This past Friday, I went to see the illuminations in Kobe. They end on the 12th, and some friends were planning on going, so I just tagged along.
It was really cold, but really worth the travel.
A Japanese explanation of the memorial, taken from a pamphlet, follows.
「神戸ルミナリエ」は、震災の記憶を後世に語り継ぎ、神戸の夢と希望を象徴する行事として、毎年開催しています。
綺麗過ぎて感動しました。