Seeing the deer running around the streets of Nara and the crows leisurely foraging for food in Tokyo, you know that Japan is a country that is very friendly to small animals. But in fact, Japan is far more than these places where you can see pictures of people and animals coexisting peacefully.
There are also many places where we can see monkeys, foxes, rabbits, and other uncommon small animals walking around the streets and playing friendly with the locals. If you are an animal person, the following attractions where you can get up close and personal with small animals are definitely not to be missed.
1. Deer
In addition to Nara and Kyoto, a must-see attraction for deer lovers is "Miyajima" in Hiroshima Prefecture. The deer living on the island are regarded by the locals as the messengers of the gods. Compared with Nara's deer, who are often overly enthusiastic, Miyajima's deer are quieter and more elegant, as if they naturally carry a restrained aura.
Unlike Nara, on Miyajima, deer keep a distance from people and live their own small lives. In this way, although you cannot get in close contact with the deer, you can see them in their most natural state, which also makes Miyajima a good place to watch deer.
Address: Miyajimaguchi, Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
2. cat
As a well-known cat-loving country - Japan, Cat Island is absolutely indispensable. Okinawa Island in Shiga Prefecture is one of the most famous cat islands in western Japan. People who like cats regard it as paradise! The owners on the island are not afraid of people, but in order not to affect the health of the cats, the island has banned tourists from feeding cats since 2018, so be sure to pay attention!
Address: Okinawa, Shiga Prefecture
3. Rabbit
Thousands of cute furry rabbits live on Okuno Island in the Seto Inland Sea, and it is known as a "rabbit paradise". On this palm-sized island, there are now more than 500 rabbits. As long as people can walk, there are little rabbits playing and playing.
And, just like the deer in Nara, as long as you take their favorite food, these little rabbits will surround you and wait for you to share the delicious food with them. At present, this Rabbit Island has become a tourist attraction, receiving 100,000 tourists every year.
Address: Okunojima, Chukai Town, Takehara City, Hiroshima Prefecture
4. Monkey
More than 100 wild apes live on the uninhabited island "Kojima" in Miyazaki Prefecture in southeastern Kyushu. In 1934, it was designated as the "Koshima Ape Habitat". It is said that this place is famous not only because there are many monkeys living here, but also because the monkeys here are very smart, and they also catch fish and eat it themselves.
According to legend, there are more than 110 monkeys living in Kojima. They will grab the live fish washed up on the shore with both hands and eat with relish, and also wash the sweet potatoes with seawater, which makes many primate lovers yearn for new life.
Address: Okinai, Ichiki District, Kusama City, Miyazaki Prefecture
5. Fox
On Mt. Miyagi Zao, there is a fox village consisting of more than 100 cute foxes. There are not only the common red fox, but also the rare silver fox, blue fox, platinum fox, arctic fox, and more than 5 kinds of foxes.
They are all joking around here. In the fox breeding area, tourists can not only see the daily life of these charming little foxes at close range but also experience projects such as hugging foxes and taking photos with foxes, which is absolutely super healing for those who love animals!
Address: Shiraishi City, Miyagi Prefecture
6. Dolphins
From Tokyo, it takes about 80 minutes to reach Mikurajima. As a famous island in the Izu Islands, it is rich in water and minerals. One of the most attractive features of Mizo Island is that you can swim with wild dolphins here and experience the most harmonious moment between man and nature. In Mikura Island, from April to October every year, there is a 100% chance to see dolphins, and there is even a chance to see groups of dolphins playing.
It is a real dolphin paradise. In addition, Mikurajima is also well-known as a breeding ground for the largest giant forest in Japan and a breeding ground for white-fronted shearwaters.
Address: Mikurajima, Mikurajima Village, Tokyo
7. Sheep
Yajiri Island in Hokkaido is definitely a holy place for sheep that cannot be missed! There are 80 hectares of pastures on the island, and there are more than 500 Sackford sheep with black heads and white bodies, which are super cute!
But unfortunately, the traffic on Yajiri Island is not very convenient. It takes three hours to drive from Sapporo to Haboro, and then takes a 35-minute to 1-hour boat to arrive. Therefore, it is recommended for tourists who have more time to travel!
Address: Yajiri Island, Hokkaido
