Firefly Squid Night-Viewing Boat Tour, Namerikawa

The Firefly Squid Night-Viewing Boat Tour departs before dawn from Roadside Station Wave Park Namerikawa on Toyama Bay to watch fixed-net fishing crews haul in firefly squid (hotaruika), a small bioluminescent squid species that migrates into the bay each spring to spawn. Boats travel to two offshore fixed-net fishing spots where nets are lifted before sunrise, and the squid glow blue when disturbed in the water and in the nets. No swimming, paddling, or physical exertion is involved, but the pre-dawn schedule, a 1:30 am gathering with a 2:00 am departure, and time spent standing on a moving boat in cool sea air make it more demanding than a typical sightseeing outing; children below school age are not permitted for safety reasons. Life jackets and boat safety briefings are provided by the crew before departure, and the tour is run by Namerikawa Firefly Squid Ocean Sightseeing, a locally established operator coordinating directly with the fixed-net fishing boats that work Toyama Bay each spring. Equipment required from visitors includes warm layers, since bay temperatures before dawn in April are cold, non-slip shoes for the wet boat deck, and a waterproof bag for cameras given sea spray. The migration season runs early April through early May, with mid-April typically the peak viewing window as spawning numbers rise; outside this narrow season the squid are not present in shallow bay waters and the tour does not operate. Rough seas or high winds can cancel departures on short notice, so travelers should build flexibility into their schedule around the viewing date.