Information for touring Hakuba Village.

In the dark, they emit a gentle and fantastic light. "Firefly viewing" on a summer night is not only popular with children, but it is also sure to soothe the hearts of adults who are tired of the hustle and bustle of the day. Here, we will introduce the famous spots in Hakuba Village where you can see fireflies, as well as the conditions and manners to follow.

All of the firefly viewing spots introduced here are not far from Hotel Sierra Resort Hakuba, so if you have the opportunity to stay at the hotel in early summer, we recommend them as evening activities.

Enjoy the fireflies for a long period of time! Hakuba Norikura Highlands Firefly Village

Firefly Park in Norikura Kogen Firefly Village in Otari Village, next to Hakuba Village, is about an 8-minute drive from our hotel. A variety of aquatic life lives here, and you can see Genji fireflies at the end of the rainy season and Heike fireflies from July to the end of August. You can enjoy the faint glow of the fireflies while walking leisurely along the maintained promenade and listening to the babbling of the stream.

There is also a sign at the entrance that explains the life cycle of fireflies, which would make a great topic for a summer vacation research project.

An exciting rowboat tour of Lake Aoki to see the fireflies!

As you all know, fireflies can only live in places with clean water. Lake Aoki, located about a 25-minute drive from our hotel, is a calm lake with extremely clear water from springs and melting snow, so you can enjoy the rare experience of watching fireflies from the lake at night on a boat.
The time when fireflies can be seen varies depending on the region and environment, but it is said that the warmer the temperature is in the year, the earlier they can be seen. Even if you can't make it in time for the best viewing time this year, you can still enjoy a variety of outdoor activities at Lake Aoki, such as kayaking, SUP, and camping.

Conditions for seeing fireflies

・Times when fireflies are most active: about an hour after sunset, when there is no moonlight, when the humidity is high after rain, and when there is no wind.

...They fly around when all these conditions are met, so the best time to see them is on a humid night with a calm breeze! By the way, the temperature was so high this year that the first sighting of fireflies at Hakuba Norikura Highland Firefly Village was on May 21st, the earliest date in the past 10 years.

Firefly viewing etiquette

Fireflies are very delicate creatures, so in order to preserve the fantastical scenery of fireflies for future generations, please observe the following etiquette when viewing them!

Don't scare the fireflies

Fireflies' light is said to be a courtship behavior. Therefore, they are very sensitive to light. Be careful of flashlights, smartphone screen lights, car headlights, camera flashes, etc. Also, fireflies are sensitive to sound, so try not to make loud noises or disturb them.

Be mindful of the environment

Please do not throw away cigarettes or other items at the viewing spots. The ones flying around emitting light are male fireflies, while the females stay still on the leaves. It is important not to enter the no-entry areas, and also not to enter the grass.

Not caught

The life span of a firefly is said to be about one to two weeks. If you take one home, it will die soon after. To ensure that you can continue to enjoy the magical glow of fireflies, please do not catch any and take them home.

A comment from the Sierra staff:

-The viewing period is short, so going to see it with your children will be a memorable and precious experience.
・Rather than seeing fireflies swarming, it's adorable to see them quietly flickering on and off by the water.
-It was fun to be able to watch the fireflies and stars while feeling the early summer breeze on the well-maintained walking path.

summary

The number of fireflies is decreasing year by year, and the conditions for seeing them are strict, so even if you check the weather forecast and aim to see them, you may not be able to see them. If the weather, season and time conditions are right, this mysterious sight will be an unforgettable memory for the rest of your life. Let's enjoy it with good manners while protecting the delicate fireflies and the environment!