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Seasons

Fireflies

On early-summer nights, small lights drift along the riverbanks. The season is roughly late May through June, best around 8 to 9 p.m. on a warm, humid, windless night. Watch quietly: no lights on them, and no catching.

Travel tips

  • Viewing is at night, so check the time of your last train or bus back first.
  • Weekends are very crowded, and some places, such as Maibara, ask visitors not to come by car. Trains and buses are the safer choice.

Good to know

Viewing rules

  • Do not point torches, phone lights, camera flashes or car headlights at the fireflies. They signal to each other with light, and stop glowing when lit up.
  • Do not catch them or take them home. Adults live only a week or two, in which they produce the next generation. Some cities, such as Maibara, ban catching them by ordinance.
  • Stay out of the undergrowth. It is dark, the footing is hard to see, and there may be dangerous creatures.
  • Watch quietly, drop no litter and do not park on the road. People live nearby.
  • Some places, such as Tatsuno, ban tripods in the busy period. Follow the notices on site.

When and in what weather

  • Genji fireflies fly from roughly mid-May to late June (Kitakyushu). In Tatsuno, Nagano, the peak is early to mid-June. In the hills the peak comes a little later than on the plains.
  • They are most active for about an hour after dark, around 8 to 9 p.m.
  • They fly little in rain, strong wind or on chilly nights. A warm, humid, still night is best.
  • Fireflies are wild, so the timing shifts from year to year. Check the local government's emergence reports before you go.

2 places to go

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  1. 1

    Maibara

    Station

    From Maibara, take the JR Tokaido Line to Omi-Nagaoka; the Amano River is about 10 minutes' walk from the station. The Genji fireflies of Nagaoka and their habitat are a national Special Natural Monument. They usually peak in early to mid-June, varying by year. A city ordinance bans catching them.

    Go hereDetails
  2. 2

    Kokura

    Station

    Kitakyushu City publishes its firefly-viewing spots and a yearly “Hotaru Map” on its official site, and the Katsuki-Kurokawa Firefly Museum is in Yahatanishi Ward. Genji fireflies fly from about mid-May to late June. Kokura is the main station for getting around the city.

    Go hereDetails

3 more places

These places are not in our route search yet. Check how to get there on the official page.

  • Matsuo-kyo / Tatsuno Hotaru Doyo Park (Tatsuno, Nagano)

    Chubu & Hokuriku

    A famous Genji firefly site. The town holds its Firefly Festival at the peak in early to mid-June. They are most numerous around 8 to 9 p.m. on humid nights with little moonlight. Turn your flash off for photos.

  • Hakuchoro (Kanazawa Castle Outer Moat Park, Kanazawa, Ishikawa)

    Chubu & Hokuriku

    In June, Kanazawa City holds its Hakuchoro firefly-viewing evenings, dimming the lights along the path (the 19th time in 2026). Check the city's official site for dates.

  • Firefly spots in Tokyo (Hachioji, Fussa, Mitaka and more)

    Kanto

    Tokyo's official tourism site introduces places to see fireflies in the city, including Yuyake Koyake Fureai no Sato in Hachioji, Hotaru Park in Fussa and Osawa no Sato in Mitaka. June is the season.

Official information

These open external sites. Check prices, times and dates there.

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Event dates, operating days, reservation rules and opening hours can change. Please check the official information before you go.

Checked against official information on Nov 15, 2026.

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