As the leaves turn orange and the air gets crisp, the city of Kobe, Japan, is gearing up for a Halloween season like no other. With a variety of events planned across the city, there’s something for everyone, from families with children to adults looking for a night of fun. In this guide, we’ll cover four major Halloween events that you won’t want to miss:
Kobe Halloween Events 2023
Rokko Island Halloween Festival 2023
Event Details
- Date: October 28th (Saturday) & 29th (Sunday)
- Time: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Venue: Rokko Island River Mall Park, Event Plaza, and other locations in Kobe’s Higashinada Ward
- Organisers: Rokko Island Community Promotion Association
- Cost: Free to participate in most activities, some attractions start from 200 yen
Activities
- Costume Parade: Open to the first 500 people who register in advance. The parade starts at 11:30 AM on the 29th (Sunday).
- Costume Contest: Held on the 28th (Saturday) from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM.
- Performance Stage: Local dance teams and artists will perform from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Trick or Treat: Kids can go trick-or-treating at various shops around Rokko Island.
- Halloween Quest: A mystery-solving event aimed at elementary school students. The fee is 500 yen.
More details can be found here: http://www.rokko-island.com/halloween/ (Japanese)
Motomachi Halloween Festival 2023
Event Details
- Date: October 29th (Sunday)
- Venue: 3rd and 4th blocks of the Motomachi shopping street
- Organisers: Motomachi Shopping Street Association
- Cost: Free for children following any of Motomachi Shopping Street’s official social media accounts
Activities
- Face Painting: Located in the 3rd block of the Motomachi shopping street.
- Treasure Hunt: Kids can find numbers hidden by ghosts in the 4th block.
- Photo Spot: Capture memories with a special Halloween panel.
- Character Appearance: Motozukin-chan will be making appearances for photo ops.
More details can be found here: https://www.kobe-motomachi.or.jp/event/2023/10/halloween2023-34.html (Japanese)
UPDATED: There seems to be a bunch of different Halloween events happening across the whole Motomachi Arcade, find out all the details here (Japanese).
Daimaru Kobe Halloween 2023
Event Details
- Date: October 28th (Saturday) & 29th (Sunday)
- Time: 13:00 to 16:00
- Venue: Daimaru Kobe, 1st Floor Food Section & 5th Floor Children’s Clothing Section
- Target Age: Children up to elementary school age
Activities
- Trick or Treat: Staff wearing sashes that say “What’s the Halloween password?” will be giving out candy to children who say “Trick or Treat!” to them. Note that the candy giveaway will end once all the candy is gone.
- Halloween Mask Giveaway: On the 1st floor near the east escalator, Jack-o’-lantern and ghost masks will be given away. High school students from Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Commercial High School will assist in finishing the masks.
Special Halloween Food Items
- Morozoff Pumpkin Pudding: A large-sized pudding made with Hokkaido pumpkin paste, milk, eggs, and cream. Priced at 1,080 yen (tax included).
- Peshurezan Super Short Apple and Pear Ghost: A tall Halloween cake topped with red and white apple and pear ghosts. Priced at 1,296 yen (tax included).
- Kobe Yo Geiki Confectionery Halloween Short: A colourful cake made with pumpkin and purple sweet potato cream. Priced at 500 yen (tax included).
Additional Information
- All items are available until October 31st or until sold out.
- High school students from Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Commercial High School will be participating in the event.
This event at Daimaru Kobe offers a variety of activities and special Halloween food items that are perfect for families with young children. From trick-or-treating to mask giveaways and delicious seasonal treats, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So, if you’re in Kobe during the Halloween season, make sure to check out this event for a spooktacular time!
Visit the official event page for all the latest details https://www.daimaru.co.jp/kobe/2023halloween_kobe/ (Japanese)
KOBE Halloween Night Fes 2023
This event is more for the grown ups held across 5 days with a variety of restaurants participating. Although Halloween is only 2 weeks away, details are still a little scarce and the website still has a lot of “coming soon” sections.
Event Details
- Date: October 27th (Friday) to October 31st (Tuesday)
- Venue: Various locations across Kobe
- Organisers: FoodFes Corporation
- Cost: Varies depending on the activity
Activities
- KOBE BAL: A food crawl featuring over 200 participating restaurants and eateries across Kobe.
- KOBE Night Fes: On October 28th, enjoy live DJ performances, bands, and special Halloween-themed shows.
- KOBE Halloween: On October 29th, a fashion show and stage event will be held in the Kitano area of Kobe.
Additional Information
- Influencer Expo Collaboration: Influencers will be invited to promote products and services at various booths.
- How to Enjoy the Festival: Attendees will be provided with a special badge that allows them to enjoy limited menus at various establishments.
More details can be found here: https://kobehalloween.foodfes.jp (Japanese)
Kobe is the place to be this Halloween, with a range of events that cater to all ages and interests. Whether you’re looking to participate in a grand costume parade at the Rokko Island Halloween Festival, enjoy family-friendly activities at the Motomachi Halloween Festival, or experience a unique night of food and entertainment at the KOBE Halloween Night Fes, Kobe has got you covered. So put on your best costume, mark your calendars, and get ready for a Halloween season you won’t soon forget!
