Asahina Ryusei Insect Museum

Hercules Beetle, truly “huge”

I’d heard the name “Hercules Beetle” back in elementary school,

but this was my first time seeing the real thing!! You just can’t grasp that size without seeing it in person.

Hercules Beetle.

Seeing it move right before your eyes makes you involuntarily go, “Whoa…”

The length of its horns, the thickness of its body, its slow-moving legs.

It truly has the presence of a “king.” It’s probably about 1/100th my size, but… a little scary 💦

↓This is the real thing.

Shimmering colors. Rainbow Stag Beetle

And another one that personally moved me was the Rainbow Stag Beetle. True to its name, its colors are like jewels.

A mysterious sheen that’s neither green, nor blue, nor purple… Oh, a rainbow! lol

It sparkles even more in real life than in photos. It seems to glow under the light. Apparently, it doesn’t shine this brightly in nature. Makes sense—it’d be a dead giveaway to predators. 💦

The way its colors shift with the angle makes you want to snap photo after photo.

Even if you’re not into insects, you might find yourself thinking, “This one’s kinda pretty.”

↓This one’s real too.

Insects from Around the World

Of course, rhinoceros beetles and stag beetles are featured, but butterflies, longhorn beetles, and many others are also abundantly displayed.

Other Services

Beyond the exhibits, you’ll find services like creating insect specimens from deceased specimens, selling items like “insect stamps” (a play on the traditional temple stamp “goshuin”) lol, and insect jelly. There’s so much to see that time just flies by.

I never knew about insect jelly. Back in my day, watermelon jelly was the only choice.

And when it comes to Asahina, there’s the “Great Dragon Rocket.”

The Asahina district, home to the Insect Museum, holds another great source of pride.

That is the “Asahina Great Dragon Rocket.”

The Great Dragon Rocket is a traditional event where handmade rockets crafted from bamboo are launched into the sky. It is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.

It’s not just any event.

It’s a genuine Ryusei, where local people spend months preparing, passing down techniques, and launching their prayers into the sky.

The moment it blasts off from the launch pad with a thunderous roar is truly spectacular.

The sound echoing through the mountains, the white smoke trail drawn across the sky. It gives me goosebumps every single time, no matter how many times I see it.

Here, you can watch videos of the launches projected on a large screen. The museum also displays models of the Great Dragon Fireworks and various photographs.

Enjoy both “Insects” and “Great Dragon Fireworks” in one visit.

Asahina: A Town Connecting History

The history of the Great Dragon Festival is said to date back to the Warring States period. The technology for handling gunpowder took root in the region, intertwining with faith and rituals, and has been passed down to its present form.

It’s not just about spectacle; there lies a time preserved as the “pride of the community.”

Touch the “life of nature” at the Insect Museum, and touch the “history and skill of people” at the Great Dragon Festival.

Asahina may seem quiet, but it’s actually a place of profound depth.

Sip tea in the land of gyokuro, immerse yourself in history and culture at the Asahina Ryusei and Insect Museum, soak in the hot springs, and toast with beer—isn’t that just the best?!