The downtown area of Osaka is currently aglow with a variety of lights for the holidays, to the delight of couples and photographers.

Osaka Hikari-Renaissance is an annual illumination event that was launched in the city's central Nakanoshima area in 2003, and its lighting displays have adorned buildings and lined the river banks in Osaka every year since. Organizers say the event attracted around 3.29 million people last year.

Midosuji Street in particular offers a 1.9-km stretch of illumination, the longest of its kind in Japan. Icho (ginkgo) trees along the street are decorated with hoshikuzu irumi (stardust illumination), and those out for a stroll there can enjoy this sparkling atmosphere from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. until Jan. 20, 2013.

Also in the Nakanoshima area, lighting displays with the theme "Over the Shining Water" will be shown from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. until Dec. 25. Two specific works, "Kagayaku Mizu" ("Shining Waters") and "Rainbow Color," are located in an area that includes Nakanoshima Park, Osaka City Central Public Hall and Osaka City Hall.

For more information on the displays in Osaka, visit www.hikari-renaissance.com.