Are There Snakes in Japan? Discover the Most Common Species (2024)

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Between 2017 and 2018, there were 1,670 snake bite-related hospitalizations in Japan. From city parks to rural fields, the country is home to 47 different species of snakes – four of which are dangerously venomous.

We’ll explore the most common species – from Japanese rat snakes to Jimguri – as well as nonvenomous varieties and examine where you can expect encounters with them.

So join us on an exploration into the hidden world beneath our feet!

Snake Species in Japan

You may not realize it, but there are over forty different species of serpents that call Japan home – some venomous, some harmless. Four of the most dangerous and venomous snakes in Japan are the Mamushi, Habu (found primarily in Okinawa), Yamakagashi (also known as Tiger Keelback), and Tsushima Island Pit Viper.

The Mamushi is considered to be one of the most dangerous due to its neurotoxic venom. Between 2-4 thousand bites are reported annually throughout Japan, leading to 10 deaths every year, even when hospital treatment is sought out immediately after a bite occurs.

The other three snake species have their own unique properties regarding how dangerous they can be depending on the situation.

The most common nonvenomous snakes include the Japanese Rat Snake, which can reach up to 7 feet long, and the Japanese Striped Snake found widely throughout the mainland, except for the Ryukyu Islands where you will find mostly Green Anoles, Green Grass Lizards, Calamaria Elaphe Lycodon, alongside Burrowing Jimguri Snakes.

When traveling around, look out for small Japanese keelbacks near water or forests too, as they also inhabit various parts across the country! To stay safe from any potential encounters, keep an eye open while trekking, especially close by vegetation or parks during summertime when raining.

The Most Common Snakes in Japan

When it comes to snakes in Japan, the most common species you’re likely to encounter are the Japanese Rat Snake, Japanese Striped Snake, Jimguri snake, Yamakagashi (Tiger Keelback), and small Japanese keelbacks.

The largest of these is the non-venomous rat snake, which can grow up to 7 feet long, while all the other four species stay relatively small. All five prefer living near water or forests, but some may be found even in urban areas.

It’s important for people who live or visit Japan to know how to identify each one so they can take proper precautions when needed.

Japanese Rat Snake

The Japanese Rat Snake, reaching up to seven feet long, is the largest nonvenomous snake in Japan. It slithers through forests and parks – far from the danger of mamushi venom or habu bites.

Japanese Striped Snake

You’ll find the Japanese striped snake all over Japan, except in the Ryukyu Islands.

This nocturnal species primarily feeds on small rodents and frogs, but it can also eat lizards or birds when available. Snake control methods, such as trapping, relocation, and rescue services, are offered by local organizations for this odd-scaled snake, along with other native species like the Japanese tiger keelback or Tsushima Island Pit Viper.

Sea snakes can sometimes be found near coastal areas of Japan, while green grass lizards are common throughout most areas of mainland Japan too, making it a diverse environment for reptile lovers!

Jimguri

Slinking through the grass, Jimguri snakes are one of the most common species on Japan’s four main islands. They spend their time foraging in dense vegetation, and during hibernation, they can be found beneath logs or rocks.

Their diet consists mainly of small rodents and lizards like Green Anoles, but they also consume frogs and insects.

Yamakagashi

Yamakagashi, famously known as the Tiger Keelback, is a venomous snake found in Japan with an unfavorable relationship with toads. Its neurotoxic venom can cause serious injuries and even death if not treated properly.

In order to treat any possible snakebites from this species, it is important to identify it correctly for antivenom treatment. Sea snakes are also present around Japanese waters, but their presence is less common than Yamakagashi or other land-based species like the Mamushi or Habu, which have high fatality rates when bitten by them.

Japanese Keelback

Surprisingly, Japanese keelbacks are one of the smaller nonvenomous snakes found throughout Japan. They live near water and forests, hibernate in winter, and have a range of mating habits. Their fangs are too small to inject venom into prey, but they can still produce toxic secretions with varied potency depending on the species.

Venomous Snakes in Japan

Are you aware of the venomous snakes in Japan? There are four species to be more specific: The Japanese Mamushi, Habu, Japanese Tiger Keelback, and Tsushima Island Pit Viper. Additionally, there is an Oriental Odd-Tooth Snake that can also be found in some parts of the country.

Japanese Mamushi

Beware of the Japanese Mamushi – its neurotoxic venom can cause 2,000 to 4,000 bites annually. Seek medical care if bitten; prevention is key. Different antivenom types exist for each type of snake, and its venom action varies greatly, so be sure to note what kind was encountered when seeking treatment.

Habu

Habu, found in the Ryukyu Islands, can deliver a deadly bite with its 1% fatality rate. To protect yourself from potential danger, wear long pants when walking through tall grasses; be aware of their habitats – humid forests and streams; and watch out for their carnivorous diet – frogs, lizards, and rodents.

Habu venom is hemotoxic, causing tissue damage which may lead to death if not treated right away.

Japanese Tiger Keelback

Be aware of the Japanese Tiger Keelback, a venomous creature that lurks in forests and near bodies of water. This native species has a neurotoxic toxin used defensively when threatened. Its bite danger is high due to its large habitat range throughout Japan, where it feeds primarily on toads for their toxins.

Tsushima Island Pit Viper

The Tsushima Island Pit Viper is a venomous snake endemic to the island of Tsushima. Its toxicity is largely unknown, and its feeding habits and the effects of its venom remain unexplored. It has a predator-prey relationship with other species on the island, yet conservation efforts have not been made for this species.

With more research into their environment and behavior, we can gain insight into this fascinating endemic species of Japan.

Oriental Odd-Tooth Snake

You may encounter the Oriental Odd-Tooth Snake in Japan, a venomous species with an unusual yellow and black striped pattern. It has potent venom yet a low bite fatality rate when compared to other snakes in Japan.

Its behavior is quite different from other snake species; it can remain still for long periods of time while hunting prey or escaping danger. There are two antivenom types available: sea snake antivenom (for bites by sea snakes) and polyvalent antivenom (for all land-based venoms).

• Potent Venom
• Low Bite Fatality Rate
• Unique Hunting/Escape Behavior

Nonvenomous Snakes in Japan

Many of the slithering creatures in Japan are not venomous, such as the Japanese rat snake and the Japanese striped snake. The burrowing jimguri is also a nonvenomous species found on four main islands where it uses its shovel-like snout to dig tunnels for shelter and prey capture.

Other common nonvenomous snakes include green anoles, green grass lizards, calamaria, elaphe, and lycodon.

Japanese keelbacks are small water snakes that inhabit forests close to rivers or lakes throughout Japan, except for Okinawa Island. However, they can be found living near human habitation too. While most of these nonvenomous varieties do their best to avoid humans when possible, due to fear or hunger-driven aggression, they may sometimes become aggressive if cornered or threatened.

So caution should still be taken when encountering them in their natural habu habitat.

Mamushi migration usually begins around July, with mating season occurring from August until October, which coincides with increased activity among many other harmless snakes, including yamakagashi. They use their toxin defensively against predators rather than offensively like mamushi does.

A Complete List of the Snakes in Japan

Discover the array of species that slither through Japan’s diverse landscapes, from tropical islands to temperate forests.

There are 47 snake species in total throughout the country – 8 on the mainland and 22 in Okinawa. Of these snakes, four are venomous: Mamushi, Habu, Yamakagashi, and Tsushima Island Pit Viper.

The most common nonvenomous snakes found include the Japanese rat snake, Japanese striped snake, and Burrowing jimguri Snake. Other species such as Green anoles or Lycodon also make up part of this biodiversity.

Mamushi is considered one of the world’s deadliest breeds, with its neurotoxic venom causing approximately 2-4 thousand bites annually, with 10 reported deaths even after hospital treatment was administered swiftly after a bite had occurred!

On Ryukyu Islands lies Habu, which has a fatality rate of 1% when bitten due to their high concentrations of toxin production.

Furthermore, sea snakes around Japan’s waters possess venoms too, although much less research has been conducted regarding Tsushima Island Pit Viper, who inhabit only certain parts on Mainland Japan where conservation efforts have been made over recent years for some endangered populations here too!

Understanding each type’s unique anatomy allows us to apply different antivenom for varying potency differences between them all, so we must be vigilant if ever encountering any kind during our excursions into nature, taking note carefully before seeking medical attention if necessary at all times.

Other Reptiles in Japan

Aside from snakes, Japan is also home to other reptiles such as green anoles, green grass lizards, calamaria, and more. The behavior of these creatures varies depending on the species. Some are active during the day, while others prefer a nocturnal lifestyle.

Green anoles can often be found basking in trees or sunning themselves in open areas like parks and fields. Burrowing jimguri snakes live underground, where they feed on small insects and amphibians. Other reptile types include Elaphe snake species, which mostly inhabit forests near rivers or streams, as well as Lycodon indigenous to many parts of Japan, including Hokkaido Island.

Sea snakes have been known to inhabit waters around Japan too, but they only rarely come into contact with humans due to their deep water habitats. This makes them quite reclusive creatures that generally remain unseen by us land dwellers! While it’s not typical for people living in cities like Tokyo or Osaka to run into a wild snake, there remains an increased chance of seeing one when venturing out towards forests, parks, or even close-by vegetation areas.

Snake Encounters and Bites in Japan

When it comes to snake encounters and bites in Japan, the likelihood of seeing them is low if you’re staying in a city like Tokyo. However, as you venture out into more rural or natural areas such as forests and parks where there’s plenty of vegetation, that risk goes up significantly.

Snakes become much more active during summertime when it rains frequently, so this increases your chances even further. It’s important to be wary no matter what time of year, though, since some venomous species can have fatal results from their bite if not treated immediately at a hospital after seeking medical attention.

The most dangerous type found on mainland Japan are mamushi, which possess neurotoxic venom. There are an estimated 2-4 thousand recorded bites every year resulting in around ten fatalities, despite receiving treatment afterwards due to its potency.

Habu snakes also inhabit Ryukyu Islands but only account for one percent fatality rate with their bites. Tiger keelbacks contain toxins used defensively by ingesting certain types of poisonous amphibians they come across.

Tsushima Island pit vipers contain lesser-known venoms, yet their effects could prove lethal nonetheless should someone get bitten by them accidentally or otherwise without proper care right away afterward.

On the less severe side, nonvenomous serpents exist too, such as Japanese rat snakes (the biggest among these), which may grow up to seven feet long! Other common ones include Japanese striped snake spread throughout Japan, except for Okinawa islands, along with burrowing jimguri who make homes mainly on four main islands here.

Plus, small Japanese keelback living near water sources like rivers or lakes/forests nearby each area respectively speaking.

For those looking forward to avoiding any accidental potential incidents altogether, the best bet would be to stay aware of surroundings wherever going, especially outdoors. Take note of appearance in case you need to seek urgent help right away. Antivenom may be needed later down the road if a situation occurs.

Likelihood of Seeing Snakes in Japan

It’s unlikely that you’ll see snakes in the city of Tokyo, Japan. However, if you venture out to forests, parks, or vegetation areas, there is a higher chance of encountering these reptiles as they are more active during summertime and when it rains.

To stay safe from any potential bites, it is important to be mindful when swimming and avoid putting your fingers/toes in places where a snake may hide.

Tokyo

Despite your preconceptions, Tokyo is not completely devoid of snakes; however, sightings are rare. To maximize safety and avoid any surprises in the cityscape, it’s important to be aware of snake habitats and behavior.

1. Stay away from tall grassy areas where they may hide during the day.
2. Be mindful when swimming in bodies of water that may contain sea snakes.
3. Exercise caution at night as some species become more active then.

When venturing outside the city limits for hikes or camping trips, you should also take proper precautions against potentially encountering a venomous snake. This includes wearing long pants and boots while walking through brushy areas or watching where you step around rocks or logs, which could provide a hiding spot for small nonvenomous species like Japanese Rat Snakes.

If an unexpected encounter does occur, always remain calm but back away slowly so as not to provoke it. Never try to capture one! Seek medical attention immediately if bitten by any type of snake, regardless of whether symptoms begin showing up right away or later on down the line.

Knowing what kind bit you will help doctors administer appropriate antivenom treatment quickly.

Forests, Parks, Vegetation

Exploring forests, parks, and other vegetation in Japan increases your chances of seeing a snake. Summer months are when snakes are most active due to warmer temperatures, so it’s important to be aware of their behavior during this time.

Venomous species like the Mamushi, Habu, and Yamakagashi can be found in these areas. All of them have neurotoxic venom, but the Mamushi is particularly dangerous, with around 2-4 thousand bites annually resulting in 10 deaths despite hospital treatment.

Nonvenomous varieties such as Japanese Rat Snakes, Striped Snakes, and Burrowing Jimguri snakes also inhabit these places but pose no risk if you take care not to disturb them.

To avoid any chance of being bitten by either kind, make sure you keep an eye out for slithering creatures while walking through grassy fields or near streams.

If there is ever an unfortunate incident, seek urgent medical attention while noting what type of snake was involved. This will ensure that the correct antivenom treatment can be quickly administered for effective relief from symptoms caused by its venom type.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)