Midosuji Illumination

Osaka's grandest boulevard becomes a single line of light. From November 3 to New Year's Eve, Midosuji glows from the Hanshin-mae crossing all the way down to Namba-nishiguchi. The lamps come on around five in the evening and burn until one in the morning — the date changes, the lights do not. You walk, and the avenue of trees keeps going; you keep walking, and so does it. This is one act of the larger Festival of Lights Osaka, which continues through January 31. On a December night, Midosuji is all movement: people, taxis, light, each flowing past the other.