Lights are on

Although in this case not for Christmas, instead they are put up as part of the annual Kobe Luminarie which commemorates the city's recovery from the 1995 earthquake. This is the 21st festival of lights!

The  Luminarie officially takes place between 4th and 13th of December (yes, the lights come down BEFORE Christmas!) with the main event taking place downtown, but the rest of the city gets in on the act and the city looks like a giant Christmas tree for a few weeks.

Happy days!