Firefly Squid Museum
Firefly Squid Museum
3.5
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
What people are saying
PhoenixSingapore
By PhoenixSingapore
Review of Firefly Squid Boat Tour
1.0 of 5 bubblesApr 2019
The firefly squid boat trip booking has to made online. When I did that as early as when the season just opened for bookong, I was immediately put on waiting list and there was no confirmation. I cancelled my stay at Sky Hotel Namerikawa (the only hotel nearest to Hotaruika Museum) thinking that I did not manage to get a slot but 1 week before my arrival at Japan, I received a call from the staff direct from Japan asking if I am still keen in the trip. I was in a delimma because I have a hard time getting back the same hotel for my stay as it was already fully booked. Thinking that I should still proceed with the firefly squid boat trip since it was in my plan for a long time, I agreed to confirm my booking and an ID was issued to me via email. Subsequently I also managed to get the last Twin Room at Sky Hotel Namerikawa at a high price. When we checked in, the hotel receptionist told us that if the boat trip is cancelled, there will not be phone call and we need to go to the pre-arranged meeting point at Hotaruika Museum to find out if the trip is confirmed. The weather was great and we were so excited that this time we finally can witness the spectacular sight of firefly squid. When we arrived at the Museum, we were told that it is dangerous to go out to sea as the wave is too strong. We went outdoor to a higher concrete platform to view the sea condition and they look ok to us. There was no rain at all. There was a review previously by another Tripadvisor member speculating that if the fishermen cancelled their trip (the day we book the trip is a weekend of the japan golden week), the firefly squid boat tour will be cancelled. To our great disappointment, we left the place and went back to hotel. It is not worth to take the risk and spending money staying here because there is nothing much to see here. If firefly boat trip is your ultimate choice, better think twice because they don't tell you in advance if the trip is cancelled. From customer point of view, this is not the way to handle large crowd, if the museum do decide to cancel the trip. I have checked the weather forecast and sea condition prior to the event day, so there is no good reason for the organizer not to notify the customers should they cancel the trip for whatsoever reason.

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


3.5
3.5 of 5 bubbles110 reviews
Excellent
20
Very good
44
Average
30
Poor
9
Terrible
7

Shlomi T
Nagano, Japan1,414 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021
Nice building and great museum for children and whoever loves squids
Nice view of the sea from the museum and nice cafeteria with great view.
Written 14 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PhoenixSingapore
Singapore227 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2019 • Family
The firefly squid boat trip booking has to made online. When I did that as early as when the season just opened for bookong, I was immediately put on waiting list and there was no confirmation. I cancelled my stay at Sky Hotel Namerikawa (the only hotel nearest to Hotaruika Museum) thinking that I did not manage to get a slot but 1 week before my arrival at Japan, I received a call from the staff direct from Japan asking if I am still keen in the trip. I was in a delimma because I have a hard time getting back the same hotel for my stay as it was already fully booked. Thinking that I should still proceed with the firefly squid boat trip since it was in my plan for a long time, I agreed to confirm my booking and an ID was issued to me via email. Subsequently I also managed to get the last Twin Room at Sky Hotel Namerikawa at a high price.
When we checked in, the hotel receptionist told us that if the boat trip is cancelled, there will not be phone call and we need to go to the pre-arranged meeting point at Hotaruika Museum to find out if the trip is confirmed.
The weather was great and we were so excited that this time we finally can witness the spectacular sight of firefly squid.
When we arrived at the Museum, we were told that it is dangerous to go out to sea as the wave is too strong. We went outdoor to a higher concrete platform to view the sea condition and they look ok to us. There was no rain at all.
There was a review previously by another Tripadvisor member speculating that if the fishermen cancelled their trip (the day we book the trip is a weekend of the japan golden week), the firefly squid boat tour will be cancelled.
To our great disappointment, we left the place and went back to hotel.
It is not worth to take the risk and spending money staying here because there is nothing much to see here. If firefly boat trip is your ultimate choice, better think twice because they don't tell you in advance if the trip is cancelled.
From customer point of view, this is not the way to handle large crowd, if the museum do decide to cancel the trip.
I have checked the weather forecast and sea condition prior to the event day, so there is no good reason for the organizer not to notify the customers should they cancel the trip for whatsoever reason.
Written 27 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Vahur2014
Tapa, Estonia105 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2018 • Couples
It's a long story. I saw this natural wonder, a firefly squid of Toyama bay, from TV, probably Nat. Geo. Channel. When we planned our second trip to Japan, me and my wife, decided to try to see these creatures. I contacted the Hotaruika museum and we were given a date to participate the firefly watching tour, it means we will watch from another vessel, how fishermen rise their nets with glowing squid in the night. When we arrived to Namerikawa with last train from Toyama, we were carried to Hotaruika museum by kind local fellow. We waited at closed doors in the night and light rain until two young men invited us to their car and we discussed hours about spiritual themes. Then, at 2. 30 am we entered the museum and we were told that tour to the sea was cancelled due to bad weather conditions. What a disappointment! We were shown a film about firefly squid and we saw a couple of them in basin. After all this in the middle of the night we were carried to Namerikawa station by kind local woman. Then we tried to sleep on the station waiting room benches couple of hours until first train took us to Toyama. What a wasted night. Interesting and unforgettable anyways. Later we thought that as it was monday night, fishermen wanted to take the night off. There was nothing wrong with weather.
Written 3 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

01649409
Switzerland417 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2018 • Couples
Nice little museum dedicated to the farefly squid. Unfortunately almost all the panels dedicated to the squids are in Japanese and therefore as a tourist it is quite hard to really get some information. It has to be said that a short video is available with English subtitles.
In any case it is worth a visit since you can see the glowing squids without the need of taking the night boat tour and can even touch them.
There is also a nice little shop and a cafe in case you would like to taste and not only look at the squids.
Could become a 5star rating with complete translation in English
Written 20 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TCFL
Toyama, Japan35 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2013 • Family
Firefly squids are the one of most famous seafood in Toyama.There is Hotaruika museum which we can see firefly squids in Namerikawa city. We can see real firefly squids especially, at night.They gives off blue light just like diamond. You will be inpressed with the beauty of brightness so if you visit there, we recomend you go at night. We can also make use of the facility, thalassopia. This is perfect for people who want to maintain their health. Moreover we can enjoy shopping and eating seafoods at restaurant.
Written 9 September 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Meowtini
Singapore, Singapore132 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2013 • Solo
The museum does not have much to offer for non-Japanese visitors, but do stay around for the "live demonstration" show where you get to see the firefly squid glow in a darkened room! Before that, you'll get to see a short video that showed how the staff of the Museum got the squids for viewing alive from the sea.
Written 4 June 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Yeremenko
Halifax, Canada89 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2012 • Family
We went there with an exchange group of high school kids from Canada and they loved it. It was very cool to see the live squid. The restaurant was excellent with a picturesque view.
Written 29 July 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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FIREFLY SQUID MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Firefly Squid Museum

Firefly Squid Museum is open:
  • Wed - Mon 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM