{"id":151117,"date":"2018-08-06T11:28:13","date_gmt":"2018-08-06T02:28:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visitmatsumoto.com\/?p=151117"},"modified":"2018-08-24T09:28:35","modified_gmt":"2018-08-24T00:28:35","slug":"matsumoto-bon-bon-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/events\/matsumoto-bon-bon-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"Matsumoto Bon-Bon 2018: Giant Block Party in the City"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Every year, Matsumoto Bon-Bon turns the downtown area into into a massive, 3-hour dance party where teams of dancers gradually move along a designated course through the city performing a special dance called (surprise!) the Matsumoto Bon-Bon dance. <\/p>\n<img data-attachment-id=\"150763\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/events\/matsumoto-bon-bon-2018\/attachment\/%e3%81%aa%e3%82%93%e3%81%a0%e3%81%8b%e3%82%93%e3%81%a0%e9%80%a3%e8%a1%8c%e9%80%b2-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/e52b8d1d764a3d3f13c9e76b2964c19b.jpg?fit=1600%2C1100&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1100\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"\u306a\u3093\u3060\u304b\u3093\u3060\u9023\u884c\u9032\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/e52b8d1d764a3d3f13c9e76b2964c19b.jpg?fit=300%2C206&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/e52b8d1d764a3d3f13c9e76b2964c19b.jpg?fit=1024%2C704&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/e52b8d1d764a3d3f13c9e76b2964c19b-1024x704.jpg?resize=1024%2C704&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"704\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-150763\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/e52b8d1d764a3d3f13c9e76b2964c19b.jpg?resize=1024%2C704&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/e52b8d1d764a3d3f13c9e76b2964c19b.jpg?resize=300%2C206&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/e52b8d1d764a3d3f13c9e76b2964c19b.jpg?resize=768%2C528&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/e52b8d1d764a3d3f13c9e76b2964c19b.jpg?resize=945%2C650&amp;ssl=1 945w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/e52b8d1d764a3d3f13c9e76b2964c19b.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/>\n<img data-attachment-id=\"150865\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/events\/matsumoto-bon-bon-2018\/attachment\/img_0043-2-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_0043-2.jpg?fit=2000%2C1429&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2000,1429\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS M10&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1533381925&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;26&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;6400&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00625&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"bon-bon\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_0043-2.jpg?fit=300%2C214&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_0043-2.jpg?fit=1024%2C732&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_0043-2-1024x732.jpg?resize=1024%2C732&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"732\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-150865\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_0043-2.jpg?resize=1024%2C732&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_0043-2.jpg?resize=300%2C214&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_0043-2.jpg?resize=768%2C549&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_0043-2.jpg?resize=910%2C650&amp;ssl=1 910w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_0043-2.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/>\n<p>The dance goes along with the &#8220;Matsumoto Bon-Bon&#8221; song, which was written especially for this event and sung by Yoko Maekawa, a singer known in particular for anime theme songs. This is the only song that gets played (on repeat) throughout the entire three hours, but it&#8217;s catchy enough that nobody seems to mind.<\/p>\n<img data-attachment-id=\"151186\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/events\/matsumoto-bon-bon-2018\/attachment\/30004280408_d0573d7d6c_k\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/30004280408_d0573d7d6c_k.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2000,1500\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"bon bon\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/30004280408_d0573d7d6c_k.jpg?fit=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/30004280408_d0573d7d6c_k.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/30004280408_d0573d7d6c_k-1024x768.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-151186\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/30004280408_d0573d7d6c_k.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/30004280408_d0573d7d6c_k.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/30004280408_d0573d7d6c_k.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/30004280408_d0573d7d6c_k.jpg?resize=900%2C675&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/30004280408_d0573d7d6c_k.jpg?resize=867%2C650&amp;ssl=1 867w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/30004280408_d0573d7d6c_k.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/>\n<img data-attachment-id=\"151208\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/events\/matsumoto-bon-bon-2018\/attachment\/42969654955_5365cd2ffb_k\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/42969654955_5365cd2ffb_k.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2000,1500\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"bon-bon\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/42969654955_5365cd2ffb_k.jpg?fit=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/42969654955_5365cd2ffb_k.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/42969654955_5365cd2ffb_k-1024x768.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-151208\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/42969654955_5365cd2ffb_k.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/42969654955_5365cd2ffb_k.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/42969654955_5365cd2ffb_k.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/42969654955_5365cd2ffb_k.jpg?resize=900%2C675&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/42969654955_5365cd2ffb_k.jpg?resize=867%2C650&amp;ssl=1 867w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/42969654955_5365cd2ffb_k.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/>\n<p>This year&#8217;s festival boasted around 23,000 dance participants, 256 teams, and an estimated 200,000 onlookers\u2014that&#8217;s roughly the same as the population of the entire city of Matsumoto! Check out the video below for a view of the fest from above:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe class='youtube-player' width='640' height='360' src='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2w0_Gb0OTOk?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;' sandbox='allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation'><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Teams are formed by local businesses, schools, and sports clubs as well as off shoots like the foreign expat team and the Japan Defense Force team.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_151195\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-151195\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-attachment-id=\"151195\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/events\/matsumoto-bon-bon-2018\/attachment\/42969676255_b7fd412df8_k\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/42969676255_b7fd412df8_k.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2000,1500\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"bon bon\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/42969676255_b7fd412df8_k.jpg?fit=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/42969676255_b7fd412df8_k.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/42969676255_b7fd412df8_k-1024x768.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" class=\"size-large wp-image-151195\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/42969676255_b7fd412df8_k.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/42969676255_b7fd412df8_k.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/42969676255_b7fd412df8_k.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/42969676255_b7fd412df8_k.jpg?resize=900%2C675&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/42969676255_b7fd412df8_k.jpg?resize=867%2C650&amp;ssl=1 867w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/42969676255_b7fd412df8_k.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-151195\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Japan Defense Force team!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Adding to the atmosphere are the food stalls, festival lanterns, and young couples who come wearing yukata (summer kimono). At the end of the night, teams win prized based on their performance.<\/p>\n<img data-attachment-id=\"151226\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/events\/matsumoto-bon-bon-2018\/attachment\/43156352004_424b9ef2d9_k\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/43156352004_424b9ef2d9_k.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2000,1500\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"bon-bon\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/43156352004_424b9ef2d9_k.jpg?fit=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/43156352004_424b9ef2d9_k.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/43156352004_424b9ef2d9_k-1024x768.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-151226\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/43156352004_424b9ef2d9_k.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/43156352004_424b9ef2d9_k.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/43156352004_424b9ef2d9_k.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/43156352004_424b9ef2d9_k.jpg?resize=900%2C675&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/43156352004_424b9ef2d9_k.jpg?resize=867%2C650&amp;ssl=1 867w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/43156352004_424b9ef2d9_k.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/>\n<img data-attachment-id=\"151239\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/events\/matsumoto-bon-bon-2018\/attachment\/43156351654_373fdc15d1_k\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/43156351654_373fdc15d1_k.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2000,1500\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"bon-bon\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/43156351654_373fdc15d1_k.jpg?fit=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/43156351654_373fdc15d1_k.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/43156351654_373fdc15d1_k-1024x768.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-151239\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/43156351654_373fdc15d1_k.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/43156351654_373fdc15d1_k.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/43156351654_373fdc15d1_k.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/43156351654_373fdc15d1_k.jpg?resize=900%2C675&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/43156351654_373fdc15d1_k.jpg?resize=867%2C650&amp;ssl=1 867w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/43156351654_373fdc15d1_k.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/>\n<p>If you&#8217;d like more info or plan to go next year, check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/event\/matsumoto-bon-bon\/\">Matsumoto Bon-Bon event page<\/a>!<\/p>\n<div class=\"sharedaddy sd-sharing-enabled\"><div class=\"robots-nocontent sd-block sd-social sd-social-official sd-sharing\"><div class=\"sd-content\"><ul><li class=\"share-facebook\"><div class=\"fb-share-button\" data-href=\"https:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/events\/matsumoto-bon-bon-2018\/\" data-layout=\"button_count\"><\/div><\/li><li class=\"share-twitter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-url=\"https:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/events\/matsumoto-bon-bon-2018\/\" data-text=\"Matsumoto Bon-Bon 2018: Giant Block Party in the City\"  >Tweet<\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-end\"><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every year, Matsumoto Bon-Bon turns the downtown area into into a massive, 3-hour dance party where teams of dancers gradually move along a designated course through the city performing a special dance called (surprise!) the Matsumoto Bon-Bon dance. The dance goes along with the &#8220;Matsumoto Bon-Bon&#8221; song, which was written especially for this event and sung by Yoko Maekawa, a singer known in particular for anime theme songs. This is the only song that gets played (on repeat) throughout the entire three hours, but it&#8217;s catchy enough that nobody seems to mind. This year&#8217;s festival boasted around 23,000 dance participants, 256 teams, and an estimated 200,000 onlookers\u2014that&#8217;s roughly the same [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"sharedaddy sd-sharing-enabled\"><div class=\"robots-nocontent sd-block sd-social sd-social-official sd-sharing\"><div class=\"sd-content\"><ul><li class=\"share-facebook\"><div class=\"fb-share-button\" data-href=\"https:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/events\/matsumoto-bon-bon-2018\/\" data-layout=\"button_count\"><\/div><\/li><li class=\"share-twitter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-url=\"https:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/events\/matsumoto-bon-bon-2018\/\" data-text=\"Matsumoto Bon-Bon 2018: Giant Block Party in the City\"  >Tweet<\/a><\/li><li 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