The wilds of Hokkaido await with a wealth of animal life. Early summer offers a chance to spot the kits of the Ezo red fox (キタキツネ・kitakitsune) in Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park.

This brown bear seems to have woken up from its long winter hibernation. It was chewing on the vegetation on this slope until it noticed us, at which point it bolted away. Seeing how easily a bear runs up a 30-degree slope, you can be sure this isn't something a human can compete with! Quite a few brown bears can be spotted around Shiretoko National Park come May. If you visit the park’s rivers and mountains at this time of year, be sure to take precautions such as calling out at regular intervals to keep bears away! #NationalPark #BrownBear #Hokkaido #知床国立公園 #nationalparks #nature #findyourpark #instafollow #japan #landscape #landscape_lovers #ourplanetdaily #landscapephotography #hiking #outdoors #traveling #travel #explore

A post shared by National Parks of Japan (@nationalpark_japan) on Jun 19, 2017 at 2:05am PDT

As they wake up from hibernation around May, quite a few brown bears (ヒグマ・higuma) can be spotted around the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido.

Here a northern sea lion pup (トド・ todo) takes a rest on a rock. Seeing marine mammals and seabirds up close is a big feature of kayaking around the Shiretoko Peninsula.

A white-tailed eagle ('ojirowashi') takes flight over Shiretoko National Park in northeastern Hokkaido. With a massive wingspan that can exceed two meters, the white-tailed eagle is known in Japan as the 'King of the Sky.' #NationalPark #Hokkaido #Animals #知床国立公園 #nationalparks #nature #findyourpark #instafollow #japan #landscape #landscape_lovers #ourplanetdaily #landscapephotography #hiking #outdoors #traveling #travel #explore #Shiretoko #Hokkaido

A post shared by National Parks of Japan (@nationalpark_japan) on May 9, 2017 at 2:00am PDT

The white-tailed eagle (オジロワシ・ojirowashi) is a spectacular sight to look out for in Shiretoko National Park.

Yeso sika deer (エゾシカ・ezoshika) can be spotted in Shiretoko National Park as well.

Follow: @nationalpark_japan ・ ・ Whether in sun or in snow, Steller’s sea eagles (‘owashi’) gather in the trees by river mouths to look for food. Steller’s sea eagles come to Hokkaido from eastern Russia to pass the winter each year. They can be seen from November to March on the Shiretoko Peninsula. #NationalPark #ShiretokoNationalPark #知床国立公園 #Hokkaido #Shiretoko #Birds #Eagles #nationalparks #nature #findyourpark #instafollow #japan #landscape #landscape_lovers #ourplanetdaily #landscapephotography #hiking #outdoors #traveling #travel #explore #visitjapanjp #日本 #國家公園 #일본 #국립공원 #国立公園

A post shared by National Parks of Japan (@nationalpark_japan) on Jan 23, 2018 at 12:43am PST

The Steller's sea eagle (オオワシ・owashi) is just one more fascinating species that can be seen on the Shiretoko Peninsula, recognized by UNESCO for its biodiversity.

The green-veined white (エゾスジグロシロチョウ・Ezo sujiguroshiro-cho) is yet another species that can also be spotted on the Shiretoko Peninsula.

Kushiroshitsugen National Park is a mecca for the Japanese red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis, or ‘tancho’ in Japanese). This is the time of year when these endangered birds raise their young. The chicks can’t fly yet, so they follow their parents on foot in search of food. The wild cranes presently live deep in the park’s wetlands, appearing in different areas on different days, which makes them difficult to spot. If you want to be sure to see some, head to the Japanese Crane Reserve in Kushiro City, located just north of Kushiro Airport. #NationalPark #Birds #Endangered #釧路湿原国立公園 #nationalparks #nature #findyourpark #instafollow #japan #landscape #landscape_lovers #ourplanetdaily #landscapephotography #hiking #outdoors #traveling #travel #explore #Kushiro #Hokkaido

A post shared by National Parks of Japan (@nationalpark_japan) on Jun 30, 2017 at 2:09am PDT

Located in eastern Hokkaido, Kushiro Marsh National Park is a key habitat for the Japanese red-crowned crane (タンチョウ・tancho).

East-Asian native mandarin ducks (オシドリ・oshidori) can be spotted in Aomori in spring.

Blue damselflies (‘ruri-itotombo’) in the Norikura Highland, Nagano. We can see many alpine dragonflies in the Norikura Highland. Take your time and enjoy the solitude along any of the region’s hiking routes—or spend the night and visit some of the surrounding highland areas the next day. #NationalPark #Nagano #Dragonfly #中部山岳国立公園 #nationalparks #nature #findyourpark #instafollow #japan #landscape #landscape_lovers #ourplanetdaily #landscapephotography #hiking #outdoors #traveling #travel #explore #hiking #Nagano #Norikura

A post shared by National Parks of Japan (@nationalpark_japan) on Jul 28, 2017 at 2:42am PDT

Here a pair of blue damselflies (ルリイトトンボ・ruri-itotombo) make a heart shape in the Norikura Highland (乗鞍高原・Norikura-kogen) in Nagano.

The Kentish plover (シロチドリ・shiro-chidori) is the official bird of Shima City in Mie Prefecture. Timid by nature, if they spot humans even at a distance, they’ll quickly dart away on their little legs. To avoid startling these birds, please observe them from a distance!

A Japanese striped snake ('shima hebi,' or Elaphe quadrivirgata). These non-venomous snakes are often found in the mountains of Japan. We spotted this one basking in the sun on a lovely day at Yokoyama Picnic Site in Ise-Shima National Park. #NationalPark #Snakes #伊勢志摩国立公園 #nationalparks #nature #findyourpark #instafollow #japan #landscape #landscape_lovers #ourplanetdaily #landscapephotography #hiking #outdoors #traveling #travel #explore #IseShima

A post shared by National Parks of Japan (@nationalpark_japan) on May 2, 2017 at 3:00am PDT

This Japanese striped snake (シマヘビ・shim ahebi) was spotted at Yokoyama Picnic Site in Ise-Shima National Park.

This Japanese pygmy woodpecker (コゲラ・kogera) was also seen at Yokoyama Picnic Site.

We managed to get some great shots of fish while snorkeling around San’inkaigan National Park! 1. A stellar rockskipper (Entomacrodus stellifer stellifer, or ‘hoshiginpo’) slinks along the rocky ocean floor at Takeno Seaside. We usually only spot their heads popping up from natural potholes or holes carved into the rock face by sea urchins, so this is a rare opportunity! 2. A lovely amber fish called the elegant blenny (Omobranchus elegans, or ‘nabeka’) at Goshiki Beach. While it’s brightly colored like a tropical fish, this species is actually found in the temperate zone. They’re very often spotted here along the San’in Coast. 3. The silver-gray fish seen here are largescale blackfish (Girella punctata, or ‘mejina’), though these familiar fish are most commonly known locally as ‘gure.’ The silver fish with a yellow tinge on their backs are Indo-Pacific sergeants (Abudefduf vaigiensis, or ‘oyabiccha’). These tropical fish come to the San’in Coast by riding on the warm Tsushima Current. However, as they cannot survive the cold waters of Japan’s winter, they can only be seen during the summer—leading them to be referred to as a species of ‘shimetsu kaiyugyo,’ or ‘destructive migration fish.’ #NationalPark #Fish #Snorkeling #山陰海岸国立公園 #nationalparks #nature #findyourpark #instafollow #japan #landscape #landscape_lovers #ourplanetdaily #landscapephotography #hiking #outdoors #traveling #travel #explore #日本 #國家公園 #일본 #국립공원

A post shared by National Parks of Japan (@nationalpark_japan) on Aug 29, 2017 at 4:11am PDT

The San'in Coast (山陰海岸・San'in Kaigan) offers a wealth of ocean life that can be seen while snorkeling. Here we see a stellar rockskipper (ホシギンポ・hoshiginpo) spotted in northern Hyogo Prefecture.

Chestnut tiger butterflies (アサギマダラ・asagimadara) appear in Daisen-Oki National Park between spring and summer.

Cows and horses relax by the Maten-gai Cliffs, looking out over the Kuniga Coast on the Oki Islands. Formed by marine erosion, these 257-meter cliffs are among the highest in Japan. While anyone with a fear of heights might feel a little wobbly-kneed at the sight of this incredible vista, the animals don’t seem to mind at all! #NationalPark #Horses #WorldHeritage #大山隠岐国立公園 #nationalparks #nature #findyourpark #instafollow #japan #landscape #landscape_lovers #ourplanetdaily #landscapephotography #hiking #outdoors #traveling #travel #explore

A post shared by National Parks of Japan (@nationalpark_japan) on Jul 26, 2017 at 2:12am PDT

Recognized by UNESCO as a Global Geopark, the Oki Islands (隠岐諸島・Oki-shoto) are located in the Sea of Japan off the coast of Shimane Prefecture. These islands are home to the oldest rocks ever found in Japan.

As much as it’s popular with sea-bathers, the sandy beach at Kyukamura Setouchi-Toyo swimming area also presents visitors with a wealth of beach plants. Here a Pseudozizeeria maha (pale grass blue butterfly, or ‘Yamato shijimi’) sits on the flower of a Vitex rotundifolia (roundleaf chastetree, or ‘hamago’) to suck on its nectar. #NationalPark #Butterfly #Shikoku #瀬戸内海国立公園 #nationalparks #nature #findyourpark #instafollow #japan #landscape #landscape_lovers #ourplanetdaily #landscapephotography #hiking #outdoors #traveling #travel #explore #日本 #國家公園 #일본 #국립공원

A post shared by National Parks of Japan (@nationalpark_japan) on Aug 28, 2017 at 3:03am PDT

A pale grass blue butterfly (ヤマトシジミ・Yamato shijimi) rests on the flower of a roundleaf chastetree (ハマゴウ・hamago) at Kyukamura Setouchi-Toyo swimming area.

This dragonfly (トンボ"・tombo) was spotted on the summit of Mount Koshiki (似岳・Koshiki-dake), a volcano in the Kirishimayama mountain range.

Follow: @nationalpark_japan ・ ・ Yakusika (Cervus nippon yakushimae) are a subspecies of sika deer (Cervus nippon), better known simply as Japanese deer. They can be spotted in the forests of Yakushima Island and Kuchinoerabu-jima Island. #NationalPark #YakushimaIslandsNationalPark #屋久島国立公園 #nationalparks #nature #findyourpark #instafollow #japan #landscape #landscape_lovers #ourplanetdaily #landscapephotography #hiking #outdoors #traveling #travel #explore #visitjapanjp #日本 #國家公園 #일본 #국립공원 #国立公園

A post shared by National Parks of Japan (@nationalpark_japan) on Jan 15, 2018 at 1:53am PST

The island of Yakushima (屋久島) has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Here yakusika (ヤクシカ) deer can be seen walking among 1,000-year-old trees.

In early summer, Okinawa woodpeckers (ノグチゲラ・Noguchi gera) can be heard in the forests of Yambaru National Park.

Columba janthina nitens ('akagashira karasu-bato' in Japanese) is a nearly extinct subspecies of Japanese wood pigeon found on the Ogasawara Islands. Both the male and female have predominantly black plumage, with bands of metallic purple-green around the neck and breast and a lustrous pink head. Thanks to conservation efforts, chances to spot them have been on the rise. #NationalPark #Birds #EndangeredSpecies #WorldHeritage #BirdWatching #小笠原国立公園 #nationalparks #nature #findyourpark #instafollow #japan #landscape #landscape_lovers #ourplanetdaily #landscapephotography #hiking #outdoors #traveling #travel #explore

A post shared by National Parks of Japan (@nationalpark_japan) on Jun 16, 2017 at 2:49am PDT

Located in the Pacific Ocean about 1,000 kilometers (621 mi) south of Tokyo, the unique ecosystem of the Ogasawara Islands (小笠原諸島・Ogasawara-shoto) has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Columba janthina nitens (アカガシラカラスバト・akagashira karasu-bato), a subspecies of Japanese wood pigeon, is just one of many rare species found on these remote islands.

Whether you like birds or bears or lizards or insects, there's plenty of life to be found in Japan's national parks! Follow National Parks of Japan on Facebook and Instagram for more great photos almost every day!