[2024 Edition] Three types of fireflies dance! The 44th Onogawa Onsen Firefly Festival in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture

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The Onogawa Onsen Firefly Festival is a traditional event held in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. It takes place from mid-June to mid-July in Onogawa Onsen, where three types of fireflies live. This year marks the 44th festival, and it attracts many tourists with activities such as a guided fire...

Written by

Platt Yonezawa Co., Ltd.

Even within the Tohoku region, the city of Yonezawa is home to many important samurai heritage sites. It's a highly accessible tourist destination in the Tohoku region, about two hours by Shinkansen from Tokyo. Try wearing armor and kimono, take part in a battle, or visit temples and shrines. Why not relive the stories of the lives of Japan's samurai in Yonezawa?

Table of Contents
The fireflies of Onogawa Onsen are a rare sight worldwide
What is the Onogawa Onsen Firefly Festival?
2024 Onogawa Onsen Firefly Festival Dates and Schedule
How to get to the Onogawa Onsen Firefly Festival Venue
How to enjoy the Onogawa Onsen Firefly Festival
2024 Onogawa Onsen Firefly Festival Event Details

The fireflies of Onogawa Onsen are a rare sight worldwide

Located at the source of the Mogami River that crosses Yamagata Prefecture from north to south, Onogawa Onsen is blessed with abundant nature and clear, pure water that nurtures fireflies. A summer tradition that can be enjoyed by strolling through the dimly lit hot spring town. So, what exactly is so great about it?

You can tell the difference just by looking! Three types of fireflies

There are three types of fireflies that live in Onogawa Onsen.

They are Genji fireflies, Hime fireflies, and Heike fireflies. Genji fireflies, which are the largest, shine long and brightly, and are the easiest to see. Heike fireflies are the same color as Genji fireflies, but they flash briefly every second. Hime fireflies are orange and flash briefly every 0.1 seconds.

If you're lucky, you'll be able to see all three types at the same time. The best time to see them is early July.

The viewing spot is behind the inn! Just one minute walk away!

Onogawa Onsen is so rich in nature that it has been certified as a "hometown living creature" by the Ministry of the Environment as a home of fireflies.

The main venue is Firefly Park, but fireflies also live in the stream behind the inn, and you can discover them just by walking around. The number of viewing points changes depending on the season, so be sure to ask the locals for their recommendations for the night.

It's only a one-minute walk away, so feel free to take a stroll after dinner. This is a barrier-free firefly tour that even wheelchair users can easily enjoy.

Enjoy for a long period of time! The viewing period is one month.

The period for viewing fireflies is usually about two weeks, but at Onogawa Onsen, the Genji fireflies, Hime fireflies, and Heike fireflies appear at different times, so you can enjoy watching them for a long period of about one month. There are multiple firefly appearance points, so you have a high chance of enjoying the flurry of fireflies.

What is the Onogawa Onsen Firefly Festival?

The Onogawa Onsen Firefly Festival is a festival held every year in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. It is held for about a month from mid-June in Onogawa Onsen, where three types of fireflies live. This year marks the 44th time the festival has been held, and many tourists visit the area for events such as the "firefly viewing guided tour" run by local volunteers and the "festival event" that turns the hot spring town into a pedestrian paradise.

[44th Onogawa Onsen Firefly Festival Poster]

2024 Onogawa Onsen Firefly Festival Dates and Schedule

The 2024 Onogawa Onsen Firefly Festival will be held from June 15th to July 15th.

Firefly Guide

Firefly guided tours are available from 8pm on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. A local guide will take you to the best viewing spots for that day.

For more information, please check the official website.

Food truck

A food truck will be at Hotaru Park on June 22, 23, 29, and 30. You can enjoy light meals while watching the fireflies.

Hot Spring Town Events

The event, which will turn the hot spring town into a pedestrian paradise, will take place on July 6th and 7th. On the 7th, two of the "regulars" will be there as special guests. Please enjoy the "Aruaru Tankentai."

How to get to the Onogawa Onsen Firefly Festival Venue

The venue for the Onogawa Onsen Firefly Festival is Onogawa Onsen.

[By train or bus]

①Get off at JR Yamagata Shinkansen "Yonezawa Station" ②Take Yamako Bus "Shirabu/Onogawa Onsen bound" for about 26 minutes. Get off at "Onogawa Onsen"

[By car]

Get off at the Yonezawa Chuo IC on the Tohoku Chuo Expressway and follow the road straight to Onogawa Onsen. It takes about 20 minutes to get there. Please park in the hotel association parking lot in the hot spring town.

How to enjoy the Onogawa Onsen Firefly Festival

The main attraction of the Firefly Festival is the fireflies. Please enjoy them with good manners.

Please do not touch or catch fireflies. Do not use a flash when taking photos. Do not shout or litter.

When taking photos with your smartphone, you can take beautiful photos by using night mode without using the flash.

2024 Onogawa Onsen Firefly Festival Event Details

・Dates: June 15th to July 15th, 2024

Best time to see: 20:00-21:00

Location: Onogawa Onsen, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture

・Nearest station: Yonezawa Station → 20 minutes by local bus

・Official website: https://onogawa.jp/firefly/

Written by

Platt Yonezawa Co., Ltd.

Yamagata

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