Japan has an extremely complex zoogeographical history due to the continuous rise and fall of the sea level that repeatedly connected and severed the islands from the Chinese mainland. Generally speaking, the fauna and flora of the Japanese archipelago can be divided into three categories: that of the Southeast Asiatic tropical zone, the Korean and Chinese temperate zone and the Siberian subarctic zone.

The Southeast Asiatic tropical zone extends from Taiwan up into the Ryukyu island chain (Okinawa). Wildlife typically associated with this zone includes the flying fox, crested serpent eagle, variable lizard and butterflies of the Danaidae family. Animals that belong to the Korean and Chinese temperate zone inhabit the deciduous forests of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, the most common of which are the racoon dog, sika deer and mandarin duck. If you're lucky, you'll see the rarer yellow marten, badger and flying squirrel, while - looking out to sea in central Honshu - you may also spot sea lions and fur seals. The Siberian sub-arctic zone covers the coniferous forests of Hokkaido, inhabited by the brown bear, rabbit-like pika, hazel grouse, common lizard, arctic hare and nine-spined stickleback, amongst others.

In addition, the archipelago contains a number of endemic species such as the Japanese macaque, Japanese dormouse, copper pheasant, giant salamander, primitive dragonfly, Pryer's woodpecker and Amami spiny mouse, all of which are now relatively rare. Japan is also home to a number of "living fossils", animals whose characteristics differ from more developed species- such as the critically endangered Amami rabbit and Iriomote wild cat (both native to the Ryukyu Islands), the frilled shark and the horseshoe crab of Sagami Bay, off Kamakura. Another animal worthy of mention is the freshwater spider crab, the world's largest crustacean, with an awe-inspiring clawspan of up to 3.7m.

Unless you get off the beaten track, contact with wildlife may well be limited to a less inspiring selection of English sparrows, pigeons, cockroaches and the ubiquitous crow. Smaller urban areas (and indeed the suburbs of the larger ones) do, however, offer plenty of hidden treasures for the wildlife enthusiast. Racoon dogs , or tanuki , with their waddling gait, come out at night to forage for food. They are an integral part of Japanese folklore, in which they are believed to have supernatural powers and make all sorts of mischief; they are always depicted as big-bellied, with huge testicles and a bottle of sake. Foxes, too, are widespread and were believed to possess people - fox (or Inari) shrines are found across the country.

Monkeys are also common in some areas, such as Wakinosawa and Shiga Kogen , while wild boar occasionally make an appearance in outer urban areas, though fortunately these forbidding-looking creatures avoid human contact and are generally heard but not seen. Kites, cranes, herons, cormorants and migratory seagulls can often be seen around lakes and rivers, while the steamy summer brings an onslaught of insects, none more so than the semi , or cicada , whose wailing provides a constant background symphony.