Experience the magic of firefly viewing, a traditional Japanese summer activity, at Yuki-cho of Hiroshima while enjoying the area's abundant nature.If you're lucky, you might be able to hold a firefly in your hand and see it glow brightly up close.
View on FacebookGlowing fireflies in the sky
Yuki-cho of Hiroshima is an area known for its beautiful rivers, rich nature, and relaxing onsen. Early summer is a great season to visit. You can enjoy river sports such as waterfall climbing and river kayaking during the day, relax in an onsen when you're tired, and enjoy firefly viewing at night. This area is home to all three types of fireflies: the Genji firefly, the Hayke firefly, and the Hime firefly. This is extremely rare as usually, there is only one kind of Firefly in one location.
A special traditional Japanese activity
Firefly viewing has been a traditional Japanese summer activity for centuries. Glowing fireflies have been considered beautiful, magical and romantic and frequently appear in Japanese poetry such as haiku and tankas of the present and in the past. Fireflies were mentioned in the Manyoshu, Japan's oldest anthology of poems.
Fireflies can only live in areas with rich nature and incredibly pure water. Within their lifespan of ten days, male fireflies actively fly around as they glow to catch a female firefly that glows sometimes and waits quietly to be found. They start to fly around in the early evening and appear most between 7 and 9PM. They like humidity and can be seen most when the weather is humid and cloudy.
One has to be at the right place at the right time to view these magical creatures. Yuki area in Hiroshima is one of those special places.
Open your hands and wait quietly
In this area, there are four main spots where you can see fireflies: Utsuodani, the area where fireflies were first found in the region; Yuki, an area where you can take time watching fireflies as there are lots of places to stay available; the Fushiya region, the place you will most likely see fireflies whenever you go during the season; and the Onsen Joryuu region, a region where you can spot the rare Hime fireflies.
If you stretch your arms out, open your hands and wait quietly, a glowing firefly might just land on your lucky hand. Why not witness these bright fireflies’ flying freely in the night sky, while relaxing in the great nature of Yuki-cho?
How to visit?
If you take the plane, train, and bus from Tokyo, it takes about 3 hours and 40 minutes to get there. Take a domestic flight from Haneda/Narita airport to Hiroshima airport and then a limousine bus to JR Hiroshima station (45 min). From Hiroshima Station, take a train to Itsukaichi Station (16 minutes). Go on a local bus from Itsukaichi Station and get off at the final stop, “Yuki Lodge” (about 70 minutes). If you want to shorten your travel time, it is about an hour by car from the center of Hiroshima city.Address: Taiko Tada, Yuki-cho, Saeki-ku, Hiroshima city, Hiroshima Prefecture, 778-0721(Hiroshima Yuki Nature Experience Center)
Tel：+81-(0)829-40-6016 (Hiroshima Yuki Nature Experience Center)
