The Kobe Luminarie is held every winter from early December for two weeks.
“Luminarie is the plural form of Italian word “luminaria” that stands for Illumination with miniature bulbs.
It began eleven months after the Kobe Earthquake in 1995 with the hope to give courage and greatly inspire the people of Kobe. Because there was a strong desire for continuation after its conclusion, it became an annual event symbolizing the hope of Kobe citizens.