3 Recommended Places for Japanese Firefly Watching | Guidable - Your Guide to a Sustainable, Wellbeing-centred Life in Japan

3 Recommended Places for Japanese Firefly Watching

By yuko848 Jun 18, 2017

This post is also available in: Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Traditional)

Have you ever seen the firefly in Japan? This will be a season of firefly in the end of May in Kansai area, and one month later in Kanto area (Tokyo area). You may think it is not so interesting to see them, but it is actually amazing to see that you can still have them in the big city like Tokyo or Osaka because they can only inhabit the clean air and pure water area.

As you may notice that Japanese people like to organize things as commercial event, the botanical garden or park, they would have a special fair for viewing fireflies and ask for an entrance fee. In contrast, there are still many places which remain great nature and you can still enjoy seeing them free of charge. I am going to introduce three places that you can check out Japanese firefly free of charge (I am sure there would be more places when you look for more info!)

 

1. Hotel Chinzanso in Tokyo


Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo offers special buffet in the season of firefly from end of May to beginning of July, but you can go and see fireflies in the garden free of charge. This hotel also has a great Japanese garden and they put up an illumination light up for this occasion. You can simply view firefly or if you have enough money, then try out the dinner there or they have a jazz night as well.

You can access from Shinjyuku or Ikebukuro about 20 minutes by train. If you use a car, there will be a parking in the hotel which cost about 500 JPY per 30 minutes.
More info: http://www.hotel-chinzanso-tokyo.com/garden/

 

 

2. Taiko-En Garden in Osaka


Taiko-En Garden also offers as similar scenario as Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo. You can visit their garden to enjoy observing firefly free during weekdays, however weekend the entrance is limited only for those who will have a buffet dinner in Taiko-En or restaurant. Hence, just be cautious when to go! The good thing about this place is that there will be also a free concert only held some of a few days (Date of 2017 is not yet specified yet).

It is about 7 minutes walk from Kyobashi Station (Keihan Line) and there will be a parking which can accommodate about 80 cars for free if you go there by car.
More info: http://www.taiko-en.com

 

3. Tetugakuno Michi in Kyoto
This is my favourite place in fact. It is very simple, but you see the every different scenery of the nature all year around in the local neighbourhood atmosphere. It is located in near to Ginkaku-ji (Silver Temple), which is also known for viewing cherry blossom in spring and maple leaves in autumn. It is just about 2km natural walking path along the canal. It is about 40 minutes from Kyoto Station by bus.Apparently, fireflies are not much active around the full moon season, hence check the phase of the moon before you go!

Murakami
Japan