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. Here are three examples of the animals you're likely to encounter.
Nara deer. These Sika deer, numbering over a thousand, gambol unhesitatingly between amused visitors and stalls in the 500-hectare Kasuga-taisha park. They're not at all shy. These animals are considered messengers of the gods, so it's easy to see why they're the kings of the park. You can also see the Miyajima deer, smaller than the Nara deer, on an excursion to the island of the same name.
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. If you decide to visit the Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano Prefecture in winter, you can watch 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're called zuwaigani here, and the Japanese love them in winter. Yes, 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.
The 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. It should be borne in mind, however, that the multitude of microclimates and the interpenetration of trends between zones influenced by winds coming from the Sea of Japan and those subject to the influence of the Pacific are at the origin of great climatic diversity and floral variety.
Northern zone with arctic influences. This zone covers the mountainous areas of the island of Hokkaidō and northern Honshū. It features conifers such as Todomatsu and Shirabe, but also deciduous trees like Kamba and Miyama-manakamado.
Northern zone. This botanical zone covers northern Honshū and southern Hokkaidō. Here you'll find deciduous trees like bunas and, of course, conifers: Hinoki and Hiba, as well as 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 (Kuromatsu, Sugi, Hinoki, Kunugi and Konara).
Southern zone. This zone covers, roughly speaking, southern Kyūshū and the Ryūkyū Islands. The climate here oscillates between warm influences and tropical zones. You'll find evergreen trees, as well as coconut, banana, camphor and lemon trees: Kusunoki and Tachibana.
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(ume), daphne, cherry(sakura), wisteria, azalea, peony, iris, camellia, lotus, chrysanthemum.
