Maibara is well-known for fireflies in June. They appear at dark along the Amanogawa River and Yurigawa River for about 2-3 weeks. We’re at the tail end now. The species is called genji botaru (ゲンジボタル or Luciola).

A small restaurant in Maibara serves this Hotaru udon or Firefly udon noodles during firefly season this month. The firefly wings are nasubi eggplant (split in half), the glow is an egg, red ginger for the neck. (No real fireflies in the noodles.) Cute, huh?