Festival of Lights: Top 10 Firefly Nights Around Tokyo

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. 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. Adachi Firefly Night

May 29 to June 1, slots from 7:45 p.m.
From ¥350 (advance tickets required)

Step into a luminous summer tradition as Adachi Biological Garden celebrates the 40th anniversary of its iconic Firefly Evening event. Held from May 29 to June 1, Firefly Night invites visitors to stroll through a darkened dome where around 500 genji-botaru dance in the air — a nostalgic nod to a time when fireflies once lit up Adachi’s waterways. In addition to the magical night-time walks, guests can enjoy an observation room, firefly-themed exhibitions, and limited-edition 40th anniversary goods.

The event also includes Daytime Firefly Viewing on weekends throughout June, where artificial environments allow fireflies to glow even in daylight.

Purchase tickets here.

Adachi Firefly Night

Dates:May 29–Jun 1, 2025

Price:

Adults:
Advance sales: ¥700
Children:
Advance sales: ¥350

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2. Kugayama Firefly Festival

Kugayama
TBC
Free admission

Held over one weekend in June, this small but fun firefly festival sees snack and drink vendors line Kugagama’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. If you take the express train, it’s the last stop before Kichijōji.

Kugayama Firefly Festival

Dates:

Early

Jun

Entry:Free

Venue:

Kugayama Station

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3. Hotel Chinzanso

May 16 to June 30, from 6:30 to 11 p.m.
¥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. Reserve your slot here beforehand.

4. Setagaya Firefly and Egret Flower Festival

July 12 and 13
Free

A few stops away from downtown Tokyo with direct access to Shibuya, Setagaya is a popular neighborhood for young families. This family-friendly event is held along the same street where the Boroichi Market takes place. 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.

Setagaya Firefly Festival

Dates:Jul 12–Jul 13, 2025

Entry:Free

Venue:

Boroichi Dori

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5. Yuyake Koyake Fureai no Sato

Hachiōji (near Mount Takao)
June 7 to 22
¥200

Yuyake Koyake Fureai no Sato is a camping ground and recreational facility in Hachiōji, 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.

6. Fussa Firefly Festival

Firefly Park and the vicinity of Tamagawa Josui’s Ome Bridge (both near Ushihama Station on the JR Ome Line, or Kumagawa Station on the JR Itsukaichi Line), Fussa
June 1
Free

Fussa’s firefly festival features about 500 fireflies, and for side attractions, there are food booths and stage performances, such as Okinawa’s eisa dance, taiko, and soran bushi. You’ll want to see the fireflies’ orb-like lights, so the best time to visit is at night.

7. Yomiuriland

A short walk from Keio Yomiuriland Station, about 35 minutes from Shinjuku Station
May 23 to June 29 (closed June 12)
Free

HANA・BIYORI, part of the Yomiuriland complex, hosts Hotarubiyori, a 37-day firefly viewing event where you can spot genji-botaru early on, followed by the subtler glow of heike-botaru. Viewings run nightly from 7:40 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., except June 12. Entry requires a timed firefly ticket (¥400 for elementary school kids and up, free for preschoolers) plus admission to either HANA・BIYORI or Hanakei no Yu.

8. Hirai River

15 to 20 minutes by bus from Musashi-Itsukaichi Station
Mid-June to mid-July
Free

During summer a lot of families take to nearby nature spots like rivers, lakes, or mountains. The 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 around 7 or 8 p.m. to get the full experience.

9. Sankeien Garden Firefly Evening

Yokohama, Kanagawa
TBC
¥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 9 p.m., but the organizers say that the best time to see the fireflies is from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. They also caution that on rainy nights the fireflies might take cover behind leaves, so it will be difficult to see the little bugs.

10. Manyo Park

Yugawara, Kanagawa
May 30 to June 8, from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Free

At the base of Hakone in Yugawara’s hot spring district, Manyo Park is one of Kanagawa’s top firefly viewing spots. The park goes dark to let the fireflies shine — literally. Visitors can stroll among the gentle glow of fireflies, grab bites from local food trucks, and pick up traditional chochin lanterns.

Bonus: Nagusa Firefly Village

Ashikaga, Tochigi
June 7 to 22
Free (donations encouraged)

Recognised by Japan’s Environment Agency back in 1989 for its efforts to protect and revive firefly populations, Nagusa is one of those rare places where you can still see these summer spirits dance through the air in their natural habitat. Keep in mind, though, that Ashikaga is quite a hike from central Tokyo — you’re looking at around 3 hours of transit time.

Head to the Nagusa Firefly Breeding Pond and along parts of the Nagusa River between 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., on a warm, humid night without rain — this is when the fireflies are most active. While there’s no entrance fee, donations to support firefly conservation are encouraged.

This post was originally published in June 2015, and last updated in May 2025. While we try to ensure that all information is correct, dates and other details may vary.

Area(s)

Fussa

Hachiōji

Mejiro

Shibuya

Yokohama

Places Mentioned

• Accommodation
• Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo
• Places
• JA Yuyake Koyake Fureai no Sato
• Shibuya Fureai Botanical Garden
• Sankei-en Garden
• Hotaru (Firefly) Park – Fussa