anime
Hanasaku Iroha
A festival invented for the anime, now held for real every October since 2011.
This is the clearest case anywhere of an anime creating something real. The series is set at a ryokan in **Yuwaku Onsen**, a small hot spring village 30 minutes from central Kanazawa, and it features a festival called the Bonbori Festival that did not exist. The village decided to hold it — and the **Yuwaku Bonbori Festival** has run every October since 2011, with thousands of wooden prayer tablets hung and burned exactly as in the series. **Yuwaku Inari Shrine** is the model for the shrine in the show and is the main venue. It is not a collaboration; it is now the village's own festival.
Choose a district
Where in Japan?
Pick a city and we show you what is there for Hanasaku Iroha — the places, and what is on while you visit.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Common questions
Is the Bonbori Festival real?
It does now. The festival existed only in the anime until the village decided to hold it, and it has run every October since 2011.
Where is Yuwaku Onsen?
In the hills 30 minutes behind Kanazawa, about 50 minutes by bus from Kanazawa station. It is a small village with only a handful of ryokan.
Can I attend the festival?
Yes, it is open. Check the official Bonbori Festival site for the date and book Kanazawa accommodation months ahead — the village itself cannot absorb the numbers.