- Dates & time
- October 2, 2026 (Fri) - February 28, 2027 (Sun) 17:00〜22:00
- cost
- Free (open viewing)
- Venue & access
- Akashimachi-suji street, Old Foreign Settlement (Kyoryuchi), Kobe Train: about 3 min walk south of Motomachi Station (JR Kobe Line / Hanshin), or right by Kyukyoryuchi-Daimarumae Station (Kaigan subway line) / Car: paid parking nearby
There are 12 car parks within a 12-minute walk of Akashimachi-suji street, Old Foreign Settlement (Kyoryuchi), Kobe, and 1 public restrooms within 8 minutes. The map shows each with its walking time.
Facility data comes from OpenStreetMap. It does not include opening hours, fees or availability.
Why You Should Visit
From autumn until the end of winter, Akashimachi-suji, the main street of Kobe's Old Foreign Settlement lined with Western-style buildings from the early 20th century, is lit up every evening. The illumination is run by the City of Kobe together with the district's business association. For the 2026 season it shines from October 2, 2026 to February 28, 2027, 17:00–22:00. Some of the historic buildings are lit up by their owners too, so you can stroll between stone facades and glowing trees. It is about a 3-minute walk south of Motomachi Station, easy to add after shopping or dinner.
NOTE
About the lights
- The lights run along Akashimachi-suji; several buildings in the district are lit up by their owners as well
- The closing date is provisional and may change
Background
- The City of Kobe and the Kyoryuchi district association run it to draw people around the city centre during Kobe Luminarie and to enhance the district's night-time townscape
- A hometown-tax crowdfunding campaign (Oct 2025–Jan 2026) to keep it going reached its ¥2 million goal
※Enquiries: City of Kobe, Urban Landscape Policy Division
Events
Where to go next
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EAT LOCAL KOBE Farmers Market
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SCENES @ KOBE SUBWAY MUSEUM
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1/29 - 2/7
32nd Kobe Luminarie
Meriken Park, Higashi Yuenchi, Former Foreign Settlement
Next 11/12 +4 more
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10/10 - 11/30
Moomin × Kobe Port Tower: a part of KOBE
Kobe Port Tower and 20+ locations across Kobe
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Meriken Park (free area) / Shinko Pier No.1 (ticketed area)
FAQ
Is there a fee to see the illumination?
Is it lit every day?
Which station is closest?
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