Firefly Museum, Kumejima Okinawa Japan

Opened in May 2000 the Kumejima Firefly Museum aims to explain the wonderful phenomenon of the many different fireflies found on Kumejima Island.

On Kumejima Island there are seven different species of firefly found lighting up the sky on hot summer nights. From April to the beginning of May the most famous species known as Kumejima Botaru can be seen. The Kuroiwa Botaru are seen till June and the Okinawasuji Botaru are seen as late as November. This makes much of the year in Kumejima seem a bit magical with these glowing bugs twinkeling away adding to Kumejima’s natural beauty.

One of the interesting facts taught at the Firefly museum is that the Kumejima Botaru, Genji Botaru and Heike Botaru are three out of 10 species of over 2000 fireflies world wide that lay their eggs in water. In order for these fireflies to survive there needs to be lots of clean water, this is a testament to the clean eco-system Kumejima Island supports because these species flourish here.

From Kumejima Airport: Approx. 15 min. by car.

Admission: 100yen
Open Hourds: 11:00pm-4:00pm
Closeing day: Monday and Tuesday
Address: 420 Ota Kumejima-cho, Shimajiru-gun, Okinawa
Phone: 098-896-7100