So you know your shiitake from your enoki, but have you ever seen Japan’s hato-no-hi mushrooms? Every year in summer, these green glowing fungi spring up in forests in certain parts of Japan, and those in western Japan are apparently reaching their peak luminescence this week.
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The Mycena lux-coeli, also known as ‘forest fairies’, are bioluminescent mushrooms that are scattered throughout the forests of Ugui in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama prefecture. They’re harder to spot during the day since they only grow to 1cm-2cm in diameter, but once darkness falls, you’ll see plenty of these glow-in-the-dark mushrooms growing on old trees and soft ground.
These mythical-looking fungi were originally discovered in Hachijojima, a subtropical island that’s part of Tokyo prefecture, back in the 1950s. They have since been spotted in different parts of the country. Many mushroom enthusiasts journey deep into the forest to see these mesmerising mushrooms each year, but with domestic and international travel still restricted this year, only locals will get a chance to see them up close. That’s why we went deep into the wilds of Instagram to bring you the next best thing – beautiful nighttime shots of these spellbinding mushrooms, so you can enjoy them wherever you are right now.
These mythical-looking fungi were originally discovered in Hachijojima, a subtropical island that’s part of Tokyo prefecture, back in the 1950s. They have since been spotted in different parts of the country. Many mushroom enthusiasts journey deep into the forest to see these mesmerising mushrooms each year, but with domestic and international travel still restricted this year, only locals will get a chance to see them up close. That’s why we went deep into the wilds of Instagram to bring you the next best thing – beautiful nighttime shots of these spellbinding mushrooms, so you can enjoy them wherever you are right now.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
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