Golden fireflies shimmer like a galaxy of stars – a must-visit dreamy summer spot in Japan

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

Fireflies twinkling in the night are truly enchanting. During their season, they can be spotted in many areas across Taiwan. However, at Tenno Hachiman Shrine in Okayama, Japan, there lives an extremely rare species of golden firefly, which transforms the area into a golden galaxy every July, as if you’ve stepped into a fairy tale world.

Tenno Hachiman Shrine is home to many female fireflies, also known as “golden fireflies,” which are a very rare species. These fireflies emit a golden glow and mostly appear in groups around the shrine and its surrounding areas, but only for a few short days in July.

When night falls, thousands of female fireflies dance through the darkness with golden sparks, resembling a star-studded galaxy that weaves dynamic rays of light in the sky, creating a breathtaking and mysterious scene.

To protect these rarely seen female fireflies, local regulations prohibit the use of flashlights, camera flashes, smoking, and photography on weekends, all in an effort to preserve their habitat.

【Info】
Tenno Hachiman Shrine
Address: 1708 Kazeya, Tetta-cho, Niimi, Okayama Prefecture
Transportation: Approximately 40 minutes from JR Hakubi Line “Niimi Station”
※ To protect the ecological environment where fireflies live, please do not use flashlights, smoke, or flash photography, and observe viewing etiquette. Photography is prohibited in the shrine grounds every Saturday and Sunday.
 

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