Experience the "Night Satoyama Experience Firefly Watching Tour" activity at Mobility Resort Motegi!
Firefly viewing, known as a summer tradition, is an activity that took place at
"Mobility Resort Motegi" located in Motegi Town, Haga District, Tochigi Prefecture.
This time, we will deliver a report on the experience of this activity.
What kind of activity is the
"Night Satoyama Experience Firefly Viewing Tour" held at Mobility Resort Motegi?
At Mobility Resort Motegi, there are many facilities where families can enjoy together, such as the MOBI PARK with various attractions for motorsports and children. Among them, there is a forest called "Hello Woods" within Mobility Resort Motegi, where you can experience nature and participate in various activities.
During the period from late May to early July, when it becomes slightly humid from the rainy season to summer, it is the season for firefly watching, and at Mobility Resort Motegi, the "Night Satoyama Experience Firefly Watching Tour" activity was held. In 2021, it was held on June 19, 26, and July 3.
Fireflies are delicate creatures, so they require a habitat with a gentle flow of water and the presence of their food source, the kawaneena. However, their habitat is limited due to factors such as river pollution, decrease in kawaneena population, abnormal weather, and light pollution, resulting in a decline in firefly population.
Hello Woods Firefly Viewing
Now, the Hello Woods that we experienced this time is managed carefully by specialized staff, creating an environment where many living creatures can thrive. It is also a suitable environment for fireflies to live in.
Fireflies, which dance in the sky while emitting a bluish-green light, have been loved by many people since ancient times. However, in today's brightly lit cities, it is rare to see them. Therefore, being able to observe fireflies in a natural environment like this is a valuable experience.
In addition, this activity is accompanied by a living creature expert who is knowledgeable about various living creatures. They will explain not only the ecology of living creatures, but also details such as how they were born, why they live in this forest, and where they are most abundant.
"Night Satoyama Experience Firefly Viewing Tour" was experienced!
So, I actually experienced the "Night Satoyama Experience Firefly Watching Tour"!
We gather at Hello Woods at 17:30 and move to a rice field called "Hatcho Tonbo no Tanada" where fireflies appear. Since it is still bright at 17:30, we observe the creatures living in the rice field while catching them with a net until the fireflies appear. Depending on the season, different creatures live there, but there are many creatures that only live in the rice field, such as larvae and frogs. In this season of June, it seems that red dragonflies and Tokyo Daruma frogs are living. On the day, the rice field was full of frog cries.
As we were doing so, the sun gradually set and the fireflies gradually gathered. The blue-green glowing fireflies were even more fantastic when seen in person, and it was a space that was not easily experienced in the city.
Fireflies communicate by emitting light and continue to emit light as a courtship behavior between males and females. Although it is difficult to see with the naked eye, the strength of the light differs between males and females.
Males have two light-emitting organs and fly around the sky while flashing bright lights. On the other hand, females have only one light-emitting organ and sit still on grass or leaves while emitting a weak light, observing the behavior of males. When a male and female like each other, they send signals to each other, and the male flies to the female, then falls to her and eventually mates.
I was able to learn about the ecology of fireflies from a biologist who was accompanying me. It may be more interesting to observe the fireflies while listening to the explanation.
The number of fireflies gradually decreases after 8pm, which is their peak time for emitting light. The timing of firefly light emission is divided by time, with the first time being from 7pm to 8pm, and the second time being between 11pm and 1am the next day, emitting light several times.
Activities are available until 9pm when the fireflies' light weakens, and the 3 and a half hours passed in no time.
As one of the natural phenomena, this fantastic experience was my first time and a very valuable one.
Fireflies, which are rarely seen. It was very lucky because they may not appear depending on the timing.
At Mobility Resort Motegi, the season is from late May to early July every year, so why not visit if you are interested?
