Kobe Luminarie

Kobe Luminarie is an annual illumination festival held in December in and around Kobe’s former foreign settlement and Higashi Yuenchi Park, created to console and mourn those who lost their lives in the Great Hanshin Earthquake and to pray for the city’s recovery. The main highlight is the “Galleria,” a corridor of lights running through the main street, Naka-machi-dori. With multiple arches lined up, it is designed to look like a tunnel of light when viewed from the front—an overwhelmingly spectacular sight that creates a dreamlike atmosphere. The event typically draws more than three million visitors and has become a winter tradition in Kansai. For security reasons, access to the venue requires a detour from around JR Kobe Line Motomachi Station, and a one-way route is set, so visitors should be mindful. After walking through Naka-machi-dori, you exit into Higashi Yuenchi Park, where many more light monuments welcome you. Numerous food stalls also line the area, letting you warm up with hot food while enjoying the lingering glow of the festival.