Toyama’s glowing firefly squid are back—and you can eat them

Firefly squid shabu-shabu, snow crab and traditional woodworking in Toyama

Toyama in spring has a glow—sometimes literally.

At Mercure Toyama Tonami Resort & Spa (メルキュール富山砺波リゾート＆スパ), a seasonal stay taps into one of the bay’s most unusual delicacies: firefly squid.

Each spring, thousands of these tiny squid gather along the Toyama Bay shoreline to spawn, flashing an electric-blue glow in the water. It’s a quietly surreal local spectacle—and also something people here like to eat.

The highlight is Hotaruika Shabu-shabu (ホタルイカしゃぶしゃぶ). Fresh squid are dipped briefly in hot broth, then eaten with ponzu made from local yuzu citrus.
The plan runs from March 1 to May 31, with all-inclusive stays starting at ¥13,750.

Another option centers on Benizuwai-gani (紅ズワイガニ), a deep-sea snow crab known for its sweet, juicy meat, served buffet-style. This plan runs until April 14 from ¥13,000 per night.

Guests can also try Kumiko (組子) woodworking, a traditional Japanese craft that creates delicate geometric patterns by fitting wooden pieces together without nails. Workshops are led by craftsmen from a Tonami joinery shop founded in 1933.

Nearby, the Tonami Tulip Fair brings fields of 3.5 million tulips into bloom, the UNESCO-listed Gokayama villages sit within easy reach, and the Asahi Funakawa “Spring Quartet”（春の四重奏） offers a postcard-worthy scene of cherry blossoms, tulips, rapeseed flowers and the snowcapped Northern Alps.

Glowing squid, endless crab and a bit of woodworking in between.
Spring in Toyama is oddly specific—and that’s exactly why it works.

👉 After firefly squid, head to Ishikawa for Noto beef and nodoguro teppanyaki

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Hotaruika Shabu-shabu All-Inclusive Plan
 Period: Mar 1 – May 31, 2026
 Price: From ¥13,750 per person per night (all-inclusive)
 Details: https://mercure-toyamatonami-resortandspa.jp/plan/hotaruika_shabu-shabu/

Benizuwai-gani All-Inclusive Plan
 Period: Until Apr 14, 2026
 Price: From ¥13,000 per person per night (all-inclusive)
 Details: https://mercure-toyamatonami-resortandspa.jp/plan/winter-crab-allinclusive/

Kumiko Workshop
 Dates: Mar 20–22, Mar 28–29, May 2–5, 2026
 Fee: ¥3,000

Mercure Toyama Tonami Resort & Spa
 Address: 330 Yasukawa Tenno, Tonami, Toyama, Japan
 Website: https://mercure-toyamatonami-resortandspa.jp/

Note: Availability and menu items may change depending on ingredient supply.