Rokko Mountain Tourism Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nada-ku, Kobe; President: Akitaka Senoo) announces that Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden will begin its 2026 season on Saturday, March 14th.
As the winter cold begins to ease, visitors can enjoy views of Symplocarpus foetidus (Asian skunk cabbage) and clusters of Erythronium japonicum (katakuri), along with various alpine plants starting to emerge. Among them, the "phantom Christmas rose" Helleborus thibetanus is particularly rare, with only a limited number of facilities in Japan where it can be observed. On March 14th (Saturday), Naoki Yokoyama, a leading authority on Christmas roses and an instructor on NHK's "Shumi no Engei" (Gardening for Fun), will conduct a special guide. Additionally, the garden's planting advisor Mr. Kazuo Mori will also offer a special garden tour.
Helleborus thibetanus (Ranunculaceae)
This is the original species of the popular garden plant Christmas rose. It is the only species native to Asia. First discovered in 1869, it had no recorded sightings for 122 years afterward, earning it the nickname "phantom Christmas rose." Native to Sichuan Province, China, it prefers cool climates, making cultivation difficult in the Kansai flatlands. However, the garden successfully cultivates it outdoors by taking advantage of the cool mountain climate.
2026 Operating Information
Operating Period: March 14th (Saturday) to November 29th (Sunday)
Closed Days: Yes (Please check the website for details)
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Ticket sales end at 4:30 PM)
Admission Fees:
Adults (Junior high school age and older): ¥900
Children (Ages 4 to elementary school): ¥450
3-visit pass: ¥2,300 (¥767 per visit)
5-visit pass: ¥3,500 (¥700 per visit)
8-visit pass: ¥4,500 (¥563 per visit)
Parking Fee: ¥1,000 (¥2,000 during peak periods such as Golden Week and Obon)
Season Opening Events
Special Guide by Naoki Yokoyama for Season Opening
"Cultivation Methods Learned from Natural Habitats"
Naoki Yokoyama, who specializes in breeding and cultivating Christmas roses and cyclamen species, and is well-known from NHK's program "Shumi no Engei" (Gardening for Fun), will conduct a special garden tour. He will provide detailed explanations of the charms and characteristics of Christmas roses, cyclamen species, and Cyclamen coum while viewing the actual flowers blooming in the garden. Plant seedlings will also be available for purchase!
Date: March 14th (Saturday)
Time:
[Morning] 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
[Afternoon] 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Fee: ¥1,000 (Garden admission required separately)
★Includes a complimentary flower seedling from Yokoyama Nursery!
Capacity: 30 people (Advance reservations, first-come, first-served)
Instructor: Naoki Yokoyama (Yokoyama Nursery)
Special Garden Guide by Mr. Kazuo Mori
The popular garden tour by Mr. Kazuo Mori will be held again this year.
Date: Every third Saturday of the month
Time: 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM (Approximately 1 hour each)
Fee: Free (Garden admission required separately)
Instructor: Kazuo Mori (Garden Planting Advisor)
Reservations: Not required
April 1st (Wednesday) to July 12th (Sunday), 2026
New Event "Hana Biyori" — Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden × Koyomi Seikatsu Confirmed!
Located near the summit of Mount Rokko, Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden offers encounters with alpine plants from the Alps, Himalayas, and Japanese mountains. To coincide with the best flower-viewing season, the garden will hold its first collaborative event with "Koyomi Seikatsu," a web media operated by Shin-Nihon Calendar Co., Ltd.! The exhibition hall will feature panel displays exploring the 24 solar terms and 72 microseasons, as well as an installation expressing the garden's 900 flower species through Japanese traditional colors. Outdoors, visitors can participate in a "Flower Collection Stamp Rally" where collecting stamps creates an illustration. Original merchandise featuring the main visual illustration will also be available for limited sale.
For more details, please visit the website: https://www.rokkosan.com/hana/
Rokko Mountain Portal Site: https://www.rokkosan.com/
