The firefly squid (bioluminescent glowing squid - like a firefly) and found directly offshore in Toyama Bay. It is the ONLY place in the world where they exist! How cool is that??

This is the only place in the world where they can be seen alive and on exhibition. There is even a touch and feel area and the thing that surprised me the most was that they have a pipe that goes down deep into the ocean. They pump fresh ocean water into the museum to replicate the natural habitat. The water is just 5 degrees Celcius and the water is chilly!

While I do recommend the experience, keep in mind that it's all in Japanese. You will need to use a translator app or ChatGPT to make the most out of the visit.

The main reason I would recommend this? From around April to May it's possible to take a boat tour out to see them in the ocean. It's about a 40 minute experience in the early morning. There is a short interactive show where the lights are switched off and the squid light up but again, keep in mind it's all for visuals as there is no English. Maybe that makes it even more fun :)