Located on the northern shores of Honshu in Japan, Toyama Bay is known for the mirages on the horizon during the winter months and for being a spawning ground for the Firefly Squid. The Firefly Squid inhabits the Western Pacific and is famously found in Toyama Bay because of its unique bowl shape.
The Firefly Squid is a bioluminescent squid growing to a length of only three inches. But this small squid packs a stunning feature in that small package. At the end of their tentacles are special organs called photophores that light up like glow sticks at a rave. Thousands of tiny photophores can be found throughout the squid's body, giving it the ability to emit light along its entire form.
The Firefly Squid normally lives at 1200 feet underwater in large numbers. They get thrown up to the surface in massive numbers by the tides pushing up against the bottom of the bay. Forced up on the surface, the millions of squids turn the bay into a writhing, gleaming blue froth. They get agitated on the surface, especially along the bay, and the theory is that they emit a glow for self defense or as a symptom of stress.
Fished by the ton from March to June, when the fishing boats dump the nets onto the boat floor the squirming squids light up and turn the boats themselves into blue beacons. Tourists can watch them from sightseeing ships that operate from the prefecture's fishing ports, including Namerikawa, Uozu, and Shin-minato etc. Sightseeing boats depart from the Namerikawa fishing port around 3am to see the nets 1 to 2 km offshore.
This phenomenon is seen from late March through May. The official season starts on March 20 and lasts up to May 31. It seems the best chance to see it is in the month of April. However, you need to be up early or all night or something since this phenomenon appears just before dawn. There are special boat tours during the peak period. As the fishermen haul in their nets, the light emitted by the firefly squid causes the sea surface to glow a cobalt blue, evoking squeals of delight from the tourists.
The Firefly Squid is a bioluminescent squid growing to a length of only three inches. But this small squid packs a stunning feature in that small package. At the end of their tentacles are special organs called photophores that light up like glow sticks at a rave. Thousands of tiny photophores can be found throughout the squid's body, giving it the ability to emit light along its entire form.
The Firefly Squid normally lives at 1200 feet underwater in large numbers. They get thrown up to the surface in massive numbers by the tides pushing up against the bottom of the bay. Forced up on the surface, the millions of squids turn the bay into a writhing, gleaming blue froth. They get agitated on the surface, especially along the bay, and the theory is that they emit a glow for self defense or as a symptom of stress.
Fished by the ton from March to June, when the fishing boats dump the nets onto the boat floor the squirming squids light up and turn the boats themselves into blue beacons. Tourists can watch them from sightseeing ships that operate from the prefecture's fishing ports, including Namerikawa, Uozu, and Shin-minato etc. Sightseeing boats depart from the Namerikawa fishing port around 3am to see the nets 1 to 2 km offshore.
This phenomenon is seen from late March through May. The official season starts on March 20 and lasts up to May 31. It seems the best chance to see it is in the month of April. However, you need to be up early or all night or something since this phenomenon appears just before dawn. There are special boat tours during the peak period. As the fishermen haul in their nets, the light emitted by the firefly squid causes the sea surface to glow a cobalt blue, evoking squeals of delight from the tourists.
