 Image search results - "motomachi" |
For 10 evenings every December near JR Motomachi Station in Kobe, the beautiful Kobe Luminarie holiday lights are displayed amid massive crowds. This is Motomachi Station with a banner pointing the way.
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This was a Saturday, which happened to be the most crowded evening for the lights. About 559,000 people came to see Kobe Luminarie this Sat. evening. Even before 4:30 pm, the crowd starts near Motomachi Station.
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Kobe Motomachi shopping arcade across from Daimaru Dept. Store.
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Joined the line at about 4:45 pm. The lights were to turn on at 5 pm.
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Passing by Ikuta Shrine's torii.
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Well before 5 pm, people already lined up and waited to see Kobe Luminarie. "Luminarie" means "illuminations" in Italian.
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The line formed along these wide roads that were blocked off from traffic.
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The line was long and crowded, but it moved along quite well.
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Near Daimaru Dept. Store at around 5 pm. We were to turn left before Daimaru. This area used to be Kobe's foreigner settlement in the late 19th century.
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Some lights on trees next to Daimaru. The line proceeded pretty quickly after the lights turned on at 5 pm on Sat.
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Kobe Luminarie finally in sight. Everybody was amazed and thrilled as we got closer and closer...
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Entrance called the Frontone (フロントーネ). It looks like a cathedral. Very impressive.
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Kobe Luminarie's Frontone (フロントーネ) in Dec. 2018.
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Kobe Luminarie's Frontone (フロントーネ) in Dec. 2018.
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Tunnel of lights called the Galleria Coperta (ガレリアコペルタ). It goes on for 50 meters. They are all LED lights, 510,000 of them.
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Galleria Coperta (ガレリアコペルタ).
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Galleria Coperta (ガレリアコペルタ).
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Kobe Luminarie's Galleria Coperta (ガレリアコペルタ). This road is lined with luxury brand shops.
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Kobe Luminarie's Galleria Coperta (ガレリアコペルタ) in Dec. 2018. Reminds me of the Galleria in Milan. Distinctly Italian.
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Side of the Galleria.
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The Galleria has another corridor of lights.
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Kobe Luminarie is made possible by many corporate sponsors and donations from the public. When you put in a coin, etc., into the front slot, the box lights up and I think the doll inside dances or something.
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After the Galleria, you end up at a large park called Higashi Yuenchi (東遊園地). The park has more lights. Very impressive.
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This park has twin walls of lights called "Spalliera" (スパッリエーラ). It's like a decorated backboard.
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Flanked by twin Pisa-like towers, the center had the Cassa Armonica (カッサ・アルモニカ).
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Flanked by twin Pisa-like towers, the center had the Cassa Armonica (カッサ・アルモニカ), a bandstand used as a place where people could toss money.
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Kobe Luminarie's Cassa Armonica (カッサ・アルモニカ).
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Kobe Luminarie's Cassa Armonica (カッサ・アルモニカ).
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Roof above Cassa Armonica.
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Kobe Luminarie's Cassa Armonica (カッサ・アルモニカ). People lined up for the Cassa Armonica like a shrine.
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Kobe Luminarie's Cassa Armonica (カッサ・アルモニカ). People gave donations.
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Back of the lights.
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There were also souvenir booths in the park.
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Souvenir booth
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Booth promoting Rugby World Cup in 2019. Kobe is one of the venues.
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Promoting Rugby World Cup in 2019. Kobe is one of the venues.
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People lined up to donate money and ring this bell.
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The crowd going home. Most went to Sannomiya Station.
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