Check out these parks, restaurants and hotels for mesmerising views of fireflies in and around the city
June brings with it the chance to get out in the fields and watch nature at play. Firefly (or hotaru in Japanese) season is upon us, and while it's true that Tokyo is rather limited in the field department these days, there are still some great spots to see these homegrown fireworks.
Check out our top picks of hotaru-watching events in and around Tokyo.
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Yomiuri Land amusement park has been breeding and raising fireflies to help conserve the species since 2009. This summer you’ll see some of its genji botaru and heike botaru fireflies roam around the beautiful Hana Biyori garden in the evening until June 29.
Hana Biyori is open from 10am, but the fireflies viewing time is from 7.40pm until 9pm.
A Hana Biyori ticket (¥800) and a separate Hotaru Biyori ticket (¥300) are required for admission.
For a chance to see fireflies in all their glory, head to the countryside. It's a bit of a mouthful, but the Yuuyake Koyake Fureai no Sato complex is the perfect place to pitch up at dusk. Head to the lush, wooded area along the Kitaasa River and the little stream around the building for the best views.
There's also a campsite and hotel here if you want to make the night of it. You can even take a dip in the onsen.
The event takes place daily from 6pm to 8.45pm.
Explore Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo's garden and you’ll find yourself surrounded by hundreds of twinkling fireflies. Cross the garden’s vermillion Benkei Bridge and listen to the soothing sound of the waterfall and the garden’s singing cicadas – a classic Japanese summer soundscape.
The breathtaking mix of the garden’s artificial ‘sea of clouds’ and the magical glowing fireflies will make you forget you’re in the heart of Tokyo. There are about 600 fireflies fluttering about from mid-May to the end of June, including Genji and Heike species.
The garden is free to visit, but it's only open to hotel guests, who can roam around the premises at their leisure. If you're not staying the night, just dine at any of the hotel restaurants. This year, there's also the Firefly Evening Dinner Buffet in one of the hotel's banquet halls, which is available until June 30.
It's not quite a Japanese summer without fireflies. Come see them at Setagaya's very own Firefly Festival which attracts a respectable 25,000 visitors every year. At the heart of the festival is the spectacle of approximately 3,000 fireflies released in a dome tent at the Setagaya Daikanyashiki parking lot. As dusk falls, watch these curious bugs illuminate the evening with their gentle glow.
Since 1989, Nagusa has been working on firefly conservation efforts, and its annual festival dedicated to the bright little bugs is the perfect opportunity to see the results. A bit over two hours away from Tokyo, Nagusa Firefly Breeding Pond is best to visit around 7.30pm to 9pm.
Nagusashimocho, Ashikaga. June 7-22. 7.30pm-9pm daily. Free entry (donations encouraged). 284 41 9977.
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