The species grows to about 4–5 cm and lives primarily in Suruga Bay in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, where it is caught to be eaten.

[9] Most members of Sergestes normally emit light, but for a long time, the sakura shrimp had not been observed to luminesce, despite having photophores.

[21] The pelagic[23] Sakura shrimp live in coastal areas, primarily in Suruga Bay in Shizuoka Prefecture, where they form in dense aggregations.

[28] Spawning occurs between late May and early November, but primarily in July and August when surface water temperatures are above 20 °C.

As they mature they grow and change colour from yellow to milky blue and finally bluish-green at the time of spawning.

The eggs are not sticky, and with density similar to seawater they remain wafting, typically near the spot they were spawned, spending the course of their life as plankton.

During the two fishing periods of March to June and October to December the sakura shrimp are caught by trawling at night.