travel and others. Advance ticket sales ended at 23:59 on Friday, October 9; same-day tickets are now on sale. The full list of outlets is on the Kobe venue site.
Venue & access: Kobe City Museum About a 10-minute walk southwest from Sannomiya Station on any line. The museum has no parking, so use a nearby paid lot if driving.

There are 12 car parks within a 12-minute walk of Kobe City Museum, and 2 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.

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Why You Should Visit

The Kobe stop of a touring exhibition marking 80 years since the first Moomin novel, organized with the Helsinki Art Museum (HAM). Around 300 works trace the career of Moomin creator Tove Jansson (1914–2001): early oil paintings, wartime satirical drawings, original illustrations and sketches for the novels and comics, and personal belongings. One highlight is a life-size projection of the roughly 7-meter mural she painted for a kindergarten. The museum stays open until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, and entry is free for high school students and younger — a good pick if you want to see Jansson as a painter, not just the characters.

NOTE

Closed

Mondays (open on the October 12 and November 23 holidays)
Tuesday, October 13 and Tuesday, November 24

What's on show

Jansson the artist: early oil paintings, magazine illustrations, and sketches for hospital and kindergarten murals
More than 250 works featuring the Moomins and friends (novels, comics, picture books, character sketches)
A life-size projection of the mural "Fairy Tale Panorama" and video installations based on the novel illustrations

Set tickets & discounts

Advance pair ticket (2 adults) ¥3,800, ticket agencies only
Set ticket with átoa (adult admission to both): ¥4,300 advance / ¥4,600 same-day
Kobe residents aged 65+: half the adult same-day price with ID
Free with a disability certificate

Audio guide

Narrated by actress Anne
Rental at the venue: 650 yen

Curator talks

Every Saturday during the exhibition, 17:00–17:30 (doors 16:30)
Basement auditorium, 140 seats (same-day, first come first served)
Free with a ticket valid for that day

Merchandise

Kobe-exclusive sacoche bag 1,650 yen (limited quantity)
Original plush 3,520 yen (one per person), mug 2,420 yen, Mymble bag 2,970 yen, and more

Local tie-ups

Show a receipt from Caffarel, Kobe Minato Onsen Ren, Le Pain Sohonten, THE ORIENT, or one of 19 Potomac-run restaurants for 200 yen off an adult same-day ticket (100 yen off for university students); conditions vary by venue
The same discount applies with a Kobe Rokko Meets Art 2026 beyond passport (until November 29)
Spend 1,080 yen or more at MINT Kobe, Kobe Kokusai Kaikan SOL, EKIZO, or Kobe Marui to get an original exhibition sticker (limited quantity)

Related events around town

Moomin × Kobe Port Tower: a part of KOBE (October 10 – November 30)
Special projects by Kobe Shoin Women's University students (planned for the museum cafe and elsewhere)

* Details are subject to change

Sannomiya Culture Art Rainy Day Family Half Day

出典: PR TIMES（株式会社アクアメント）　©Moomin Characters™

Kobe · Gluten-free

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FAQ

Do I need to book a time slot?

The official information does not mention timed-entry reservations. Advance ticket sales ended on October 9, so buy a same-day ticket during the exhibition (advance tickets already purchased are valid).

How much is it for children?

Entry is free for high school students and younger. Bring a student ID to show at the entrance.

Is it open in the evening?

Fridays and Saturdays are open until 20:00 (last entry to the galleries 19:30). On other days the museum closes at 17:30.

Can I use a ticket bought for another venue?

Tickets are sold separately for each venue, and the organizers warn against buying one for the wrong city. Choose the Hyogo venue (Kobe City Museum) when purchasing.

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Tove Jansson and the Moomins: In Search of Something Special

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