Tove and Moomin Exhibition in Kobe: 300 Works, Anne’s Audio Guide & Highlights

“Tove and Moomin: In Search of Something Precious” opens at Kobe City Museum on Saturday, October 10, 2026.

More than an opportunity to see original Moomin illustrations, the exhibition traces creator Tove Jansson’s upbringing, paintings, satirical drawings, and the ideas behind her stories. Around 300 works and related materials reveal the richness of the artist’s life and creativity beyond the characters’ familiar charm.

Here are the highlights worth looking out for.

©Moomin Characters™　©Tove Jansson Estate

Moomin even made an appearance at the press preview, striking plenty of adorable poses!

Note: Moomin will not appear during the exhibition.

Two floors of displays: from Tove Jansson to the world of the Moomins

The Kobe exhibition is divided into two main sections.Chapter 1, “Tove Jansson,” on the third floorexplores her life and wide-ranging creative work, whileChapter 2, “Moomin and Friends,” on the second floorfeatures original illustrations from the Moomin novels, picture books, and comics.

By introducing the creator before her fictional world, the exhibition offers even longtime Moomin fans a fresh way of seeing the art.

Chapter 1, 3rd floor | Discover the life of Moomin creator Tove Jansson

Raised in a family of artists, she also made satirical drawings and oil paintings

Tove Jansson was born in Helsinki, Finland, in 1914. With a sculptor for a father and a painter for a mother, she grew up surrounded by art.

Her first illustration appeared in the satirical magazine Garm in 1929, and she designed a cover for it in 1935. She held her first solo exhibition in 1943 and published her first Moomin novel, The Moomins and the Great Flood, in 1945.

The displays range from early oil paintings to satirical drawings made during wartime. One of this chapter’s greatest pleasures is discovering Jansson as a versatile artist, beyond the image of her lovable Moomin characters.

Look for her public murals, too: a different scale and style of expression

Alongside her Moomin work, Jansson painted murals for public facilities including hospitals, schools, and daycare centers. The exhibition also presents mural sketches and related material.

A standout is Fairytale Panorama, originally painted for a daycare center. Its two panels are presented as a life-size video spanning approximately 7 meters. The expansive imagery is quite different from the small illustrations in her novels.

The video gradually shifts from black and white into color, after which animals and people begin to move.

Immersive video area: Moomin novel illustrations

This area features a 3-minute, 45-second video in which illustrations from the novels—including the Moomin family and Snufkin—come to life.

Chapter 2, 2nd floor | Explore Moomin stories through original artwork

Chapter 2 features sketches of Moomin and friends alongside original illustrations for the novels, picture books, and comics. At the entrance, a large door references the 80th-anniversary theme of the Moomin novels, “The door is always open.”

It’s an inviting space in which to follow the stories scene by scene, consider how the printed illustrations came about, and look closely at the lines of the original drawings.

Kansai TV announcer Marie Takahashi hosted the press briefing.

She studied the works so enthusiastically that members of the attending media couldn’t resist photographing her.

Note: She gave permission for her photograph to be published by the media.

Illustrations of Moomin, Moominpappa, Moominmamma, Little My, and Snufkin

There’s also a section dedicated to individual members of the Moomin family and their friends, with selected character sketches shown one by one.

Finn Family Moomintroll | Picture everyday life with the Moomin friends

Finn Family Moomintroll is full of amusing, mysterious happenings involving the residents of Moominvalley. Read the exhibition notes and the original art brings each scene vividly to mind.

Along with spotting familiar characters, take time to notice the backgrounds and subtle differences in their expressions.

Moominvalley in November | Reading the story alongside the author’s life

The exhibition’s explanation of Moominvalley in November describes the Moomin family’s absence and characters considering their own paths in life.

In 1970, just as Jansson had finished writing the manuscript and was about to begin its illustrations, her mother Signe died.

Despite her deep grief, she completed the drawings and finished the book, which became the final Moomin novel.

The Moomin family does not appear in Moominvalley in November. Learning about Jansson’s life first makes the original illustrations feel different.

The Dangerous Journey | Follow the picture book through its original art

One especially enjoyable section featured the picture book The Dangerous Journey. Following Susanna’s mysterious adventure alongside the original artwork felt almost like turning the pages of the book.

As each piece of text and each picture leads to the next, you naturally wonder what happens in the following scene. Beyond viewing the originals as individual artworks, you canenjoy them as a story—and that’s part of the appeal.

Anne’s audio guide adds to the fun, with three-choice quizzes

One experience we particularly recommend is the audio guide narrated by actress Anne. Running about 30 minutes, it introduces Jansson’s life and the exhibition highlights, as well as Anne’s anecdotes about Moomin and Finland.

There’s also an unusual feature:three multiple-choice questions with three answers each. Enter the guide number and choose from the three options. Instead of simply listening, you stop to think about the artworks, giving the visit a pleasing change of pace.

You can discover the correct answers at the venue. Listening while closely examining Jansson’s work, the roughly 30-minute guide felt surprisingly quick and full of information.

The on-site rental costs¥650 per device (tax included). If you’d like to explore the exhibition in greater depth, consider renting a guide before you start.

What should you see first? A suggested route

The exhibition runs from the third floor down to the second. If you have time, enjoy learning about the artist’s life before exploring the Moomin stories and illustrations.

• 3rd floor, Chapter 1: Take your time with Jansson’s childhood, oil paintings, satirical art, and mural sketches
• 2nd floor, Chapter 2: Follow the original illustrations and explanatory notes for your favorite Moomin stories
• Audio guide: Enjoy Anne’s commentary, three-choice quizzes, and accessible explanations of Jansson and her works

Considering how Jansson’s experiences shaped her stories may lead to some new discoveries.

Dates, ticket prices, and access | Kobe City Museum

The Hyogo stop of “Tove and Moomin: In Search of Something Precious” takes place at Kobe City Museum from Saturday, October 10, through Sunday, December 13, 2026.

The museum is about a 10-minute walk from JR Sannomiya Station, Hankyu/Hanshin Kobe-Sannomiya Station, or JR/Hanshin Motomachi Station. It’s about an 8-minute walk from Kyukyoryuchi-Daimarumae Station on the Kobe Municipal Subway Kaigan Line.

High school and younger visitors and university students must show a student ID or other proof of eligibility. Discounts are also available for some visitors, including Kobe residents age 65 and older; check the official guidance if applicable.

Tove and Moomin exhibition official website (details and tickets)

More Moomin experiences around Kobe

The “Moomin × Kobe Port Tower Project: a part of KOBE” also runs from Saturday, October 10, to Monday, November 30, 2026. It’s another way to enjoy the Moomins while exploring the city.

Same-day combination tickets for the exhibition and Kobe’s AQUARIUM × ART átoa are also advertised. Consider combining a visit to the original art exhibition with sightseeing around Kobe.

Official Moomin × Kobe Port Tower Project information

Frequently asked questions

Why rent the audio guide?

In addition to hearing Anne discuss the artworks and Finland, you can try three multiple-choice questions. If you like reflecting on what you’re seeing, the guide can make your visit more rewarding.

Tove and Moomin exhibition merchandise and souvenirs

After the exhibition, the gift shop is well worth a look.

You’ll find plenty of merchandise featuring familiar characters such as Moomin, Snufkin, and Little My.

Items decorated with Jansson’s own character illustrations were particularly eye-catching, especially a design showing the Moomin friends against a vivid yellow background.

Cute accessories and practical everyday goods

There’s a good selection of items for everyday use, including embroidered cushions and pouches, colorful tins, and keychains.

The soft, plush keychains (¥1,430 including tax) feature cute Moomin and Snufkin designs, perfect for attaching to a bag.

Little My headband

There’s also a headband that lets you dress up as Little My.

¥2,750 (tax included).

Moomin picture books and treats

Original Moomin picture books and foreign-language editions were on sale, too.

Reading a picture book after viewing its original artwork offers another way to enjoy the exhibition.

There were also gift-worthy sweets, including cookies in illustrated Moomin tins.

With Moomin plush toys and tote bags as well, fans have plenty to browse.

Capsule toys, too!

The exhibition also has its own capsule toys.

Each capsule contains a small plate decorated with Moomin and friends. There are six designs, with each try costing ¥500 (tax included). Part of the fun is seeing which one you get.

Trying your luck makes a fun memento of the exhibition.

After experiencing Jansson’s artistic world, browsing the merchandise felt even more enjoyable.

* Prices and stock availability reflect the time of our visit and may change or sell out.

In summary | Meet the Tove Jansson behind the original illustrations

“Tove and Moomin” lets visitors appreciate charming original Moomin illustrations while discovering the life and wide-ranging creativity of their creator, Tove Jansson.

A particularly memorable experience was learning about her life on the third floor before seeing originals from Moominvalley in November and The Dangerous Journey on the second. Anne’s audio guide and quizzes make this more than a simple viewing experience.

As well as spotting your favorite characters, enjoy spending time with a single piece of art that speaks to you.

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