A Climbable Illumination Experience TOTTEI Launches Its First-Ever Christmas Market

This winter, the waterfront district of TOTTEI in Kobe’s Shinminato area will host its very first Christmas event. Titled “Kobe TOTTEI Christmas Market 2025,” the event runs from Friday, December 12 to Thursday, December 25, with free admission throughout the period.

Set against an open, seaside location where the ocean feels close at hand, TOTTEI invites visitors to experience a new kind of Christmas—one where music, illumination, and a festive market come together to create a uniquely local holiday atmosphere.

The Festival Begins with a Lighting Ceremony
A New Kind of Illumination—One You Can Climb
Winter Delights at TOTTEI’s First Christmas Market
Event Information

The Festival Begins with a Lighting Ceremony

The event officially kicks off on Friday, December 12, with a special illumination lighting ceremony. Marking this memorable moment is the creative music unit otsumami feat. mikan.

An illumination lighting ceremony by the creator unit “otsumami feat. mikan.”

For Kobe TOTTEI Christmas Market 2025, the group composed an original theme song especially for the event. During the ceremony, they performed two songs, including the gentle and uplifting “Collecting the Stars,” instantly setting a warm and festive mood for the season.

They performed songs including the Christmas market’s image song, “Hoshi o Atsumete (Gather the Stars).”

A New Kind of Illumination—One You Can Climb

The “Green Hill” transformed into a walkable, climbable illuminated installation.

By day, TOTTEI offers sweeping views of the sea and sky. After sunset, however, the area transforms. From around 5:00 p.m., the nightly event “Kobe TOTTEI Illumination Night” begins, revealing a completely different side of the waterfront.

The highlight is “Green Hill,” the symbolic landmark of TOTTEI PARK. For the Christmas season, it becomes a climbable, immersive illumination, glowing in festive colors. Rather than simply viewing the lights from afar, visitors can walk up the hill and place themselves inside the illumination—a hands-on experience unlike traditional light displays.

G-Lion Arena also lit up with festive Christmas lighting.

Adding to the atmosphere, GLION ARENA KOBE is also illuminated with Christmas-themed lighting, enhancing the festive ambiance throughout the area.

Winter Delights at TOTTEI’s First Christmas Market

Food trucks lined the park, offering warm drinks and seasonal treats.

Sharing the spotlight with the illuminations is TOTTEI PARK’s first-ever Christmas market.

Visitors can enjoy seasonal favorites such as hot wine, hot chocolate, and roasted chicken—perfect companions for chilly winter evenings. Holding a warm drink while feeling the sea breeze creates a cozy, memorable nighttime experience.

At the heart of the market, shops offer authentic Christmas goods imported from Germany, along with TOTTEI-original Christmas mugs, making it an ideal place to look for unique holiday gifts.

Strolling through the Christmas market amid the illuminations adds to the festive fun.

Hands-on workshops are also available, where visitors can create their own wreaths, ornaments, or original straps. These handmade items become keepsakes from the day, offering enjoyment for both adults and children alike.

To delight younger guests, Santa Claus will make special appearances on December 24 and 25, handing out sweet treats to children of elementary school age and younger—making this an especially family-friendly event.