Misato Hotaru Museum, Natural history museum in Yoshinogawa, Japan
The Misato Hotaru Museum is a natural history museum in Yoshinogawa, Japan, dedicated to fireflies and their riverside habitat near the Kawata River. It sits inside the Misato-ya Local Products Hall and displays insects from around the world alongside a range of firefly-related items.
The firefly habitat along the Kawata River was declared a National Natural Treasure in 1970, reflecting how long this stretch of river has been considered worth protecting. The museum was built to help people understand and care for this environment.
The area around the Kawata River has long been a place where families come in summer evenings to watch fireflies light up the water's edge. Visitors are asked to keep voices low, turn off headlights, and carry their trash home, out of respect for the insects and the riverbank.
Parking is available across from the museum and nearby, making arrival straightforward. Those hoping to see fireflies should plan to walk along the road beside the river between late May and mid-June, around eight to nine in the evening, and stay on the roadside rather than the riverbank to avoid snakes and insects.
During the firefly season, boat rides on the nearby Haha River use traditional Takasebune boats pushed with long poles rather than motors, so the sound does not disturb the insects. On many evenings, local residents also teach visitors to make small boats and whistles from bamboo leaves right on the spot.
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