Wish you a season filled with light, peace, and happiness from Nara Park

"しあわせ回廊　なら瑠璃絵", literally meaning "Happy Corridor, Nara Ruri-e", is an annual lighting event held at the mid-February in Nara Park. How about strolling around the spectacularly illuminated Nara Park? The stroll will brighten up your dark winter night and warm up your heart when it is the coldest of the year.

Three UNESCO World Heritage sites, Todai-ji Temple, Kofuku-ji Temple, and Kasuga Grand Shrine are lit up with the traditional modest light of stone, bronze, or paper lanterns, while the area between those three locations is fascinatingly illuminated with the modern blue lights.  As the name Ruri-e (literally meaning "lapis lazuli-painting") shows, the spacious Japanese Garden of Nara Kasugano International Forum Iraka (New Public Hall) is transformed into the Milky Way painted in ultramarine blue by blue LEDs. Lapis lazuli is the sacred jewel and color loved by the ancient Nara People.  

The way to the New Public Hall

On entering the garden, azure Milky Way is spreading before you. 

Shooting stars sometimes streak on the surface. 

The twinkling sea of shades of blue as far as you can see

The winter Milky Way looks darker in the sky 

but this Milky Way on the earth is so brilliant that looks penetrating the glasses of the architecture.

A real crescent moon above the roof

Walking along the Milky Way toward the Corridor of Light

Corridor of Light

A stream outside of the Corridor

Outside views seen from the Corridor of Light

In the back garden after going through the Corridor of Light from the front garden

At the 夢風広場 (Yume Kaze Square meaning Dream-wind-square), 

Japanese “wagasa”, or oil-paper umbrellas are lit up and displayed.  

Finally I went to the Buddha Hall of Todai-ji Temple. 

It is closed but you can see Buddha’s face through the small window specially opened.

Vairocana Buddha 

Light of wisdom and compassion chases away the darkness. 

More about details including other kinds of lightings, see Happiness Corridors Nara Rurie 

(Feb. 8 - 14, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m., 2016)

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Thank you, Mersad, for hosting.