also: ホタルがり
noun
firefly watching
Refers to the activity of going out to observe fireflies, typically on summer evenings.
夏の夜、川沿いで蛍狩りを楽しんだ。
On a summer night, we enjoyed firefly watching along the river.
noun
firefly catching
Dated term for catching fireflies, often associated with traditional summer pastimes. Modern usage usually refers to watching rather than catching.
In the old days, children used to play by catching fireflies.
Compound of 蛍 (ほたる, 'firefly') and 狩り (かり, 'hunting'), literally 'firefly hunting'. The term originally referred to catching fireflies but shifted to mean watching them as the practice became less common.