"Kawaramachi-dori Shotengai Shinko Kumiai," or Kawaramachi Shopping Area promotion association, in Nakagyo Ward, located in central Kyoto City, has begun a trial "light-down" of the lighting equipment hanging along the arcade for the decorative illuminations, which are an established custom before Christmas. A new kind of night-time charm is being promoted, with lines of decorations which only use LED, or light-emitting diodes.

On the approximately 500 meter section of Kawaramachi-dori Street that runs between Sanjo-dori and Shijo-dori Streets, the decorative illuminations were hung up with the arcade's lighting equipment turned on before Christmas as in previous years, but new additions have been included to be eco-conscious and also enliven the shopping area.

At 6:00p.m. the usual lighting on the roof and supporting pillars of the arcade was switched off, and simultaneously 114 decorative objects made with about 23,000 LEDs were turned on, lighting the pavement with strings of gentle blue lights.

The light-down will continue until December 25, from 6:00 to 9:00p.m.