Wildlife tour of Japan - Wildlife of Japan｜Saiyu Travel

2021.12.31 update

Harlequin Ghost Pipefish（Yakushima）

We could see a pair of Harlequin ghost pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus) in the seas around Yakushima. The pair were in perfect unison with their mimicry, which made it both astounding and beautiful to watch.

ニシキフウライウオのペア（屋久島）A pair of Harlequin ghost pipefish

Harlequin ghost pipefish is a member of the family Solenostomidae. The Solenostomus were previously thought to be an intraspecific mutation within Solenostomidae but, they became an independent species in 1994.

On every part of the body and along its fins, there are spikes that stick out, with spotted patterns as well. The body is a white color with some transparent areas, but the designs and patterns that appear are so diverse!

The larger one is the female, and the smaller one on the right is the male. Unlike the pipefish, where the males incubate the eggs, in family Solenostomidae, they leave the job of protecting the fertilized eggs to the females with the larger pectoral fins.

In English, the name of the fish is “Harlequin ghost pipefish” or “Ornate ghost pipefish,” but in Japanese they are called “Nishiki fuurai-uo.” “Nishiki” refers to a traditional Japanese weaving textile, highlighting the intricate designs seen on this unique fish.

Image & text : Mariko SAWADA

Observation : Jun 2021, Isso-bay, Yakushima, Kagoshima

Tags: Wildlife in Japan, Wildlife of Japan, Dive in Japan, Wildlife tour of Japan, Diving tour of Japan, Harlequin ghost pipefish, Diving in Yakushima, Yakushima, Solenostomus paradoxus

2021.12.21 update

（Video） A Baby Sperm Whale Came to Play With Us! (Ogasawara)

In October, we encountered a baby sperm whale off the coast of Chichijima in Ogasawara. It seemed like the calf was a bit upset, but also a bit curious about the ship. Everyone on the ship was very excited to see it!

Ogasawara A Baby Sperm Whale Came to Play With Us!

Image & Text: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: Oct 2020, Chichijima, Ogasawara Islands
Special Thanks: FISH EYE

Tags: Whale Watching in Ogasawara, Wildlife tour of Japan, Sperm Whale, Baby Sperm Whale, Wildlife in Japan, Wildlife of Japan, Bonin Islands, Ogasawara Islands, Whale Watching

2021.12.11 update

(Video) An Asian Sheepshead Wrasse Named “Yoriko” in Hasama’s Underwater Park (Tateyama, Chiba)

The Hasama Underwater Park is located just on the border between Tokyo Bay and the Pacific Ocean, and it is within 2 hours travel time from the city center. The Underwater Park is rich with fish because of the input of nutrition from the freshwater rivers and the Kuroshio Current running along the coast of Japan. This place is quite famous for the underwater shrine Torii and ‘Yoriko’ the Asian sheepshead wrasse.

YORIKO Asian sheepshead wrasse　コブダイの頼子・波左間海中公園

The Asian sheepshead wrasse is called “Kobudai” in Japanese (as if it was a member of the Sea Bream family), it is a member of the wrasse family, and is a “hermaphroditic” species which can change sex between male and female. It first matures as a female and breeds, then changes sex to a male and participates in breeding again.

This “Yoriko” used to be a female paired with a male named “Yoritomo,” but one day “Yoritomo” disappeared perhaps because he lost the battle for territory. Following that development, “Yoriko” then became a male and has stayed that way to the present day. The lifespan of the Kobudai is thought to be about 20 years long, but “Yoriko” has already exceeded 30 years of age. He has come to be a very cherished and well-loved fish at the Hasama Underwater Park and taken on a mystic-natured creature who time has forgotten.

This is the famous underwater shrine, the only kind in the world, in the Hasama Underwater Park. It is an authentic shrine that was built in 1997 as a branch of the Susaki Shrine in Tateyama.

Another famous place in the Hasama Underwater Park is the “Sea Pen Colony” (in Japanese it is called ‘Yanagi-umiera’). It was the first time I could see these! Depending on the tide, it may or may not appear on the surface of the sand, so I felt so lucky to see the colony. The English name “Sea pen” is because of the resemblance to a Quill pen!

A colony of the Sea Pens Virgularia halisceptrum .

There are many other areas for great fish sightings as well. There is a fish-reef called “Dream” where the scenery created by the soft corals and Sea goldie, as well as Redbar anthias and Cooper’s Fairy Basslets. 。

This is the Spottedtail morwong cleaning station. The name for the fish in Japanese is “Takanoha dai” derived from the Japanese word for “Hawk feather” which is “Taka no ha.” This is based on the similarity of the stripes that are seen on hawk feathers, The polka dots on the tail also really catch my attention.

Here is a friendly pair of redlip morwongs.

Image: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: Jun 2021, Hasama Marine Park, Tateyama, CHIBA

Tags: Dive in Japan, Scuba diving in japan, Wildlife tour of Japan, Scuba diving tour in Japan, Diving tour of Japan, Scuba diving near Tokto, Hasama Underwater Park, Asian Sheepshead Wrasse, Kobudai, Yoriko, Wildlife in Japan, Wildlife of Japan, 頼子, コブダイ

2021.10.11 update

A Sperm Whale Calf Approached The Ship! (Ogasawara Islands)

The water of Chichi-jima (Father Island) in the Ogasawara Islands, at depth of 1,500-2,000meters, are known as a place where female sperm whales with their calves observed throughout the year.

Having said that, it is best to visit this area when the seas are calmer, usually from July to October.

In October, on a day when the conditions were favorable, we headed to the whale watching area off Chichi-jima. We were lucky to encounter a group shortly after we started our search. Each of the groups was made up of 3 to 6 individuals.
Then, we found a lone calf by itself, patiently waiting for its mom, who had gone for a dive into the deep sea.

The baby looks as if it is flying, with such clear water. The calf’s body was a lighter color, but it had the typical wrinkles primarily seen on Sperm Whales, along with some scars of bitemarks from the cookie-cutter sharks.

This young sperm whale, swimming upside down towards our boat, was so close, that we could actually hear the “talking” clicking sounds on our ship!

We could so clearly see the lower jaw of the whale!!!

We parted for a little, but then it returned, approaching the boat again. This time with its mouth open.

This is the calf with its mouth wide open. We could clearly hear the clicking sounds again.

Amazingly, it flattened its fins and rotated while swimming into the edge of the ship, making the suckerfish scuttle around. Perhaps this was an offensive ?

A sperm whale swimming towards the direction of Chichi-jima.

This young sperm whale also came up alongside our ship, raised its face and seemed to look up over at the top of our boat.
The youngster seemed to enjoy spending time with us and then, eventually left and swam back to its mother and the family.

In Ogasawara, you can see these groups of females with their calves, but I wonder if we could ever see a male that comes to have mate someday? It would be such a dream to be able to see a male sperm whale in such clear water like this!

Photo & text: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: Oct 2020, Chichijima, Ogasawara Islands
Special Thanks: FISH EYE

Tags: Ogasawara Islands, Wildlife in Japan, Whale Watching, Whale Watching in Ogasawara, Whale Watching in Japan, Wildlife tour of Japan, Whale swim in Japan, Whale swim in Amami, Sperm Whale, Wildlife of Japan, Wildlife tour in Japan, Sperm Whale in Japan, Bonin Islands, Sperm Whale swim in japan

2021.07.25 update

(Video) Hammerhead Sharks of the Yonaguni Island

Japan’s westernmost island is the Yonaguni Island. It is said that on a good visibility day in the summertime, you can see all the way to Taiwan. One of the things that make Yonaguni famous, are the schools of Hammerhead Sharks that can be observed here while diving.

We visited early April, which is the end of the hammerhead season, so we thought it would be difficult to encounter them, but we were able to see many schools multiple times.

Yonaguni Island’s Hammerhead Sharks　与那国島のハンマーヘッドシャーク

An unexpected encounter with a large school of hammerheads.

The hammerhead sharks at Yonaguni Island are all females and are generally calm and do not bite. Usually, they are found swimming at a depth of 35m to 40m, but this time we could encounter them at a relatively shallow depth of 25m to 30m.

Of course, while diving, we also visited the ‘Yonaguni Underwater Monument.’What looks like a terrace cut at right angles, looks man-made, but the natural formation is not actually a ruin. It is found in a spot that has a fast moving tide.

We stayed at Guesthouse FIESTA, where the owner prepared a wonderful BBQ for us.

The Yonaguni marlin are also famous. There are also many fishing boats that mainly target the marlin. We could get some fresh sashimi from the local Kinjo Tackel Shop. During our stay, we could also enjoy the fresh greater amberjack and green jobfish

We also had some locally produced ‘Island tofu (Shima tofu)’ cold and the last of the seasonal ‘Island Coriander/cilantro (shima pakuchii).’

This baby goat isn’t on the menu! This is the 2-month old goat of the Dive Shop Marlin, and it has been guaranteed the lucky designation as a lifelong pet.

Image & Text: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: Apr 2021, Yonaguni Island, Okinawa
Special Thanks: Yonaguni Diving Service MARLIN, Guesthouse FIESTA

Tags: Dive in Yonaguni Island, Hammerhead shark, Yonaguni Monument, Wildlife of Japan, Yonaguni Underwater Ruins, Yonaguni Submarine Ruins, Dive in Japan, Wildlife in Japan, Wildlife tour of Japan, ハンマーヘッドシャーク, Diving tour of Japan, 与那国, Scuba diving in japan, Scuba diving tour in Japan, Yonaguni, Scuba diving in yonaguni

2021.06.25 update

（Video） Humpback Whale Watching & Swim in Amami Oshima

This is the highlight reel of the late March Amami Oshima Swim with Whales Tour. The main attraction of Amami Oshima is that you can do both whale watching and swimming here.

Amami Oshima is the main island of the Amami Island chain located between Kagoshima Prefecture in Kyushu and the Okinawa Islands. Every year, humpback whales migrate here from January to March. Some of the whales will stay nearby, while others migrate further south to Okinawa’s main island and the Kerama Islands.
During the whale encounter, we were able to swim with three whales: a one-year old baby whale, it mother, and an escort whale.

奄美大島のザトウクジラ Humpback Whale in Amami Oshima

Video: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: Mar 2021, Amami Oshima
Special Thanks: Dive Species AMAMI

Tags: Wildlife of Japan, Amami, Wildlife tour in Japan, Whale swim, Whale swim in Japan, Whale swim in Amami, Humpback Whale in Japan, Whale watching in Amami Oshima, Whale Watching, Wildllife in Japan, Whale Watching in Japan, Zatoukujira, Wildlife tour of Japan, Amami Oshima

2021.04.10 update

Scuba diving in Bonin Islands (OGASAWARA)

This video introduces one of the best diving sites in Japan, the Ogasawara Islands, a World Heritage Site. Due to the pandemic that cancelled overseas tours, I could have a great time diving here experiencing “the wild sea” while I was there!

DIVING IN BONIN ISLANDS

This second link is of a school of twin stripe fusilier (also known as Pterocaesio marri) being chased by a longfin yellowtail (also known as Seriola rivoliana or Almaco jack), with the last part of the video having a humpback whale song in the background. This video was taken in February 2021. Annually, Humpback whales migrate to Ogasawara from the end of December to the middle of April for breeding. The island is surrounded by mother and calf whales, as well as male humpback whales, who follow the females who are ready to mate in a ‘Heat Run’ which can last for hours.

DIVING IN BONIN ISLANDS 2

Video & text : Mariko SAWADA

Tags: Ogasawara Islands, Dive in Japan, Dive in Ogasawara Islands, Dive in Bonin islands, Wildlife tour of Japan, Diving tour of Japan, Wildlife in Japan, Scuba diving in japan, Wildlife of Japan, Scuba diving tour in Japan, Scuba diving in Ogasawara, Bonin Islands

2021.03.13 update

At the Ogasawara Islands, During Humpback Whale Season

One of the highlights of visiting Ogasawara (also known as Bonin Islands) in the winter months is seeing the humpback whales. During the summer, the whales have spent their days feeding on the fish near the Kamchatka Peninsula to as far as the Aleutian Islands. Then they return to Ogasawara Islands for breeding.

You can see the mother and calf whales, leisurely floating along in the water, while the males are swimming frantically in their “Heat Run,” and maybe even a baby whale breaching!

There are shallow, sandy areas on the north side of the South Island, where it is easy to see the whales because there are also some diving sites. You might even have a chance to encounter the whales while diving if you are lucky.

Humpback whale of Bonin Islands

Video & Text: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: Jan-Feb 2021, Chichijima, Ogasawara Archipelago, Bonin Islands

Tags: Wildlife of Japan, Wildlife in Japan, Wildlife tour in Japan, Humpback Whale in Japan, Bonin Islands, Ogasawara Islands, Whale Watching, Whale Watching in Ogasawara, Whale Watching in Japan, Wildlife tour of Japan

2021.03.05 update

Hokkaido’s Ural Owl Feeding on a Large Field Mouse

Eastern Hokkaido Winter 2021 Report

Being told that the owls aren’t in their nests that much this year, we went to check the hole in the tree where they can usually be spotted. But just as our local guide said, they were not home. This owl pair that live near the “Tsurui Dosanko Ranch,” are a favorite because they are usually quite reliable to be close by and so very cute to watch.
Eventually we could see them. I couldn’t see both of them at the same time, but one of them had caught a large Japanese field mouse (Ezo Akanezumi). This subspecies of field mouse is Apodemus speciosus ainu and it is endemic to Japan!

Ural Owl（エゾフクロウ）｜西遊旅行

After the video was taken, the owl did not eat his prize field mouse right away, but instead put it down inside the burrow and just sat there watching us.

Video & Text : Mariko SAWADA
Observation: Feb 2021, Tsurui village, Hokkaido

Tags: Birds of Hokkaido, Wildlife in Japan, Birds of Japan, Wildlife in Hokkaido, Wildlife Photography tour in Japan, エゾフクロウ, Wildlife tour in Japan, Tsurui village, Ural Owl, large Japanese field mouse, Hokkaido’s Ural Owl, Ezo Akanezumi, Wildlife tour of Japan, Ezo Ural owl, Birding tour Japan, Wildlife of Hokkaido, Bird tour Japan, Wildlife of Japan, Bird Watching Japan