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- Grazing mammals include the sika deer (Cervus nippon), Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) and Japanese boar (Sus scrofa leucomystax).
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Wildlife_of_Japan
- Japanese Macaque. First stop, Jigokudani Monkey Park. Imagine chilling in a hot spring, snow gently falling, and next to you? A Japanese Macaque, just soaking the day away.
- Tanuki. Part adorable critter, part legendary shape-shifter, these raccoon dogs are all about the duality of Japan’s wildlife. Spotted a ceramic tanuki with a massive belly outside a restaurant?
- Nara’s Sacred Shika Deer. Ah, Nara Park, where deer roam free and the selfie opportunities are endless. But these aren’t just any deer; they’re considered sacred, thanks to a legend that a deity arrived in Nara on a white deer.
- Japanese Giant Salamander. Moving on to something a bit more…slippery. The Japanese Giant Salamander is a creature straight out of a fantasy novel. These amphibians are living fossils, unchanged for millions of years, and they’re huge—some grow up to 1.5 meters long!
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- Serow （カモシカ "Kamoshika"） Looking at its photo, you might be thinking, what on earth is this creature? A donkey? A goat? Actually, serows are ungulates, meaning they’re relatives of cows.
- Snow Monkey/ Japanese Macaque （サル "Saru"） A lot of people have heard of or seen Japan’s “snow monkeys”, thanks to their now well dated debut with David Attenborough on BBC.
- Bears （クマ "Kuma） Although you probably don’t have the image of island nation Japan as the home of any large dangerous animal, there are in fact two species of bear living here.
- Red-Crowned Cranes （つる "Tsuru"） Possibly the most famous of Japan’s native creatures is the crane, renowned as a national symbol. After nearly being hunted to extinction in the early 1900s, red-crowned cranes made somewhat of a comeback thanks to extensive conservation efforts, and were re-classified as “endangered”.
- Ryukyu Flying Fox
- Japanese Macaque
- Goblin Sharks
- Tanuki
- Giant Salamander
- Giant Spider Crab
- Bears
- Yamaneko Wildcat
- Blakiston’s Fish Owl
- Red Crowned Crane
This flying fox is a mammal that has a size of around 1.2 to 1.4 meters. Specifically, it is classified as a type of megabat that tends to live in swamp areas and forests. These megabats are nocturnal and very solitary. As such, they can be quite tricky to spot. If you want to see a flying fox in Japan, we recommend that you pay for a wildlife guid...
It’s likely that you recognize this species. The Japanese macaque, more commonly known as the snow monkey, is a particularly distinctive, endemic animal. They have pink faces, and thick coats, and are usually very sociable creatures. They are very common in Japan, and can usually be spotted in the right places. They primarily live on the Honshu, Ky...
If you’re not a fan of sharks or scary-looking sea life, we recommend skipping this section. The goblin shark has one of the most interesting appearances. It is a very rare species that is understood to be the last remaining shark of the Mitsukurinidae family. It is thought that the goblin shark has remained essentially unchanged for over 100 milli...
This species is often described as a ‘raccoon dog’ (see also ‘11 Top Dog Breeds From Japan‘), thanks to its appearance. However, it isn’t closely related to the raccoon. The tanuki is heavily featured in Japanese folklore, usually depicted as friendly but mischievous shapeshifters. If you visit Japan, you will likely see a number of tanuki statues....
The giant salamander is often described as a living dinosaur, and it’s not hard to see why! They are up to 5 feet in length and have a particularly pre-historic appearance. It is known in Japan as Ōsanshōuo, meaning ‘giant pepper fish’. This species is mostly nocturnal and lives in cool, clear water streams. If you want to see a giant salamander, y...
The giant spider crabis an invertebrate that grows to be around 3.7 meters. In fact, when fully grown, this strange creature can have a leg span of up to 12 feet! However, don’t let its freaky appearance scare you, the giant spider crap is a very quiet and calm species. Unfortunately, you’re unlikely to spot one of these creatures in the wild becau...
Japan is home to a range of different types of bears. In fact, they are the largest land animals in Japan. The most common species are Asian black bears and Ussuri brown bears. The former is very common, residing in many of Japan’s mountain ranges. The latter is less common, only being found on Hokkaido. However, if you want to spot a brown bear in...
There are many species of wildcat living in Japan. However, the Yamaneko wildcat is definitely worth an honorable mention. It is a particularly mysterious species, and is often described as the cat version of the ‘Loch Ness Monster’. This type of wildcat is related to a subspecies of leopard, which accounts for its leopard-like appearance. However,...
If you’re a fan of birds, you will be fascinated by his species of owl. It is one of the largest species of owl in the world and holds a special place in Japanese culture. Specifically, the Ainu people of Hokkaido worshiped this species and believed it protected them. While this owl is rare, it can be spotted. We recommend visiting Rausu, situated ...
This species of bird has an average size of 1.6 meters, a wingspan of around 2.5 meters, and a very distinctive appearance. As the name suggests, this species can be distinguished by a bright red spot on the top of the head. The red-crowned crane is actually a notable icon in Japanese wildlife. Thanks to excessive hunting, the species was very clos...
- Fox (キツネ) In Japanese Shintoism, several kinds of animals are considered the messengers of the gods, and foxes are among them. This explains why fox statues are often seen at Shinto shrines across Japan which protect the sacred shrine grounds as a guardian.
- Koi (鯉) Koi is a kind of freshwater fish that is native to Japan. They come in different sizes and colors, and Japanese people enjoy keeping them as ornamental fish at home or in ponds at traditional Japanese gardens.
- Cranes (鶴) Cranes are called “Tsuru” (鶴) in Japanese, and their beautiful appearance is characterized by the red patch on the head, white feathers, and a long thin neck.
- Frogs (カエル) Frogs are seen as iconic creatures that symbolize success and good fortune in Japan. Frogs are called “Kaeru” (カエル) in Japanese, which can also mean to return.
The wildlife of Japan includes its flora, fauna, and natural habitats. The islands of Japan stretch a long distance from north to south and cover a wide range of climatic zones. This results in a high diversity of wildlife despite Japan's isolation from the mainland of Asia.
Apr 19, 2022 · As the seasons change, so do the animals and a wide variety of small animals, birds, and large mammals are proud to call this country home. This article will cast a spotlight on the many majestic animals of Japan and the stunning habitats that they reside.
Mar 17, 2023 · What Kinds of Animals Live in Japan? Japan is home to about 130 mammal species. The largest are the Ussuri brown bear ( Ursus arctos ) and the Asian black bear ( U. thibetanus ).
