A festival that follows the lights of Yuwaku and carries wishes to the deity
Yuwaku Bonbori Festival
The 2026 edition of Yuwaku Bonbori Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/10/17Ended
- Season / frequency
- Around October / Every year
- Location
- Yuwaku Onsen district
- Area
- Ishikawa Prefecture・Kanazawa City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 30 min–3 h · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Features
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Bonbori lanterns light up the streets of Yuwaku Onsen, where a welcoming-the-deity ceremony and deity-sending procession take place, along with a ceremonial burning of Nozomi-fuda wish plaques. The fictional depicted in the anime Hanasaku Iroha has been carried on as a regular event led by the local community.
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Fumon1987a File:Yuwaku Bonbori burns plate of desire 2012-10-06.JPG / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.About Yuwaku Bonbori Festival
Yuwaku Bonbori Festival is held at Yuwaku Onsen in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture.
The local community has developed the fictional festival ritual from the animated work Hanasaku Iroha into a real-world event.
At the heart of the festival is the story of using bonbori lanterns to guide the deity and delivering Nozomi-fuda inscribed with wishes.
This event brings together local culture in the hot spring district and connections sparked by a work of fiction.
Source: 湯涌ぼんぼり祭り - Wikipedia / 第14回湯涌ぼんぼり祭り（2026年度）｜イベント｜【公式】金沢の観光・旅行情報サイト｜金沢旅物語
Festival highlights
Highlights include about 300 bonbori lanterns lining the Yuwaku Onsen district, followed from the evening by a welcoming-the-deity ceremony, a deity-sending procession, and a deity-sending ceremony.
The procession travels about 500 meters from the entrance to the hot spring district, via Yuwaku Inari Shrine, to Gyokusen Lake.
Finally, the Nozomi-fuda hung within the are ceremonially burned at Gyokusen Lake.
A distinctive feature is that lanterns, a procession, and prayer rituals unfold one after another amid the scenery of the hot spring district.
A festival that follows the lights of Yuwaku and carries wishes to the deity
What to expect
At the festival, a ceremony to welcome the deity is held at Yuwaku Inari Shrine, followed by a deity-sending procession through the hot spring district.
The procession passes Yuwaku Inari Shrine and heads to Gyokusen Lake, where the wishes entrusted to Nozomi-fuda are ceremonially burned.
Before the festival, a summer lantern-lighting ceremony and dedication of Nozomi-fuda are held, and the lanterns glow at night during the lighting period.
Visitors can watch the lantern-lit streets and the series of rituals unfold in sequence.
How to take part
Admission to the 2026 main festival is available to people staying at Yuwaku Onsen, those who have made an individual sponsorship contribution, and those who have purchased a general admission ticket.
Access restrictions will be in effect. From 4 p.m., people without tickets may not enter the Yuwaku Onsen district, except overnight guests, local residents, and people involved in the event.
Until 3 p.m., you can enter the Yuwaku Onsen district without an admission ticket.
To attend the main festival after 4 p.m., one option is to purchase a general admission ticket.
Overnight guests at Yuwaku Onsen, individual sponsors, local residents, and people involved in the event are also eligible for admission.
General admission tickets are sold through the Kanazawa City Yuwaku Onsen official web shop.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Yuwaku Onsen district (I, Yuwaku-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa)
- Train and bus
Take a regular route bus from stop 6 at the east exit of Kanazawa Station, get off at the “Yuwaku Onsen” bus stop, then walk about 3 minutes.
- By car
About 40 minutes from Kanazawa Station.
About 30 minutes from Kanazawa-higashi IC and Kanazawa-morimoto IC, and about 40 minutes from Kanazawa-nishi IC.
On the main festival day, vehicles without a vehicle permit cannot enter the hot spring district.
- Parking
There is no visitor parking in the Yuwaku Onsen district.
Please refrain from unauthorized parking or parking in a way that inconveniences others.
Source: アクセス | 〈公式〉第14回湯涌ぼんぼり祭り
Address I, Yuwaku-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture 920-1123
Dates and season
Information about the 2026 event (the listed dates have passed)
The main event of the 14th Yuwaku Bonbori Festival in 2026 was announced as scheduled for October 17 (Saturday).
The venue is the Yuwaku Onsen district.
The lighting ceremony was held on July 19 (Sunday).
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Ishikawa Prefecture / Kanazawa City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
As access restrictions apply on the main festival day, please check the entry requirements, such as whether you need a general admission ticket, if you plan to enter after 4 p.m.
There is no visitor parking in the Yuwaku Onsen area, and vehicles without a vehicle permit cannot enter, so visitors are advised to use public transportation.
Please avoid unauthorized or disruptive parking and consider taking the bus.
Nearby attractions
Near the Yuwaku Onsen district venue are Yuwaku Onsen Sōyu Shirasagi-no-Yu, Shirasagi Footbath, Kanazawa Yuwaku Yumeji-kan, and Kanazawa Yuwaku Edomura.
Kanazawa Yuwaku Sosaku-no-Mori, Ginganosato Kigoyama, and Iozen Ski Resort are also listed as nearby attractions.
It has been announced that some facilities, including Kanazawa Yuwaku Midori-no-Sato, can be visited even without a festival admission ticket.
Check each facility’s operating status and conditions of use individually before visiting.
健民海浜公園
石川県金沢市にある公園
兼六園
石川県金沢市にある庭園
四高記念文化交流館
石川県金沢市にある文化施設
国立工芸館
日本の美術館
大樋美術館
石川県金沢市にある美術館
大野日吉神社
石川県金沢市にある神社
大野湊神社
石川県金沢市にある神社
尾山神社
石川県金沢市にある神社
成巽閣
石川県金沢市にある歴史的建造物
Origins and History of Yuwaku Bonbori Festival
Yuwaku Bonbori Festival originated when the fictional Shinto ritual depicted in the anime Hanasaku Iroha, which aired in 2011, was launched as a real festival at Yuwaku Onsen.
The festival arose amid an increase in visits to Yuwaku Onsen, which served as a model for a setting in an anime, and was also held as an event marking 3 years since the 2008 Asanogawa River flood disaster.
Since its first event in 2011, it has become a regular event in the hot spring district.
The festival was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Official information
Details about the 2026 festival, general admission tickets, and access to the venue are available on the Yuwaku Bonbori Festival official website.
The festival announcement states that the 14th main festival will be held on October 17 (Saturday), and includes notices about entry restrictions and vehicle permits.
General admission tickets are sold through the Kanazawa City Yuwaku Onsen official web shop.
The official website also provides access information and details about the Yuwaku Onsen Tourism Association.
Yuwaku Bonbori Festival at a Glance
Yuwaku Bonbori Festival is an autumn festival at Yuwaku Onsen in Kanazawa City, where visitors can enjoy the glow of bonbori lanterns, a deity-sending procession, and a ceremonial burning.
The event was inspired by an anime, but it continues as a regular event led by the local community.
The main festival in 2026 is on October 17 (Saturday), and entry conditions apply, including general admission tickets and overnight stays.
Cars without a vehicle permit cannot enter the hot spring district, so public transportation is the recommended way to get there.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
Submit information or a correction Submit photos of this festival
