Below you can find a complete list of Japanese animals. We currently track 155 animals in Japan and are adding more every day!
For more than a millennium, the outside world has referred to Japan as “the land of the rising sun.” This Asian nation is made up of large and small islands along the Pacific Rim.
Japan is home to fascinating creatures, some of which inspired the mythology and legends of the land. Keep reading to learn more about Japan’s rare and unique animals.
Japanese Wildlife Summary
Japan’s islands cover a wide variety of habitats and climate zones. In fact, Japan’s southernmost islands, including Okinawa, have a hot, humid, subtropical climate, while the northernmost island of Hokkaido has long, cold winters and cool summers.
This means that the country’s unique wildlife also varies greatly. There are large mammals such as bears, unique seagoing mammals like the dugong, and a few rare and amazing animals you may have never hear of – raccoon dogs, giant salamanders, cute snow monkeys, and island wildcats.
The Official National Animal
What animals are Japan’s national symbols? The so-called snow monkey, the Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata), is Japan’s national animal.
Japan also has a national bird – the Japanese pheasant or green pheasant (Phasianus versicolor).
Where To Find The Top Wild Animals in Japan
Snow monkeys are the top animal to see during your visit to Japan. They can be found at Jigokudani Yaen Kōen snow monkey park in Nagano Prefecture. The best time to see them is during the winter, December through March when snow is on the ground.
Would you like to see bears in Japan? check out the Kuma Bokujo bear park in Noboribetsu, Hokkaido. They can be found there year-round.
Scuba diving and snorkeling are popular activities in the warm southern waters. You may see tropical fish or even some of Japan’s aquatic mammals.
The Most Dangerous Animals in Japan Today
You should always give wildlife plenty of space. This is true for its two bear species. The wild boar has also been known to bite and give chase. If you see these animals in the wild, keep a safe distance.
A number of venomous snakes live in this country. These include the Japanese pit viper or Mamushi and the Okinawan habu. Bites from giant centipedes and redback spiders, as well as giant hornet stings, can be dangerous and may require medical attention.
Endangered Animals in Japan
Japan is home to a number of rare species endangered or becoming extinct. These include the Japanese short-tailed bat, Southeast Asian long-fingered bat, Bonin flying fox, Amami rabbit, Tokunoshima and Ryuku spiny rats, Ryukus Islands tree rat, Etigo mole, Orii’s shrew, Izu tit, Okinawa rail, Yanbaru long-armed scarab beetle, sword-tailed newt, Anderson’s crocodile newt, Ryuku leaf turtle, Sakishima grass lizard, banded ground gecko, Hakuba and Oita salamanders, Holst’s frog, greater and Okinawa tip-nosed frogs, and the Amami Oshima frog.
Japanese Animals
Ainu
An innate sense of direction!
Akita
Very clean, intelligent and loyal!
Ant
First evolved 100 million years ago!
Antelope
Renew their horns every year!
Asian Giant Hornet
The largest wasp in the world!
Asiatic Black Bear
Known to eat 160 different tree-borne fruits in Thailand!
Aurochs
Extinct ancestor of all domesticated cattle!
Barb
There are over 2,000 known species!
Barn Owl
Found everywhere around the world!
Barn Swallow
Older offspring help care for new hatchlings.
Bat
Detects prey using echolocation!
Bear
There are 8 different species!
Beetle
There are more than 350,000 different species
Bird
Not all birds are able to fly!
Black Widow Spider
They typically prey on insects!
Bumblebee
The most common species of bee!
Butterfly
There are thought to be up 20,000 species!
Camel Cricket
The camel crickets that are found in the USA are light brown in color. They also have dark streaks all over their body.
Carpenter Ant
Carpenter ants can lift up to seven times their own weight with their teeth!
Cat
First domesticated by the Ancient Egyptians!
Caterpillar
The larvae of a moth or butterfly!
Catfish
There are nearly 3,000 different species!
Centipede
There are about 3,000 documented species!
Chicken
First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!
Chinese Geese
They are excellent “guard geese”
Cockroach
Dated to be around 300 million years old!
Common Buzzard
The most common raptor in the UK!
Cow
There are nearly 1.5 million worldwide!
Crab
There are 93 different crab groups
Crab Spider
Crab Spiders can mimic ants or bird droppings
Crane
Many are critically endangered species!
Crocodile
Have changed little in 200 million years!
Deer
There are around 40 different species!
Dog
First domesticated in South-East Asia!
Donkey
First domesticated 5,000 years ago!
Dragonfly
It's larvae are carnivorous!
Duck
Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!
Dung Beetle
The dung beetle can push objects many times its own weight
Eagle
Has exceptional eyesight!
Earwig
There are nearly 2,000 different species!
Eel
Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!
Falcon
The fastest creatures on the planet!
Fire-Bellied Toad
Found across mainland Europe and Asia!
Fly
There are more than 240,000 different species!
Flying Squirrel
Can glide up to 90 meters!
Fox
There are 12 different species in the world!
Frog
There are around 7,000 different species!
Gecko
There are thought to be over 2,000 species!
Gerbil
Originally known as the Desert Rat!
Giant Salamander
Cryptobranchus giant salamanders breathe mostly through their skin.
Glass Lizard
Can grow up to 4ft long!
Glow Worm
Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!
Goat
Most closely related to the Sheep!
Golden Oriole
Migrates between Europe and Asia!
Goose
There are 29 different species!
Grasshopper
There are 11,000 known species!
Green Bee-Eater
Mainly eats honeybees!
Hamster
Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!
Hare
Can reach speeds of over 40 mph!
Hedgehog
Thought to be one of the oldest mammals on Earth!
Heron
Inhabits wetlands around the world!
Honey Bee
There are only 8 recognized species!
Hoopoe
Stunning bird with a stinky way to deter predators!
Horse
Has evolved over 50 million years!
Horsefly
Horseflies have been seen performing Immelmann turns, much like fighter jets.
Human
Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!
Huntsman Spider
Some huntsman spiders have an interesting way of moving around. Some cartwheel while others do handsprings or backflips.
Ibis
Found in swamps, marshes and wetlands!
Insects
There are an estimated 30 million species!
Japanese Beetle
Can clear an entire fruit tree in 15 minutes in a swarm
Japanese Chin
Alert, intelligent and independent!
Japanese Macaque
Has cheek pouches for storing food!
Japanese Spitz
The Japanese Spitz is sometimes referred to as a cloud dog.
Japanese Squirrel
The Japanese squirrel hoards its food for the winter
Japanese Terrier
Japanese Terriers are also called Nippon Terriers
Kai Ken
Kai Ken are a very rare breed of dog from Japan, though pure breeds are even harder to come by.
Kingfisher
Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!
Ladybug
There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!
Liger
The offspring of a lion and tiger parents!
Lizard
There are around 5,000 different species!
Locust
Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day.
Long-Eared Owl
Ear tufts make it look bigger!
Magpie
They are found across Europe, Asia and Africa!
Mallard
With an appropriate tail wind, the mallard can travel hundreds of miles a day
Masked Palm Civet
Found throughout Asia, India and China!
Mayfly
There are 2,500 known species worldwide!
Millipede
Some species have a poisonous bite!
Mole
Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!
Mole Cricket
Adult Mole crickets may fly as far as 5 miles during mating season and are active most of the year.
Mongoose
Range in size from just 1 to 3 foot!
Mongrel
Has characteristics of two or more breeds!
Monitor Lizard
Some species are thought to carry a weak venom!
Monkey
There are around 260 known species!
Moorhen
Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!
Moth
There are 250,000 different species!
Mouse
Found on every continent on Earth!
Mule
The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!
Neanderthal
Roamed Asia and Europe for around 100,000 years!
Newt
Able to regrow lost or damaged limbs!
Nightingale
Named more than 1,000 years ago!
No See Ums
There are more than 5,000 species.
Otter
There are 13 different species worldwide
Parakeet
Monk parakeets are the only parakeets that actually build nests. They’re also the only parakeets to nest in great colonies.
Parrot
Can live for up to 100 years!
Peregrine Falcon
Fastest animal on Earth
Pheasant
Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!
Pig
Thought to have been domesticated in 9,000 BC!
Pigeon
They can find their way back to their nests from up to 1300 miles away.
Pika
Found in mountainous regions and rocky areas
Pond Skater
There are 500 different species!
Porcupine
There are 30 different species worldwide!
Quail
Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!
Rabbit
There are more than 50 different species!
Raccoon Dog
The only hibernating canine!
Rat
Omnivores that eat anything!
Rhinoceros
It's horns are made from keratin!
River Turtle
Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!
Robin
There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!
Rodents
The capybara, the world’s largest rodent, likes to be in and around bodies of water. Because of this, the Catholic Church in South America decided that it was a fish, and people were allowed to eat it during Lent and First Fridays.
Salamander
There are more than 700 different species!
Scorpion
There are around 2,000 known species!
Seahorse
Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!
Sheep
Around 35 million in the English countryside!
Shiba Inu
Shiba Inus are one of six native dog breeds from Japan.
Shrimp
There are 2,000 different species worldwide!
Skink Lizard
Some skinks lay eggs in some habitats while giving birth to skinklets in other habitats.
Slow Worm
Found widely throughout British gardens!
Snail
There are nearly 1,000 different species!
Snake
There are around 3,000 known species worldwide
Sparrow
There are 140 different species!
Spider Wasp
They prey on spiders to feed their larvae or they parasitize other spider wasps.
Spotted Lanternfly
The spotted lanternfly is often confused for a moth, but it’s actually a type of planthopper
Squirrel
Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!
Stick Insect
There are more than 3,000 different species!
Stoat
Average adults weigh about 200 grams!
Swan
Populations have been affected by pollution!
Termite
Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!
Thrush
The American robin is called the robin because its red breast reminded European settlers of the robin back in the old country.
Tortoise
Can live until they are more than 150 years old!
Tree Frog
Found in warmer jungles and forests!
Uguisu
Their guano is used in face creams!
Vulture
There are 30 different species worldwide!
Wasp
There are around 75,000 recognised species!
Water Buffalo
Has been domesticated for thousands of years!
Water Dragon
Spends most of it's time in the trees!
Weasel
The smallest carnivorous mammal in the world!
White Tiger
None have been seen in the wild for 50 years!
Wild Boar
Males have a top tusk to sharpen the bottom one!
Wolf
Thought to date back more than 300,000 years!
Wolf Spider
Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.
Wood Turtle
Temperature determines the sex of turtle eggs
Woodlouse
Actually a crustacean, not an insect!
Woodpecker
There are 200 different species!
Zebu
There are around 75 different species!
Japanese Animals List
- Ainu
- Akita
- Ant
- Antelope
- Asian Giant Hornet
- Asiatic Black Bear
- Aurochs
- Barb
- Barn Owl
- Barn Swallow
- Bat
- Bear
- Beetle
- Bird
- Black Widow Spider
- Bumblebee
- Butterfly
- Camel Cricket
- Carpenter Ant
- Cat
- Caterpillar
- Catfish
- Centipede
- Chicken
- Chinese Geese
- Cockroach
- Common Buzzard
- Cow
- Crab
- Crab Spider
- Crane
- Crocodile
- Deer
- Dog
- Donkey
- Dormouse
- Dragonfly
- Duck
- Dung Beetle
- Eagle
- Earwig
- Eel
- Falcon
- Fire-Bellied Toad
- Fly
- Flying Squirrel
- Fox
- Frog
- Gecko
- Gerbil
- Giant Salamander
- Glass Lizard
- Glow Worm
- Goat
- Golden Oriole
- Goose
- Grasshopper
- Green Bee-Eater
- Hamster
- Hare
- Hedgehog
- Heron
- Honey Bee
- Hoopoe
- Horse
- Horsefly
- Human
- Huntsman Spider
- Ibis
- Insects
- Japanese Beetle
- Japanese Chin
- Japanese Macaque
- Japanese Spitz
- Japanese Squirrel
- Japanese Terrier
- Kai Ken
- Kingfisher
- Ladybug
- Liger
- Lizard
- Locust
- Long-Eared Owl
- Magpie
- Mallard
- Masked Palm Civet
- Mayfly
- Millipede
- Mole
- Mole Cricket
- Mongoose
- Mongrel
- Monitor Lizard
- Monkey
- Moorhen
- Moth
- Mouse
- Mule
- Neanderthal
- Newt
- Nightingale
- No See Ums
- Otter
- Parakeet
- Parrot
- Peregrine Falcon
- Pheasant
- Pig
- Pigeon
- Pika
- Pond Skater
- Porcupine
- Quail
- Rabbit
- Raccoon Dog
- Rat
- Rhinoceros
- River Turtle
- Robin
- Rodents
- Salamander
- Scorpion
- Seahorse
- Sheep
- Shiba Inu
- Shrimp
- Skink Lizard
- Slow Worm
- Snail
- Snake
- Sparrow
- Spider Wasp
- Spotted Lanternfly
- Squirrel
- Stick Insect
- Stoat
- Swan
- Termite
- Thrush
- Tortoise
- Tree Frog
- Uguisu
- Vulture
- Wasp
- Water Buffalo
- Water Dragon
- Weasel
- White Tiger
- Wild Boar
- Wolf
- Wolf Spider
- Wood Turtle
- Woodlouse
- Woodpecker
- Zebu
Animals in Japan FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What Is Japan's Most Famous Animal?
It could be argued that Japan’s most famous animals are those of mythology. The Japanese dragon has a serpentine shape, likely based on sea snakes. Other myths speak of fox spirits that can transform into humans.
Many of these animal spirits are reflected in anime and other media. For example, the cute characters of the Pokémon franchise, such as Pikachu, could be said to be Japan’s most famous animals. Some of these creatures, like Ninetails, are based on animals of myth, which are in turn based on real animals. Others were derived directly from childhood experiences catching bugs in Japan. All embody the cute ideals of kawaii art.
What Kinds of Animals Live in Japan?
Japan is home to about 130 mammal species. The largest are the Ussuri brown bear (Ursus arctos) and the Asian black bear (U. thibetanus).
The Japanese macaque lives farther north than any other monkey in the world. It is often referred to as a snow monkey, famous for bathing in natural hot springs to stay warm during winter snows.
Japan is also home to a few very unique small to medium-sized mammals. One is the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides). It is a canine, related to the fox, but its markings resemble those of the North American raccoon. There are also two wildcats, the leopard cat and the Iriomote cat. Each of these housecat-sized wildcats lives only on a single island.
Other familiar mammals include the red fox, the Japanese marten, sika and Japanese serow deer, and wild boar. Unique ocean-dwelling mammals include the Steller’s sea lion, dugong, and finless porpoise.
Over 600 species of bird have been seen in Japan. These include red-crowned cranes, Japanese woodpeckers, copper pheasants, green pheasants, the Okinawa rail, the Izu thrush, and the Bonin white-eye. Like the wildcats, some of these birds are endemic to only a single island or a few small islands.
There are about 73 species of reptiles and 40 amphibians in Japan. The Japanese giant salamander is one of the largest amphibians in the world. Sea turtles and sea snakes may be seen in coastal waters. The tropical islands are home to several species of viper, and non-venomous snakes, lizards, and freshwater turtles are found throughout Japan. The Chinese alligator has been spotted in Japan, and fossil evidence has been found of an extinct crocodilian called Toyotamaphimeia machikanensis.
More than 3,000 types of freshwater and saltwater fish have been observed in Japan.
What is Japan's Animal Symbol?
The snow monkey or Japanese macaque is Japan’s national animal.
But many people also see the animals of the zodiac as symbols of Japan. The zodiac includes twelve animals: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and boar.
