Firefly Squid Museum

This is the only museum in the world that focuses on the ecology and natural environment of the mysterious “firefly squid” of Toyama Bay. The museum introduces the ecology of firefly squid through exhibits and videos.

The building is a two-story reinforced concrete structure with a motif of a squid’s body. The exterior of the building is made of wood that changes color when wetted by water, and there is a footbath on the observation deck that uses deep sea water.

Firefly squid emit light to protect themselves from outside enemies, and their bluish-white light is fantastic. from March 20 to May 31 is the firefly squid fishing season, when real firefly squid are released and visitors can enjoy a luminous show and touch them in the touch pool.

At the firefly squid luminescence show, visitors can observe live firefly squid emitting blue light up close.

Visitors can also have the rare experience of touching a live firefly squid at the Deep Sea Wonder Fountain.

From June 1 to March 19, visitors can enjoy the luminescence show of the Ryugu firefly, a luminous plankton that lives in the deep sea.

The live theater introduces the ecology of firefly squid in detail, making full use of high-sensitivity cameras and drone aerial photography. In the “VR Firefly Squid” exhibit, visitors can experience the mystery of firefly squid luminescence in the deep-sea world using the latest VR equipment.

The deep sea water touch tank with a water temperature of 5°C is another recommended spot. There is a touch pool where visitors can directly touch rare creatures living in the deep sea of Toyama Bay.

There is also a restaurant on the second floor, where visitors can savor the plump texture of firefly squid and the delicious taste of its guts in dishes such as tempura.

There is also a souvenir store selling firefly squid delicacies and deep sea water-related products, so you can immerse yourself in the mystery of the Toyama Bay sea to your heart’s content.

Roadside Station Wave Park Namerikawa

The Firefly Squid Museum is located in “Roadside Station Wave Park Namerikawa” in Namegawa City, Toyama Prefecture. Surrounded by beautiful nature, visitors can enjoy the view of Toyama Bay and the Tateyama Mountain Range.

The observation deck is equipped with a footbath using deep sea water, allowing visitors to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Firefly Squid

The firefly squid is a species of squid belonging to the order Tutuidae and is a deep-sea luminous animal. About 40 species of firefly squid live in various parts of the world, including the seas around Japan.

They are especially frequently landed on the Sea of Japan side in Toyama and Hyogo prefectures. In Toyama Bay, a rare phenomenon unique to Toyama Bay, where large schools of several hundred thousand of them rush close to the shore, has been observed and is not seen anywhere else in the world. For this reason, the sea surface where they live has been designated a special natural monument.

Firefly squid are small in size, with males measuring about 4 cm and females about 6 cm and weighing about 10 grams.

Firefly squid emit light to intimidate foreign enemies, communicate with mates, and attract food.

Three types of luminescent organs exist on the ventral side, including those on the tips of the arms, those on the whole body, and those around both eyes. The tips of their tentacles also have luminescent organs, which glow when touched. Luminescence is caused by a chemical reaction, involving luminescent elements and luminescent enzymes.

The firefly squid is designated as a fish of Namekawa City and is also protected as a special natural treasure of Toyama Bay. Its mysterious light and ecology attract many people.

The Mystery of Toyama Bay

Firefly squid is a well-known springtime tradition, and is called “the mystery of Toyama Bay. The blue-green light seen when the firefly squid play in large schools is a fantastic sight, like a galaxy in the sea.

The coast of Toyama Bay from Namekawa City to Toyama City and Uozu City in Toyama Prefecture is famous for the way the schools of firefly squid glow on the surface of the sea.

The sea area from the left bank of the mouth of the Joganji River to the port of Uozu was designated as a national natural monument in 1922, and was further upgraded to a special natural monument in 1952 as the “Firefly Squid Swarming Sea Surface” to protect the sea surface where they live.

This designation as a special natural monument was made in the form of a “grouping sea surface” in order to prevent firefly squid from being used for food. Firefly squid fixed-net fishing in Toyama Bay can also be observed from sightseeing boats.

From April to May, a spectacle known as “firefly squid throwing itself” can also be seen along the coast of Toyama Bay, where firefly squid are washed up on the beach by the waves.

Large numbers of firefly squid gather on the beach due to the waves, and when the wind is calm and relatively warm, around the new moon, a fantastic sight can be observed shining in the midnight to pre-dawn darkness.

Firefly squid can be observed at the Firefly Squid Museum in Namekawa City, Toyama Prefecture.

Edible Firefly Squid

Firefly squid is used for food. The fishing season is from February to May, and the main production areas are on the Sea of Japan coast, including Hyogo, Toyama, Tottori, and Fukui prefectures.

In Toyama Prefecture, set-net fishing is conducted in Toyama Bay, where firefly squid that rise to the surface at night are caught before dawn. Because this set-net fishing is conducted along the coast of Toyama Bay, the fishing resources are protected and the firefly squid can be caught in fresh condition without being harmed. In addition, sightseeing boats operate during part of the fishing season, allowing visitors to observe the fishing.

On the other hand, in Hyogo Prefecture, bottom trawling is conducted off the San’in coast to catch firefly squid migrating at a depth of approximately 200 meters. The annual catch is about 2,000 to 3,000 tons, which is more firefly squid than in Toyama Prefecture.

Firefly squid is also noted for its nutritional value when used as food; each 100 g of firefly squid contains energy, carbohydrates, fat, protein, vitamins, and minerals. It is especially rich in nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin B12, and taurine.

In Toyama Prefecture, firefly squid can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes. They include stir-fried, tsukudani (food boiled in soy sauce and sugar), vinegared miso dressing, off-shore pickles, dried with unripe vegetables, tempura, deep-fried, and Ryugu somen noodles.

However, firefly squid is easily damaged and there is a risk of food poisoning and parasites, so care must be taken when eating raw. Recently, firefly squid that has been frozen and processed for raw consumption is also available.

Firefly squid is a highly valued food not only for its taste and seasonality, but also for its nutritional value.