Student Article

Japan's diverse climatic zones result in a wide range of wildlife, including subarctic, tropical, and endemic species. Here are some top wildlife spectacles and species to see in Japan during spring

Whooper Swan:

These winter visitors from the far north linger in Japan until April. Flocks gather around hot, volcanic springs on the otherwise frozen Lake Kussharo in Hokkaido, creating a picturesque scene.

Japanese Macaque:

Known as snow monkeys, these primates tolerate the coldest conditions of any other monkey. A population at Yudanaka on Honshu has learned to bathe in thermal springs, attracting many tourists.

Sika Deer:

Native to Japan, sika deer inhabit forests across the country. In spring, they form single-sex groups. Some bold individuals in Nara beg for food at a temple.

Red Fox:

Hokkaido's red foxes have dense, furry coats that gleam against the snow. They are active by day and hunt for food on the frozen sea.

Blakiston’s Eagle Owl:

Among the rarest night birds, this owl is reliably seen at two hotels in Hokkaido. The Indigenous Ainu people believe it is a deity that protects villages.

Steller’s Sea-Eagle:

This giant eagle, with its black and white body and yellow bill, eyes, and feet, mainly winters in Hokkaido. It gathers in hundreds on sea ice and at feeding stations.

Japanese Cherry Tree:

Each spring, people track the sakura zensen, the northward wave of cherry blossoms. The bloom starts in Okinawa in January and reaches Hokkaido by the end of April.

Red-Crowned Crane:

Known as Japan's "bird of happiness," these cranes perform a dancing display in early spring. They are over 5 feet tall with an 8-foot wingspan and are listed as endangered.

Japanese Giant Salamander:

The world's second-largest salamander, growing up to 5 feet long, inhabits cold, fast-flowing rivers in Kyushu and Honshu. They are nocturnal and hard to see.

Amami Rabbit:

This black rabbit lives in old-growth forests on two subtropical islands in the Ryukyu Archipelago. It is an evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered species.

Japan's spring season offers a rich array of wildlife and natural spectacles, making it a perfect time to explore the country's diverse ecosystems.

© James Lowen / Our Media