Luminaria

In 1995, Kobe was hit by the great Hanshin earthquake, killing many people and destroying many buildings and other structures.  Since then, the city has held a lights festival called "Luminaria" in remembrance of this event.  This event takes place for two weeks every December, and it's absolutely beautiful.  My pictures really don't do it justice, but I hope you can get some idea of what it's like.

Here I am walking with the crowd as we approach the entrance.

Here is the entrance.  Every year, the design of the lights changes, but it's always breathtaking.  As you can see in the pictures, the streets are always packed with people who come to see Luminaria.

As you walk through a long corridor of sorts, you can see how the lights are displayed.  From the front, you don't notice that there are individual arcs of lights.

After walking through the first street, you will eventually come to this large open park area.  Again, the picture just can't show how amazing it really looks.

This is a picture from the inside of the ring of lights in the open park area.  Absolutely amazing.