Here come the fireflies!
Although the period from the mid-May to the end of June is not as famous as the cherry blossom period, this might be the best time to visit Kyushu in general, and Kobayashi in particular. Why Kyushu? Because it’s simply amazing all year round. Why Kobayashi? Because this is when the fireflies are coming to light up your nights.
Yes, we have fireflies in Kobayashi!
I don’t know about your place but I’m pretty sure it is quite rare to see these insects and especially in such numbers!
I think many conditions must be fulfilled to be able to see such a spectacle. First you need to be in a pitch-black environment, then you need some (very clean) water, and nature, nature nature. All the conditions are clearly fulfilled in Kobayashi and this is why the fireflies decide to meet up here every year.
Where do they meet exactly? At Idenoyama park, a beautiful place regardless of the season.
(Beautiful, right?)
This period of the fireflies is so important here that we even have a festival dedicated to it. It all happens on the last weekend of May and the first weekend of June. Enjoying the fireflies while eating some delicious takoyaki… what more can you ask for a perfect evening?
For the obvious reason that it is completely dark, it is really difficult to take pictures (even more so videos) of fireflies, and when you do manage to take a picture, it is so far from reality it is quite disappointing. It is one of those things you have to see in real life, with your own eyes. What a great reason to actually come visit Kobayashi 😉 !
As I am not (that) cruel, let me show you one picture of our fireflies:
(it looks like a kid drew on this pic with a highlighter pen)