fireflies Archives | Tokyo Cheapo

While it's not yet summer fireworks season, there are lights in the sky in Japan this time of year -- fireflies. Mid-May through 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. 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. 1. Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo May 16 to June 30, from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thanks to the swanky Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo's beautiful Japanese garden, you don't have to leave the city to see fireflies. Normally, the garden is strictly for guests -- whether you’re staying overnight, dining, attending an event or shopping -- but during firefly season, the hotel releases a limited number of tickets to the general public for select evenings. Fireflies started appearing as early as May 14 this year according to hotel staff. For 2025, tickets, priced at each for adults, are nearly sold out. You can check the availability here. It's one of Tokyo's most well-known firefly festivals, so book as far in advance as you can. You’ll also be treated to the Tokyo Sea of Clouds -- Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo’s signature mist-garden installation. Inspired by unkai (literally “sea of clouds”), a natural phenomenon where mountaintops rise above low-lying mist at dawn, the garden recreates this effect with carefully timed bursts of fine mist. 2. Setagaya Firefly Festival and Egret Market July 19 and 20 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. 3. Nerima Firefly Festival Nakazato Kyodo No Mori (Nerima) June 13–22 and July 4–13 Free admission Nakazato Kyodo No Mori is a century-old grove hidden away in Nerima’s Ōizumimachi. On weekends from June 13–22 and July 4–13, the park comes alive with the soft flicker of fireflies dancing over ponds and streams. From 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., visitors can also explore interactive displays, catch mini nature talks, and play firefly-themed games. This year’s focus is “Environments Where Life Thrives”. Though free to attend, entry is limited to 150 guests per night (lottery system, enter via the official page). 4. Kugayama Firefly Festival Kugayama TBC, usually the first weekend of June Free admission Held over a weekend in June, this small but fun firefly festival sees snack and drink vendors line Kugayama'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. 5. Yuyake Koyake Fureai no Sato Hachiōji (near Mount Takao) June 7 to 22 Yuyake Koyake Fureai no Sato is a camping ground and recreational facility in Hachiōji, and it's one of the closest things you can get to experiencing countryside life in Tokyo. The green area 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 theme-park 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 ( for elementary-school kids and up, but is free for preschoolers). You also have to pay 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, and 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. Just check transit times carefully. 9. Sankeien Garden Firefly Evening Yokohama, Kanagawa TBC, usually early June 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. Note: The organizers 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 chōchin lanterns. 11. 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. 12. Adachi Firefly Night May 29 to June 1, slots from 7:45 p.m. From (advance tickets required; SOLD OUT) 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. This post was originally published in June 2015, and last updated in May 2025 by Aarohi Narain. While we try to ensure that all information is correct, dates and other details may vary.

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