Japan’s Shikoku and Kyushu Forests Glow In The Dark

If you think the most magical thing in a forest is a sunset, you haven’t been to the temperate rainforests of Japan during the monsoon season. Every year, between June and July, the forests of Shikoku and Kyushu transform into a real-life Avatar movie. This isn’t a light show or a tourist trap; it is the breathtaking phenomenon of bioluminescent mushrooms.

Known locally as shii-no-tomoshibi-take (the chinquapin torch mushroom), these tiny fungi turn the dark, damp woodland floor into a glowing emerald wonderland.

The Living Lanterns of the Night

During the day, these mushrooms are easy to miss—small, brownish-white, and seemingly ordinary. But as soon as the sun dips below the horizon, a chemical reaction involving a light-emitting pigment called luciferin kicks in.

• The Glow: Unlike the flickering light of fireflies, these mushrooms emit a steady, eerie green light. When thousands of them sprout simultaneously on decaying wood and fallen logs, the forest floor looks like it’s being lit by a subterranean civilization.
• The Reason: Scientists believe the mushrooms glow to attract nocturnal insects, which then crawl over them and help spread their spores across the forest. It is a brilliant, glowing survival strategy.

Where to Find the Magic

The best place to witness this in 2026 is on the Kii Peninsula or the islands of Yakushima and Hachijojima.

• Yakushima: This UNESCO World Heritage site is famous for its ancient cedar trees, but during the rainy season, its moss-covered interior becomes the ultimate stage for the “Forest Light.”
• Hachijojima: This volcanic island south of Tokyo is a hotspot for “Green Pepu” (another local name for the glow). Because the island is small and isolated, the lack of light pollution makes the glow feel incredibly intense.

Why You Must Go At Least Once

You should go because it is a fleeting masterpiece. The mushrooms only appear during the “Tsuyu” (rainy season) when humidity is at its peak. To stand in a pitch-black forest, surrounded by ancient trees and thousands of tiny green lanterns, is a sensory experience that feels both alien and deeply ancient. It reminds you that the Earth is alive in ways we rarely stop to notice.

How to See the Glow Without Getting Lost

• The “Blackout” Rule: Your eyes need about 10 to 15 minutes to adjust to the darkness before you can see the full intensity of the glow. Turn off your flashlight and wait.
• The No-Touch Policy: These mushrooms are incredibly delicate. Even the heat from a human finger can damage them. Observe, photograph, but never touch.
• The Photography Tip: You’ll need a tripod and a long exposure (at least 30 seconds) to capture the glow on camera. In 2026, most flagship smartphones have a “Night Mode” that can handle this, but nothing beats a professional lens for that “OMG” shot.