The festival began in December of 1995 in memory of the lives that were lost during the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake, but now, this popular winter festival represents the hopes and bright futures of the people of Kobe.
Illuminating Arches
The Kobe Luminarie, known as the illuminating sculptures, was created by the Italian art director Valerio Festi and Kobe’s very own art producer Hirokazu Imaoka. These captivating, grand artworks attracted 3.65million visitors last year. Visitors come from all over, but the beauty of the illumination surely moved every one of them.
Main Stage at Higashi-Yuenchi
Now that the Christmas season has arrived, the bright and colorful illumination of the Luminarie will light up the city. If you’re planning on visiting the Kansai area during the 12 days of the festival, please come and experience this amazing event. It is sure to make your winter vacation in Japan unforgettable.
※All pictures were taken during the 2008 festival.
○Kobe Luminarie Information
http://www.hyogo-tourism.jp/english/whatsnew/kobe_04.html （English）
○Kobe Luminarie Official Website
http://www.kobe-luminarie.jp/ （Japanese）
Soo (Hyogo Tourism Association)