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 Japanese giant salamander and the Japanese macaque. From north to south, some 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 poisonous snake), cicadas(semi), cockroaches(gokiburi), hototogisu (a type of nightingale), zosterops, doves and falcons. While many of these animals are endangered, many birds (jays) and game birds such as pheasants and raptors (eagles and falcons) are still common. Here are three examples of animals you may encounter.
Nara deer. These Sika
deer number more than a thousand and they gambol, without hesitation, between the amused visitors and the stalls in the 500-hectare Kasuga-taisha Park. They are really not shy. These animals are considered as messengers of the gods, so it is easy to understand why they are the kings of the park. You can also see the Miyajima deer, smaller than the Nara deer, during an excursion on the island of the same name.Japanese macaques.
These monkeys are widespread in the archipelago and are also called "snow monkeys". Thanks to their thick fur, they are very resistant to cold and snow. If you decide to visit the Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano Prefecture in winter, you can see them enjoying a bath in the local hot springs.Snow crab. This species of crab lives in the cold waters of the Sea of Japan. They are called zuwaigani here and the Japanese love them in winter. Yes, these crabs are caught between November and March and their price can quickly rise. Some crabs even have names, which can also affect their popularity with gourmets
The flora
The forest occupies 68% of the archipelago. This high rate is due to the fact that it covers the mountains and that it provides the basic material for traditional constructions. One could roughly divide Japan into four botanical zones. However, it should be borne in mind that the multitude of microclimates and the interpenetration of trends between the areas influenced by the winds coming from the Sea of Japan and those influenced by the Pacific have resulted in a great climatic diversity and floral variety.
Northern zone with arctic influences.
This zone covers the mountainous areas of Hokkaidō Island and northern Honshū. It will mostly see conifers such as Todomatsu and Shirabe, but also deciduous trees such as Kamba and Miyama-manakamado.Northern Zone.
This botanical zone covers northern Honshū and southern Hokkaidō. Deciduous trees such as bunas and, of course, conifers will be encountered here: the Hinoki and Hiba, as well as the Sawakurumi and Harunire.Central zone.
This zone extends over most of Japan, as it covers central and southern Honshū, as well as the island of Shikoku and northern Kyūshū. There are many botanical varieties and temperate forests with evergreen trees (Shii, Sakaki, Tsubaki, Kashiwa), but also different varieties of pine trees (Kuromatsu, Sugi, Hinoki, Kunugi and Konara).Southern zone.
This is the zone that covers, roughly, southern Kyūshū and the Ryūkyū Islands. The climate here oscillates between warm influences and tropical zones. Therefore, one will find evergreen trees, but also coconut trees, banana trees, camphor trees, lemon trees: Kusunoki and Tachibana.Generally speaking, the flora of Japan 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 and chrysanthemum.
