Kotagawa Hotaru no Sato

Located a 20-minute drive from the Nirasaki Interchange or a 20-minute bus ride from Nirasaki Station. This natural park is on the grounds of Yanagihara Shrine, a short distance after turning north at the intersection, the west side of the Sansonkyo Bridge over the Shio River. Kotagawa was chosen by the Ministry of the Environment as one of the 100 Historic Animal Villages and if you visit in mid-June you can watch the Genji-botaru fireflies. There's also the Kotagawa Firefly Festival where along with watching the fireflies there are classes on making your own hand-made fire-fly basket as well as other special events.