Kobe City’s Large Children’s Center “Kobekkoland” Moves to Wadamisaki

　On February 11, Kobe City’s large children’s center “Kobekkoland” (1 Kamishodori, Hyogo-ku, Kobe; tel 078-958-8011 ) relocated from Kobe Harborland to Wadamisaki, Hyogo-ku, and reopened.

Opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting ceremony

　Kobekko Land opened in 1987 in Kobe Harborland as the city’s only large-scale children’s center, offering a playroom equipped with large playground equipment and a variety of hands-on lectures and events. It has long been familiar to many families raising children in and outside the city as a facility where they can play to their heart’s content even on rainy days.

　On February 6, the Kobe City Child and Family Center, which is adjacent to Kobekko Land, also moved to a new location. The facility has doubled in size to 5,700 square meters, increased the number of consultation rooms from 30 to 56, and strengthened the consultation system with a total of 109 Child Welfare Officers and Child Psychologists.

　The facility area of Kobekko Land is 4,100 square meters. The building’s distinctive ship-like design expresses Kobe’s unique character, and a new outdoor playground (kids’ garden) with a fountain and lawn has been built in addition to the indoor space. A variety of playful equipment using large nets and other materials, as well as equipment connecting the first and second floors, are provided to allow children to explore while playing. Hands-on programs and other activities are also available free of charge.

　An opening ceremony will be held at the first floor entrance on the 10th. About 200 parent-child pairs were invited to the ceremony, which featured a chorus of children from St. Michael’s Hyogo Kindergarten and a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Kobe Mayor Kizo Hisamoto.

　Mr. Ueda, Director of the Child and Youth Division of the Kobe City Child and Family Affairs Bureau, said, “The biggest attraction of the new Kobekko Land is the creation of an outdoor playground that has never existed before. Cultural activities such as cooking classes, crafts, and musical experiences will also be enhanced even more than before. Children of all ages will be able to enjoy playing both indoors and outdoors, so please come and experience the new KOBEKOKU LAND for yourself.

　We expect crowds on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and spring break, so we ask that everyone use the facility in a respectful manner. The parking lot will be crowded, so we ask that visitors use public transportation.

　Hours of operation are from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm. Closed on Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday).