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Wildlife of Japan
Especially the ones you see in Winter
Going
to
Japan
is
not
all
about
what
you
do
on
your
board
or
your
skis.
It
has
a
wide
array
of
wildlife,
and
whilst
some
hibernate
throughout
the
winter
others
can
be
seen
straight
from
the
chairlifts.
All
you
need
is a little luck and to keep your eyes out.
Animals you might see if you spend a few days on the slopes are:
•
the
Japanese
serow
(a
very
large
antelope-goat
creature
weighing
up
to
130
kg).
They
feed
on
leaves,
acorns
and
the
buds of new leaves.
•
the
Japanese
macaque
(snow
monkey)
which
is
the
world's
most
northerly
primate.
One
way
it
manages
to
keep
warm
is
by
bathing
in
the
hot
springs,
and
there
are
tours
to
go
and
see
these
monkeys
running
from
Hakuba
which
you
can
tag
onto
your
ski
tour.
Lately
they
have
also
been
easy
to
see
seen
right
in the middle of some of the runs on Happo ski resort.
•
the
Japanese
hare
is
endemic
to
Japan,
and
changes
colour
from
brown
to
white
in
winter.
It
can
be
distinguished
by
the
black
tips on it's ears
•
the
Japanese
Racoon
dog
is
actually
a
distant
relative
of
the
dog,
and
not
a
racoon
at
all.
It
is
omnivorous
eating
insects,
rodents, leaves, bulbs and fruit.
•
the
Asiatic
black
bear
hibernates
throughout
from
October
to
April
so
you
are
unlikely
to
see
it
unless
you
are
in
Japan
for
spring
skiing.
They
are
very
uncommon
but
if
seen
should
be
given a wide berth.
•
the
Red
Fox
is
native
to
Japan
and
can
be
seen
from
time
to
time.
Footprints in the snow
Whilst you are on that ski lift, take time to look for
animal footprints. They are literally everywhere
whenever you pass through a forested zone. Hopefully
the pictures below be of aid to you in identifying which
animal they are from.
Japanese Fox footprints
The cheapest ski holidays for the best ski resort in Japan.