Kobe Nankinmachi Mid-Autumn Festival 2026

About this event

The Mid-Autumn Festival held in autumn in Kobe's Nankinmachi (Chinatown) is a seasonal celebration on the night of the full moon on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, where people admire the harvest moon and celebrate abundant harvests. Starting in 1998, it is held over three days on a scale second only to the Spring Festival (Lunar New Year). The first day features the food event "Moonlight Kitchen," while the second and third days feature traditional Chinese performing arts on stage at Nankinmachi Plaza. Throughout the event period, visitors can enjoy the "Fukkyu" raffle where everyone wins a prize, the participating stores' "Mid-Autumn Special Gratitude Fair," altar visits/prayers, and the sale of mooncakes. Viewing is free, making it easy to drop by while sampling street food. Mooncakes are pastries shaped round like the full moon, symbolizing "family harmony and reunion," and it is customary for families to cut and share them together while wishing for everyone's happiness. In Nankinmachi, mooncakes with a wide range of flavors such as pine nuts, chestnuts, walnuts, red bean paste, and fruit are sold, alongside original mooncakes available exclusively for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Venue

Nankinmachi (Kobe Chinatown)

1-3-18 Sakaemachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0023