Extended Hours for Holiday Explorers
To accommodate the influx of holiday visitors and enhance the Kobe waterfront area experience, the Felissimo Chocolate Museum will open an hour earlier than usual from December 27th to December 30th, 2025. During this period, the museum will welcome guests from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM (last entry at 5:30 PM). This early access provides a perfect starting point for a day of exploring Kobe’s many attractions, allowing ample time to immerse oneself in the world of chocolate before venturing to other nearby sites.
Sweet Rewards: Chocolate Gifts Await
Visitors have multiple opportunities to receive complimentary chocolates during the campaign period:
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Welcome♡Present Campaign: From December 27th, 2025, to January 4th, 2026, guests who purchase a set ticket for the museum and the “AQUARIUM×ART átoa” (an innovative aquarium-meets-art facility in Kobe) via the museum’s website in advance will receive a charming heart-shaped package of chocolates upon arrival. This thoughtful gesture allows visitors to fully enjoy both a visual feast at átoa and a sweet treat from the chocolate museum. Quantities are limited, so early booking is recommended. Tickets can be purchased here.
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Thank You Present Campaign: Starting December 27th, 2025, and continuing while supplies last, customers who spend ¥2,000 or more at the museum shop will also receive a heart-shaped chocolate package. This is a delightful way to express gratitude to patrons who support the museum and its mission, offering a sweet memento of their visit.
Crafting Cocoa Dreams: The Art Frame Workshop
For those seeking a creative outlet, the museum will host an “Oka-shi na Art Frame Deco Workshop” (Sweet Art Frame Decoration Workshop) on January 10th, 2026, the first Saturday of the New Year’s three-day weekend. This unique event will be led by artist Marimo Yoshida, who is currently featured in the museum’s special exhibition, “Taste Sweets with Your Eyes and Senses ~Patisserie marimo for everyday color~.”
Participants, from elementary school age to adults, will have the chance to create their own chocolate-motif art frames using resin chocolate cream and various decorative elements. It’s a playful, hands-on experience that transforms sweet inspirations into tangible art. Imagine squeezing resin cream like a pastry chef and adorning your frame with miniature chocolate-like charms – a truly unique artistic endeavor!
Workshop Details:
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Date: January 10th, 2026 (Saturday)
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Sessions: Morning (11:00 AM – 12:00 PM) and Afternoon (2:00 PM – 3:00 PM)
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Location: Stage Felissimo (Felissimo Headquarters) 3F Meeting Room (The Chocolate Museum is on 2F)
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Capacity: 20 participants per session (reservations required)
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Target Audience: Elementary school age to adults
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Participation Fee: ¥2,500 (tax included, materials included; museum admission not included)
Reservations for the workshop can be made online:
Meet the Artist: Marimo Yoshida
Marimo Yoshida, an artist with a background in environmental art, brings a unique perspective to her creations. After working in display and design companies, she became a freelance artist in 2006, contributing to public art, hospital art, and branding for welfare facilities. Her recent work includes directing a park playground painting event in Kyoto and teaching art and design. Her current exhibition at the Felissimo Chocolate Museum showcases her talent for making sweets a visual and sensory delight. Her artistic vision for the workshop promises an engaging and accessible experience for all. You can explore more about her work on her website and Instagram.
About the Felissimo Chocolate Museum
Opened in October 2021 within the Stage Felissimo headquarters in Kobe, the Felissimo Chocolate Museum is a unique institution dedicated to showcasing the history, culture, and artistic connections of chocolate and cacao. Driven by the concept of “happiness,” the museum aims to explore the diversity and potential of chocolate. It proudly houses a collection of approximately 27,000 chocolate packages, aspiring to become the world’s largest museum of chocolate packaging, with all items graciously donated by individuals and corporations. For those passionate about preserving chocolate history, package donations are always welcome here.
The museum operates from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM (last entry 30 minutes before closing), with closures for exhibition changes (e.g., April 6th-10th, 2026). Tickets and reservations can be made online. Discover more about this sweet sanctuary on its official website.
This festive campaign at the Felissimo Chocolate Museum offers a perfect blend of culture, creativity, and culinary delight, making it an ideal destination for families and chocolate enthusiasts this holiday season. It further solidifies Kobe’s reputation as a city rich in unique cultural experiences, inviting visitors from around the world to immerse themselves in the sweet world of Japanese kawaii culture and beyond, one chocolate at a time.
