Like many Japanese population centers, Okazaki city is experiencing the early signs of an aging population. One of these signs is the closing down of schools in the more rural regions of the city. As younger families tend to pursue urban centers for better job opportunities, rural communities that tended to survive off of farming and local craftworks tend to age out and disappear. Cities confronting this empty school issue then have three choices to make: Ignore, destroy or repurpose the empty schools.
Okazaki city has taken a novel approach to one of their former elementary schools in the Torikawa region of the city. Rather than let the school dilapidate or be destroyed (along with the history of those who once taught and learned in the halls and classrooms), Okazaki city has embraced using the school to promote environmental awareness through one of the hallmarks of Japanese summer – the firefly.
Torikawa is situated in a hilly region with a river running past the school. The natural enclave is conducive to having fireflies gather in the summer and the spectacle can be amazing. The school has been completely repurposed to embrace this and is now known as the “Firefly School (ホタル学校 – hotaru gakkou). Each former classroom has been repurposed to educate visitors about fireflies, their lifecycles, and their benefits on the environment.
Unfortunately, the majority of the educational materials are in Japanese and thus may be difficult to fully access without a decent command of the language. However, the main attraction of the evening is hardly the school but rather the nearby pathways that go along the river and offer a chance to see countless fireflies make their mark as they fly through the evening air.
This is a sight to behold, especially for those who come from areas without fireflies, and is quite popular with young children. However, by necessity, the area is extremely dark at night and visitors are asked to prepare their own lights and to be safe while traversing the paths. Food and drinks are limited, so it is recommended to bring your own when visiting. There are around 40 parking spots, so be aware that popular nights may require a bit of patience while finding a parking spot.
The month of June features the “Torikawa Firefly Festival” running from June 1st until the 25th where you can go and visit to enjoy the fireflies at night. Be prepared to work around the aforementioned parking spot issue, but also be prepared for a magical night full of wonder!
For those interested in attending, please use browser translation as necessary and visit this webpage for details.
Photo by deep.deepblue via Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
