While it’s not yet summer fireworks season, there are lights in the sky in Japan this time of year — fireflies. That’s right, June and July is mating season for these little glow bugs, which look like magical floating lanterns. Experience this stunning natural phenomenon at a Tokyo firefly festival.
Seeing fireflies in Tokyo
Japan’s two most common types of firefly are the genji-botaru and heike-botaru, which, for some reason, were named after rival clans during the Heian period. Perhaps it has something to do with how the phenomenon of fireflies emitting light is also known as hotaru gassen, or “battle of the fireflies.”
Tokyo being the urban sprawl that it is, there are already lots of neon lights to make the nights bright, and the city doesn’t have all that much nature compared to other parts of Japan. That means that there are better places in Japan to see fireflies — but fortunately, Tokyo’s still got some decent firefly events. Time to whip out your best camera to capture the fireflies in all their glory!
1. Kugayama Firefly Festival
Kugayama (near Kichijōji)June 3–4
Free admission
Held over one weekend in June, this small but fun firefly festival sees snack and drink vendors line Kumagaya’s main shopping street. The real attraction, however, is the release of thousands of fireflies.
That said, this isn’t the place to see clouds of airborne lights. The banks of the Kanda and Tamagawa Jōsui rivers, where the fireflies gather, are fairly leafy, so you may need to do some peering into the foliage to spot the little beasties.
Kugayama is a 15-minute train ride from Shibuya on the Keio Inokashira Line. The express stops at Kumagaya, which is the last express stop before Kichijōji.
2. Yuyake Koyake Fureai no Sato
Hachiōji (near Takao)June 10–25
¥200
Yuyake Koyake Fureai no Sato is a camping ground and recreational facility in Hachioji, also in suburban Tokyo, and it’s one of the closest things you can get to experiencing countryside life in Tokyo. It isn’t located immediately close to a train station, so you’ll have to get off at JR or Keio Line’s Takao Station, board a Nishi-Tokyo bus bound for Jimba Kogen-Shita, and get off at the Yuyake Koyake stop 30 minutes later.
3. Hotel Chinzanso
Until June 30¥2,000
Thanks to the swanky Hotel Chinzanso’s beautiful Japanese garden, you don’t have to leave central Tokyo to see fireflies. The hotel garden is generally closed to the public after dark, but if you aren’t staying in the hotel, then you can buy an admissions ticket for the period. If you want to add a touch of class and maybe even romance to your firefly-viewing experience, the hotel has accommodation packages and special menu items to celebrate firefly season — none of which come cheap. There are, of course, more affordable options, such as ordering tea and cake from their cafe.
Swanky option: If you have a bit of money to burn and/or a particularly sweet memory to make, the Hotel Chinzanso offers a buffet ( ¥13,000–¥15,000) to round off the firefly nights.
4. Hirai River
Mid-June to mid-JulyFree
During summer a lot of families take to nearby nature spots like rivers, lakes, or mountains. Hirai river has clear waters and is a popular spot for firefly spotting. While this isn’t an official event, it still might be worth checking out if you ever find yourself outside central Tokyo. For the best firefly spot, it has been said that fireflies tend to gather around the area surrounding the Iwai bus stop. Since there’s no parking, we recommend using public transportation from Musashi-Itsukaichi station. Prepare to go sometime after dinner at about 7:00 or 8:00 p.m. to get the full experience.
5. Sankeien Garden Firefly Evening
TBD¥700
Sankeien Garden is in Yokohama, but it’s not that far from Tokyo. For its annual “firefly evenings” event, the garden will be open until 9pm, but the organizers say that the best time to see the fireflies is from 7:30pm-9:00pm. They also caution that on rainy nights the fireflies might take cover behind leaves, so it will be difficult to see the little buggers.
6. Setagaya Firefly and Egret Flower Festival
Mid-JulyFree
A few stops away from downtown Tokyo with direct access to Shibuya, Setagaya Ward is a popular neighborhood for young families. This event is held yearly and is mostly for kids. During the day visitors can enjoy looking at flower exhibits and purchase some of their own while from sunset onwards is when the real fun begins. Expect to see about 3,000 fireflies light up the walking course plotted out at the festival. There’s music, dancing, and tons of Japanese food stalls that line the streets.
This post was originally published in June 2015, and last updated in May 2023. While we try to ensure that all information is correct, dates and other details may vary.
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