In 2020 and 2021, COVID-19 forced the Yuwaku Bonbori Festival to go on a two-year break, with the onsen town forced into looking at other ways to bring in some money to fill the tourism void left by the disease. While some methods included donations and even an online prayer event, Yuwaku Onsen need not look into these methods anymore as the Bonbori Festival, inspired by the same festival from the Hanasaku Iroha TV anime, will be returning for its 10th year!
【お知らせ】大勢の皆様からお問合せ頂いております『第10回湯涌ぼんぼり祭り』は感染症対策に充分に留意した上で開催することを決定致しました。開催日程につきましては、近日中に改めてお知らせさせて頂きます。https://t.co/mDX893VEka
— 湯涌ぼんぼり祭り (@yuwaku_bonbori) May 21, 2022
The Yuwaku Bonbori Festival came about after the airing of the Hanasaku Iroha TV anime to boost the economy of the local area, due to tourists flocking to the onsen town after it was the inspiration behind the P.A. Works show. This led to an annual tradition where the Bonbori Festival is held in October that mixed the fictional festival seen in the anime with traditional Japanese festivals.
RELATED: “Hanasaku Iroha” Bonbori Festival Report – A Fictional Event Becomes Real Life Tradition
Due to it being the 10th Yuwaku Bonbori Festival held, the town wanted to plan a grand festival encompassing the entire town and tourists, but due to the continual spread of COVID-19, a cap will be placed on how many people can attend in-person. Details on tickets and the festival are set to be announced at a later time.
Source: Yuwaku Bonbori on Twitter
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Daryl Harding is a Japan Correspondent for Crunchyroll News. He also runs a YouTube channel about Japan stuff called TheDoctorDazza, tweets at @DoctorDazza, and posts photos of his travels on Instagram.
