Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden ~Pure White Flowers Heralding Spring~ A Colony of "Asian Skunk Cabbage" is Now in Full Bloom!

At the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden operated by Mt. Rokko Cable Car & Tourism Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nada-ku, Kobe; President: Akitaka Senoo), the colony of "Asian skunk cabbage," a flower that heralds the arrival of spring, is now in full bloom. In northern regions such as Hokkaido and the Tohoku area, the flowers that announce spring are said to be "Asian skunk cabbage" and "Kobushi magnolia" rather than "cherry blossoms." At the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden as well, Asian skunk cabbages are blooming one after another as the temperature rises.

To allow visitors to experience the charm of the Asian skunk cabbage at a closer distance, we have newly installed a photo spot in the garden. You can observe the fresh flowers right in front of your eyes without stepping into the wetland area, and you can take special photographs. Please enjoy the scenery that you can only encounter right now.

◆ Asian Skunk Cabbage (Araceae family)
The Asian skunk cabbage, famous in the song "Memories of Summer." While it reaches its best viewing time in early summer in Oze, it is popular as a flower heralding spring at our garden. The most prominent white part is a modified leaf called a "spathe," and the yellow part blooming as if wrapped inside is a cluster of flowers.

At the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden, we cultivate about 600 Asian skunk cabbages so that you can view them in an environment close to nature. The pure white, clear scenery spreading across the wetland area is expected to be enjoyable until mid-April.

■ Event Information: "Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden × Koyomi Seikatsu - Hanabiyori"
An exhibition of the 72 micro-seasons calendar and flower colors, as well as a flower collection stamp rally will be held. Enjoy and cherish the time of the four seasons along with the flowers of the Alps, the Himalayas, and Japan's alpine plants.
[Dates] During garden opening periods until Sunday, July 12th
[Hours] 10:00-17:00 (Ticket sales end at 16:30)
[Admission Fee] Free (A separate garden admission fee is required)

◆ Events held at neighboring facilities
■ Overview of the "Harmony of Garden" Fair
At the ROKKO Morinone Museum, located a 5-minute walk from the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden, we will hold a fair themed on the harmony between the "garden" entering its flower season and the highlights of this facility, "music" and "art." During the period, you can experience natural sounds such as music, musical instruments, and the chirping of birds along with the nature of the "SIKI Garden ~Sound Promenade~" (hereinafter referred to as SIKI Garden) inside the facility. Additionally, you can appreciate outdoor art along with the scenery of the garden that changes with each season. In these times when opportunities to see and hear things digitally have increased, this is a fair where you can take home "discoveries" and "realizations" by appreciating authentic nature, live music, and art using your five senses.
[Dates] Saturday, March 14, 2026 - Friday, August 21, 2026
[Venue] ROKKO Morinone Museum
[Business Hours] 10:00-17:00 (Ticket sales end at 16:30)
[Closed Days] Every Thursday during the fair period *Open every day from Friday, July 17, 2026 to Wednesday, December 2, 2026
[Rates] *Adult = Junior high school students and above, Child = 4 years old to elementary school students, free for 3 years old and under