Japanese Wildlife
Japan is home to a wide range of flora and fauna. Many of our tours include visits to remoter regions, where encounters with wildlife are possible. The following details some of the animal species that, if only rarely met, may share the trails we use.
A high-pitched bleat usually signals the escape of a skittish shika deer (Cervus nippon), with its signature spots and white tail. Generally, in terms of sheer numbers, deer rule the forest along with the white-whiskered inoshishi wild boar (Sus scrofa leucomystax). Both are primarily nocturnal and will actively avoid encounters with humans. However, signs of their presence include trees with their bark stripped for food by deer, and earth upturned by boars searching for worms and grubs. The latter also create muddy pools for wallowing in.
Japanese saru macaque monkeys (Macaca fuscata) roam together in tight-knit troops. Whilst they range across large areas of Japan, it is mostly uncommon to come across them. Though not inherently aggressive, if encountered it is best to give them a wide berth as they can be dangerous if feeling provoked and especially when with their young.
Tsukino waguma Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) are found in remote mountainous regions of Honshu and Shikoku. A pivotal part of the ecosystem, they primarily feed on grasses, herbs, berries and nuts but can also be omnivorous. Signs of their presence include gnawed or clawed tree trunks, wooden posts and benches along some of the more remote trail courses. Kamoshika Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) were almost hunted to extinction but since being protected by law their numbers have increased significantly in Honshu. From afar these very placid animals have been mistaken for bears but are actually a distinct species akin to a cross between a deer and a goat. They will stand their ground and gently gaze at passers-by. Kamoshika provided the inspiration for the shishigami forest spirits in Hayao Miyazaki's acclaimed film Princess Mononoke.
Medium to small-sized mammals include anaguma badgers (Meles anakuma), hakubishin civets (Paguma larvata), tanuki raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes viverrinus), kitsune foxes (Vulpes vulpes), itachi weasels (Mustela itatsi) and nousagi hares (Lepus brachyurus). Their habitats range throughout Japan but they are not commonly seen.
Japan is also home to many varieties of reptiles, amphibians and insects. In woodlands, you may hear, but have difficulty in spotting, the distinctive croaking of the moriao-gaeru forest green tree frog (Zhangixalus arboreus). Hiki-gaeru toads (Bufo japonicus), by contrast, can sometimes be seen on trails, especially on rainy days. Both venomous and non-venomous snakes are found in rural areas, and while the mamushi pit viper (Gloydius blomhoffii) and yamakagashi tiger keelback (Rhabdophis tigrinus) are best avoided, others such as the aodaisho rat snake (Elaphe climacophora) and the shimahebi striped or black snake (Elaphe quadrivirgata) have been longtime friends of farmers thanks to their voracious appetites for rodents.
Imori Japanese fire belly newts (Cynops pyrrhogaster) and sawagani freshwater crabs (Geothelphusa dehaani) are riverine dwellers, and shiomaneki fiddler crabs (Tubuca arcuata) are found in many coastal regions often up to a few kilometres inland. On rainy days, the large and bluey-purple coloured Siebold earthworms (Pheretima sieboldi) often make an appearance on forest trails. In the late spring, hotaru fireflies bring a charming spectacle of tracery light to the evening, while in summer semi cicadas serenade with their resonant and iconic high-pitched, wavering songs. This is also a time when tonbo dragonflies are often found hovering over bodies of water, such as rice paddies, and many species of ageha-cho swallowtail butterflies flit to and fro.
Birds are abundant in Japan with over 600 species inhabiting the Japanese archipelago. Misago osprey (Pandion haliaetus) and u cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) dive for fish in oceans, rivers and lakes, while umeneko black-tailed gulls (Larus crassirostris) are opportunist coastal hunters. Signs in many shops near coasts and rivers will also warn travellers to guard their sandwiches and ice cream cones from the diving tonbi black kite (Milvus migrans). In Hokkaido, tancho red-crowned cranes (Grus japonensis) are synonymous with Japan’s most northerly island particularly in and around the Kushiro marshlands. Lauded in environmental circles is the return of konotori storks (Ciconia boyciana) to the Japan Sea coast helped by local farmers turning to chemical-free organic rice cultivation.
Hayabusa peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) has also been adopted as the name for the Tohoku Shinkansen that travels at their same diving speed of 320km per hour. Aosagi grey herons (Ardea cinerea) and shirasagi white egrets (Ardea alba) are frequently seen towering over riverbeds and paddies in search of prey, while Japan’s national bird, the kiji pheasant (Phasianus versicolor) takes refuge in, and adds color to, the farmer’s field. Karasu large-billed crows (Corvus macrorhynchos), suzume tree sparrows (Passer montanus), shijukara Japanese tit (Parus minor) and sekirei wagtail (Motacilla alba) are ubiquitous in both urban and rural landscapes. The distinctive “ho-hokekyo” mating cry of the uguisu bush warbler (Horornis diphone) marks the beginning of spring. Tsubame swallows (Hirundo rustica) wheel acrobatically in the skies from April to August.
Japan is surrounded by many seas and oceans that are home to thousands of fish species, crustaceans and molluscs; the Seto Inland Sea alone is home to around 600. The rivers and ponds of Japan also provide a variety of freshwater fish and crabs. However, fish and their ilk are mostly encountered at meal times.
Precautions
Although expert and local opinions can diverge on the best course of action when encountering wildlife, some general rules hold true: make sure your presence is known, avoid provocation and do not assume predictable behaviour.
Much of Japan’s wildlife is uncommonly seen, not least because it usually senses any human presence first and disappears to avoid contact. That being said, being prepared for a chance encounter is prudent. Wildlife is inherently unpredictable when taken unawares, so it is best practice to avoid surprising or provoking it. In order to manage risks effectively while walking, please note the following on wildlife and plants that require greater awareness and caution.
Tsukino waguma black bears are found in mountainous areas of Honshu and to a very limited extent in Shikoku. In northern Honshu, where they are most common, local authorities take measures to promote awareness and ensure safety. The higuma Ussuri brown bear is both larger and can be more aggressive, but is native only to Hokkaido. In years of scarcity, bears will sometimes venture out of their usual ranges in mountain forests into human settlements in search of food. Even when sustenance is plenty, there have been reports of weaker bears being ousted from the forests by stronger kin and resorting to scavenging. While encounters are very unlikely on tour, bears do inhabit the remoter areas some tours pass through, and local authorities will sometimes temporarily close trails when there has been an increase in bear sightings in an area. The Ministry of Environment advises trail walkers to make noise, such as using a bear bell, to alert wildlife to your presence. Japanese, for example, often have a radio on. It is also advised to avoid early morning and evening walks in bear territory.
Inoshishi wild boar have been known to cause injury when surprised and especially when cornered, but this is a rare occurrence. The far bigger problem is the nuisance they cause farmers. When they are unfamiliar with human interaction, saru macaque monkeys may become aggressive when being stared down, having their photographs taken or if approached rapidly. The local adage “Never throw a rock at a monkey, because it learns to throw it back” reflects just how close their mindset is to our own. Where saru are familiar with visitors, such as the hot spring bathing troops, they are much more forbearing but care should still be taken.
Japan is also home to some reptiles and insects that can be dangerous. Mamushi pit vipers are venomous and best avoided by keeping a good distance if spotted as they have been known to strike from up to a metre away. They also tend to hide themselves in dry, grassy patches of land, so avoid going off the path into these areas. The large suzumebachi Japanese hornet, which is active in the summer and autumn months, is the most common cause of wildlife-related fatalities in Japan. Multiple stingings can lead to anaphylactic shock. If encountered, refrain from swatting and leave the area as quickly and quietly as possible. Hornets have a negative reaction to black and brownish colours so wearing lighter coloured clothing is recommended. Madani ticks are also found in bush and grassland areas in Japan and have been known to carry disease. Ka mosquitoes are common throughout Japan especially in the summer months, while hiru leeches are found in some limited areas during the warm and humid rainy season. Additionally, chadokuga tea tussock moths, both as caterpillars and in their adult form, have tiny bristles that leave a rash if brushed against, while imori fire-belly newts release a toxin that should be washed off quickly if touched. In general, it is better not to handle any creature without knowing that they are harmless.
A small number of plants found in Japan can also be harmful if touched or ingested. Most common of these are the distinctive flared stem of urushi lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum), nurude sumac (Rhus javanica) and hazenoki wax tree (Toxicodendron succedaneum). All three contain urushiol, a name derived from urushi, and which is the same active ingredient found in poison ivy and poison oak that causes rashes and itching. Among other poisonous plants are torikabuto monkshood or wolfsbane (Aconitum), doku-zeri water hemlock (Cicuta virosa) and doku-utsugi false blueberry (Coriaria japonica). Monkshood, which has small, purple flowers, is found primarily at higher elevations; water hemlock has white flowers and thick stems, and false blueberry bears red tufted fruit, all of which are toxic and to be avoided.
