Luminarie

I must admit that when I first was trying to decipher the map to the festival of lights, I was a little mystified that instead of marking the location, the map instead indicated an approach pattern. Was this some sort of scam, to try and get us to walk by certain stores and street vendors first? Was there only one acceptable angle from which the lights must be viewed?

As it turned out, it was none of the above. This was crowd control: Japanese style. Legions of flashing-baton-wielding policemen were on the scene with bullhorns and barricades to help set the Christmas mood.

It didn't quite dawn on me quite what was happening until we, too, were herded in between the metal barricades which snaked throughout the downtown core, putting us onto the approved course for the light viewing.

That being said, the entire operation seemed so bizarre and unnecessary that one could only laugh and play along. Besides, once we had entered the procession, there didn't appear to be any easy way to escape.

My doubts, however, were quickly put to rest as we rounded the last corner. The sound of police bullhorns was soon replaced by the sound of classical music being piped into the street, and the flashing batons were eclipsed by the shimmering corridor of lights that lay ahead.

The sight truly was a beauty to behold, and the shear magnitude of the endeavour is mind-boggling.

The focus of the festival is a street spanned by a series of illuminated arches, each made up of thousands of light bulbs. The result, as seen from either end of the street, is a brilliant hall of light throught the centre of the city.

The festival is meant to both commemorate the disastrous earthquake that rocked Kobe in 1995, and to celebrate the city's miraculous rebirth afterwards.

My impression was that it certainly emphasized the rebirth, more than the disaster itself, and all comers seemed delighted by the dazzling display.

Laura and I had a fabulous time strolling around, and the crowds were uncharacteristically jovial and non-competitive. It was a wonderful introduction to the city of Kobe, which seems to have a very laid-back, Western feel to it...but that's another story.

Above: Laura taking it all in in Kobe. Left: Inside the corridor of lights...to get an idea of scale, the dark elipse on the left side is a street light.