Wildlife
The fauna is very similar to that of China and Korea, due to the ancient migrations that took place when Japan was still attached to the rest of the Asian continent. However, some of Japan's species are unique, such as the giant Japanese salamander and the Japanese macaque. From north to south, a few specimens of brown bears, seals, walruses, sea lions, weasels, ermines, minks, sea eagles, guillemots, crested cormorants, swans, cranes (tsuru), wild ducks, white-collared bears, deer, wild boar, wolves, foxes, weasels, badgers (tanuki), habu (a large venomous snake), cicadas (semi), cockroaches (gokiburi), hototogisu (a type of nightingale), zosterops, doves and falcons. While many of these animals are endangered, a large number of birds (jays) and game birds such as pheasants and birds of prey (eagles and falcons) are still common. In the forests of Tōhoku, it's still possible to spot the black woodpecker or even the Asiatic black bear, which survives in small numbers in the remote mountains. Here are three examples of animals you may encounter.
Japanese macaques. These monkeys, widespread in the Archipelago, are also known as "snow monkeys". Thanks to their thick fur, they are highly resistant to cold and snow. In northern Tōhoku, around Shirakami-Sanchi or Mount Hachimantai, it's not uncommon to come across one in the middle of the forest.
Sika deer. Present in several Japanese regions, it also populates the mountains of Tōhoku. More shy than its Nara cousins, it is best seen at dawn or dusk, in forest clearings.
Snow crab. This species of crab lives in the cold waters of the Sea of Japan. They're called zuwaigani here, and the Japanese love them in winter. The fishing ports of Tōhoku, notably Akita, Niigata and Yamagata, play an active role in this highly regulated seasonal fishery. These crabs are caught between November and March, and their price can quickly climb. Some crabs even have their own names, which can also affect their popularity with gourmets.
Flora
Forest covers 68% of the archipelago. This high percentage is due to the fact that it covers the mountains and provides the basic material for traditional construction. Japan can be roughly divided into four botanical zones: the northern zone, the northeastern zone, the central zone and the southern zone. It should be borne in mind, however, that the multitude of microclimates and the interpenetration of trends between areas influenced by winds coming from the Sea of Japan and those subject to the influence of the Pacific are the source of great climatic diversity and floral variety.
The Tōhoku zone is in the north-northeast. Here, you'll find conifers such as Todomatsu and Shirabe, but also deciduous trees like bunas, Miyama-manakamado, Sawakurumi and Harunire. Tōhoku, notably in Shirakami-Sanchi (a UNESCO World Heritage site), preserves vast primary beech forests, a refuge for precious biodiversity.
Generally speaking, Japan's flora includes the following species: pine, fir, bamboo, giant cryptomeria (sugi), gingko (40-tree), lacquer tree (urushi), camphor tree (kusunoki), white sandalwood, serrated oak, plum tree (ume), daphne, cherry tree (sakura), wisteria, azalea, peony, iris, camellia, lotus, chrysanthemum. In spring, the cherry trees of Tōhoku are famous for their late blooming, often from early April to mid-April, with famous locations such as Kakunodate, Hirosaki or Kitakami. In autumn, the mountains around Naruko, Bandai and Zao are adorned with flamboyant reds.
