Firefly Watching
firefly/蛍 (hotaru)
In Heian court literture "Makura no Soshi/The Pillow Book", there
are lines that mentions
how Seisho Nagon, the author, feels elegant when fireflies fly around in
summer.
夏は夜。月の頃はさらなり。闇もなほ。蛍の多く飛び違いたる。また、ただ一つ二つなど ほのかにうち光りて行くもおかし。・・・
In summer the night is best. Not only enjoing the moon shines, but also
dark nights.
It's so nice to see both many fireflies flitting in a random pattern and
even few fireflies flitting with glow of faint light
Good condition: No wind, No moon light and humid warm night.
Bad condition: Windy and cold night.
Fireflies need clean water to survive.
In old days, we could see them here and there.
We cought and kept them in a cage, and enjoyed their winking on and off
at home.
Catching fireflies is called "Hotaru-gari".
Today, so much water is polluted that it's rare to find them.
The site below, the environment has been kept by the local people who love
fireflies and nature.
Please don't catch and take them your home
.
Period and times are subject to change from year to year due to climate
Kosho-ji Koen Biotope (興正寺公園) Firefly Watching at Kosho-ji Biotope (ビオトープ蛍観賞会/Biotope Hotaru Kansho-kai) June 9th (Saturday) 2018 Canceled 19:00- Admission: Free Biotope is called Tombo-ike located near So-mon gate. 78 Yagotohonmachi, Showa-ku, Nagoya 名古屋市昭和区八事本町78 TEL 052-832-2801 Access Get off at Yagoto Sta. on the Meijo or Tsurumai Subway Line. Take exit 1. Turn to right. A 3-min. walk. Kosho-ji (temple) |
Obata-Ryokuchi Hotaru no Sato (小幡緑地ホタルの里) 1632-1, Aza-Nakayama, Ushimaki, Moriyama-ku, Nagoya C. (名古屋市守山区大字牛牧字中山1632-1) Keiryu Hiroba in ObataRyokuchi Early June We can see Genji-botaru HimeBotaru There is a map of the park at the parking area in Honen/main park. After a while from the gate of the park, you will find an expalanationboard of fireflies and their habitat. Go down the stairs and Hotaru-no-Sato is there. Access Get off at Ozone Sta. on the Meijo Subway Line or Meitetsu Line or JR Line. Take Yutorieto Line (guideway bus), Get off at Obata-Ryokuchi stop. By car (from Nagoya) ex. Take HigashiMeihan Expressway. Get off at Obata IC (小幡IC) and drive 2 min. Inquiries 052-791-9492, 052-793-2491 |
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Nagoya Castle Outer Moat 名古屋城外堀 Honmaru, Naka-ku, Nagoya C. 名古屋市中区本丸 10 min. walk from the Shiyakusho Sta. exit 4. on the Meijo Subway Line. Late May - Early June (around 23:00 - 3:00) We can see "Hime-botaru"there. Hime-botaru is a terrestrial firefly. TEL: 052-231-1700 |
Gokoku Jinja (shrine) 護国神社 Gokoku Jinja Late May - We can see "Hime-botaru"there. Hime-botaru is a terrestrial firefly. |
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Aioiyama Ryokuchi 相生山緑地 Aioiyama, Tempaku-ku, Nagoya C. 名古屋市天白区相生山 Late May - Early June (21:00- ) We can see "Hime-botaru"there. Hime-botaru is a terrestrial firefly. TEL: TempakuDobokuJimusho 052-803-6644 |
Gajouen 賀城園 (Beer Garden) Late May - Mid June 19:00-20:00 16-22, Yosamu-cho, Atsuta-ku, Nagoya C. 名古屋市熱田区夜寒町16-22 Access Get off at Nishitakakura Sta. on the Meijo Subway Line. Take exit 1. Walk to south-east approx. 6 min. You can watch fireflies while drinking beer. They held Firefly-Watching event TEL: 0120-82-3747 http://www.gajouen.co.jp/event/index.html (Japanese) |
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Aburagafuchi Hotaru no Sato in Hekinan City (油ヶ淵 ほたるの里) Hekinan C.(碧南市) June 1 - June 24 (During the iris festival) 19:30-21:00 The best time to watch fireflies is usually around June 10th of each year. At the Southwest corner of Aburagafuchi-Yuuenchi. At the north shore of the Aburagafuchi Lake, there is a firefly-shed in the iris gardens. The atmosphere is not natural, however it's good to watch fireflies up close. Access Get off at Kitashinkawa (北新川) Sta. on the Meitetsu Line. Take "Kurukuru Bus" (Free city bus) and get off at Aburagafuchi-Yuuenchi (油ヶ淵遊園地) By car (from Nagoya) Take Route 23. Turn to right at the Fukugamacho-Shimoyama (福釜町下山). Drive approx. 1.5km and turn to left at the Okute (大久手) intersection. drive approx. 3km. |
Closed to public in 2018 Joko-ji Hotaru no Sato in Seto City (定光寺ほたるの里) Kawahira-cho, Seto C. (瀬戸市川平町79 愛知森林管理事務所 森林交流館より400m南) Open: 1 week only (Mid June) June 11 Sat. - June 19 Sun. (2016) Fireflies are most active between 20:00 and 22:00. But "Fireflies-Watching" close at 21:00. So, please arrive at the venue by 20:00 and enjoy watching 1 hour. Admission: Free Enter from the West gate. Access Get off at Joko-ji (定光寺)Sta. on the JR Chuo Line. Take taxi (15 min.) By car Take route 155. From Seto city, drive forward Kozoji (高蔵寺) After passing through Nakamizuno intersection, turn left at the Seven-Eleven. Turn right 50m after the MizunoNakabashi (水野中橋). Then you will take narrow road. Drive toward Chushokigyo-Daigakkou (中小企業大学校) Turn right at the rotary Inquiries 0561-97-8875 Joko-ji Hotaru no Sato no kai 0561-48-0489 |
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Komaki-shi Hotarunosato, Ohyama River 小牧 大山川 ホタルの里 (North of Komaki-Shimin Shiki-no Mori) (小牧市大字大山東32 小牧市民四季の森の北側を流れる大山川の上流600m) Early June - Mid June Genji Botaru Take a Komaki Junkai Bus, and get off at 野口大山NoguchiOhyama stop or 市民四季の森ShiminShikinomori stop. A 5-min. walk. Inquiries Komaki C. Toshi-seibi-ka 0568-76-1191 |
Hirahara GenjiBotaru no Sato in Nishio City 平原ゲンジボタルの里 Maeyama Hirahara-cho, Nishio C. Aichi Pref. (西尾市平原町前山地内) After 7:30 p.m. is better
Hotaru (firefly) Festival June 7(Fri) - June 11 (Tue) 2019 Access
Inquiries Hirahara GenjiBotaru-no-Sato Hozonkai 090-9903-3098 |
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Tokkawa Hotaru-no-Sato in Okazaki City 岡崎市鳥川地区 Tokkawa-cho, Okazaki C. Aichi Pref. 岡崎市鳥川町 Late June - Late June May 26-June 30: Hotaru Festival 2019 Genji-botaru
Inquiries Okazaki-shi Hotaru Gakkou 0564-82-3027 Okazaki-Shiyakusho Kankyo-bu ShizenKyosei-ka 0564-23-6921 |
Nabana no Sato in Mie Pref. (なばなの里) Late May - Mid June The best time to watch fireflies is usually between June 7 and 14 of each year. Access 30 min. by car from Nagoya. Take Nagoya-Kosoku (名古屋高速) and Higashi-Meihan (東名阪)and get off from Nagashima IC. Then 10-min. ride. or Take a nonstop express bus (Mie-Kotsu 三重交通0594-22-0595 or Meitetsu Bus 名鉄バス 0567-32-3658)from Meitetsu Bus Center 4F Stop #2. to Nagashima Onsen. map nonstop-bus timetable Meitetsu Bus Center (3F Ticket Counter): 052-561-6381 Mie-Kotsu 三重交通0594-22-0595 Meitetsu Bus 名鉄バス 0567-32-3658 One way ticket: 1000yen Return ticket: 1800yen |
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Ohno Gokuraku-ji Koen 大野極楽寺公園 1400, Aza-Koyaura, Ohno, Asai-cho, Ichinomiya C. Aichi Pref. 愛知県一宮市浅井町大野字小屋裏1400 Early June - Late June Heike Botaru Inquiries: Ohno Gokurakuji Koen 0586-51-3015 |
Ichinomiya C. Aichi Pref. *Asano Koen * 138 Tower |
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Toyota C. Aichi Pref. *Toyota-shi Miyaguchigawa *Asuke Konokuchi Koen *Around Gunkai River (along Route 301) *Suigen Koen |
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