The Kobe Luminarie (神戸ルミナリエ) is a stunning light festival held in December, in central Kobe.
The event is held annually to remember the earthquake that hit the city in 1995, but has evolved to become an iconic symbol of the city.
The Luminarie project began in December 1995, eleven months after the deadly earthquake that left over 6300 people dead.
The lights were donated by the Italian government and the designs were thought of by Italian architects and designers.
Lights were viewed as a symbol of hope – as the city had been left without electricity for nearly a week.
The project is now no longer related to the Italian government;however, many elements remain unchanged.
The 200,000 lights bulbs that create these wonderful patterns are all hand-painted.
The electricity used to power the illuminations is derived from biomass production, an act to keep the event an environmentally-friendly one.
The designs are altered each year – meaning you will always encounter something new.
So, when to go?
The lights are lit up at night (usually 5:00pm-10:00pm on weekends, 6:00pm-9:30pm on weekdays).
The most crowded times are 1) at the time of light-up, and 2) on weekends.
If you want to enjoy the lights with relatively fewer people, 8pm on a weekday is ideal.
Finally, the Luminarie is supported by many companies but heavily depends on donations by individuals.
If you’re impressed by the show, donate 100 yen to keep the project going the following year!
The Luminarie show usually happens during the first half of December (4-15 December in 2014).
To get there, it is a short 4 minute walk from JR Motomachi or Hanshin Motomachi station.
The show itself is a one-way street from Motomachi to Sannomiya.
Admission is free, but do remember to donate 100 yen as they are highly appreciated!
To find out more, please visit their website: http://www.kobe-luminarie.jp/
Map:
The event is held annually to remember the earthquake that hit the city in 1995, but has evolved to become an iconic symbol of the city.
The Luminarie project began in December 1995, eleven months after the deadly earthquake that left over 6300 people dead.
The lights were donated by the Italian government and the designs were thought of by Italian architects and designers.
Lights were viewed as a symbol of hope – as the city had been left without electricity for nearly a week.
The project is now no longer related to the Italian government;however, many elements remain unchanged.
The 200,000 lights bulbs that create these wonderful patterns are all hand-painted.
The electricity used to power the illuminations is derived from biomass production, an act to keep the event an environmentally-friendly one.
The designs are altered each year – meaning you will always encounter something new.
So, when to go?
The lights are lit up at night (usually 5:00pm-10:00pm on weekends, 6:00pm-9:30pm on weekdays).
The most crowded times are 1) at the time of light-up, and 2) on weekends.
If you want to enjoy the lights with relatively fewer people, 8pm on a weekday is ideal.
Finally, the Luminarie is supported by many companies but heavily depends on donations by individuals.
If you’re impressed by the show, donate 100 yen to keep the project going the following year!
The Luminarie show usually happens during the first half of December (4-15 December in 2014).
To get there, it is a short 4 minute walk from JR Motomachi or Hanshin Motomachi station.
The show itself is a one-way street from Motomachi to Sannomiya.
Admission is free, but do remember to donate 100 yen as they are highly appreciated!
To find out more, please visit their website: http://www.kobe-luminarie.jp/
Map:
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