The Complete Japanese Giant Salamander Guide… Everything you need to your trip to Japan to see and photograph these unique, emblematic and quite special creatures.
The Japanese giant salamander is a most interesting creature that lives in rivers across western and south-western Japan.
They are indeed quite large, reaching up to 1.5m in length and 25kg in weight.
Their considerable size, together with their large mouth and rather strange features gives them a fairly formidable presence. At least when you first come face to face with them
Photographing the Japanese giant salamander can be a little challenging… Because they are nocturnal creatures that are quite timid during the daylight hours you are with them. They are also very well camouflaged. Their brown and black mottled skin and they blend in extremely well against the river bottom.
Plus, as they spend a significant amount of time burrowed in to the river bed. So you have to know where to look for them – which means that a local guide is essential!
The Giant Salamander
Being in the water with giant salamanders is an interesting and quite unique experience – part boredom and part intense excitement…
Nocturnal creatures, they sleep down in the rocky river beds during the day and interrupt their slumbers to breath – Read more…
Photographing Them
Photographing the giant salamander can be a quite challenging. As they are quite timid during the daylight hours you are with them.
They also don’t like you approaching too close as they emerge from the river bed and will either retreat or shoot off – Read more…
Where to See Them
The first thing you will need to see the Japanese giant salamanders is a guide. Because without one your chances are almost zero…
Not only that, but they live in rivers in rural Japan where virtually nobody speaks any English, or any other language – Read more…
