Nikko National Park

🇯🇵 Japan

🐒 Japanese Macaque Parade in Nikko
🌍 #260 Global · 3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #24 in Asia #51 in Temperate Forest
East Asia, Japan 368 spp. recorded

Nikko National Park is a mountainous protected area in the Tochigi Prefecture of Japan, featuring dramatic forested ridges, volcanic peaks, and deep valleys connected by winding hiking trails. The landscape transitions from dense deciduous forests to alpine scrub, creating varied terrain for wildlife exploration.

36.849° N   139.461° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Japanese Macaque ★
LC

Japanese Macaque

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Macaca fuscata

60–70% · Likely
Sika Deer ★
LC Endemic

Sika Deer

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Cervus nippon

50–60% · Likely
Japanese Fire Belly Newt ★
NT

Japanese Fire Belly Newt

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Cynops pyrrhogaster

30–40% · Possible
Japanese five-lined skink ★
LC

Japanese five-lined skink

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Plestiodon finitimus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Cinereous Tit

Cinereous Tit

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Parus cinereus

70–80% · Very likely
Large-billed Crow
LC

Large-billed Crow

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Corvus macrorhynchos

60–70% · Likely
Japanese Bush Warbler
LC

Japanese Bush Warbler

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Horornis diphone

60–70% · Likely
Coal Tit
LC Endemic

Coal Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Periparus ater

60–70% · Likely
Black Kite
LC

Black Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Milvus migrans

50–60% · Likely
Pygmy Woodpecker

Pygmy Woodpecker

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Yungipicus kizuki

50–60% · Likely
Great Spotted Woodpecker
LC Endemic

Great Spotted Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dendrocopos major

50–60% · Likely
Long-tailed Tit
LC Endemic

Long-tailed Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aegithalos caudatus

50–60% · Likely
Willow Tit
LC Endemic

Willow Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile montanus

50–60% · Likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

40–50% · Likely
Brown-eared Bulbul
LC

Brown-eared Bulbul

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Hypsipetes amaurotis

40–50% · Likely
Oriental Turtle Dove
LC Endemic

Oriental Turtle Dove

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Streptopelia orientalis

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Japanese Macaque ★
LC

Japanese Macaque

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Macaca fuscata

60–70% · Likely
Sika Deer ★
LC Endemic

Sika Deer

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Cervus nippon

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Japanese Serow
LC

Japanese Serow

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Capricornis crispus

Insufficient data
Asiatic Black Bear
VU Endemic

Asiatic Black Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus thibetanus

10–20% · With luck
Japanese Badger
LC

Japanese Badger

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Meles anakuma

Insufficient data
Wild Boar
LC Endemic

Wild Boar

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sus scrofa

Insufficient data
Masked Palm Civet
LC Endemic

Masked Palm Civet

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Paguma larvata

Insufficient data
Japanese Giant Flying Squirrel
LC

Japanese Giant Flying Squirrel

Mammal

Petaurista leucogenys

Insufficient data
Red Fox
LC Endemic

Red Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes vulpes

Insufficient data
Japanese Squirrel
LC

Japanese Squirrel

Mammal

Sciurus lis

Insufficient data
Japanese Marten
LC

Japanese Marten

Mammal

Martes melampus

Insufficient data
🐒 No photo available
NT

Little Japanese Horseshoe Bat

Mammal

Rhinolophus cornutus

Insufficient data
🐒 No photo available
LC

Japanese Shrew-mole

Mammal

Urotrichus talpoides

Insufficient data
Flat-headed Water Shrew
LC

Flat-headed Water Shrew

Mammal

Chimarrogale platycephalus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Cinereous Tit

Cinereous Tit

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Parus cinereus

70–80% · Very likely
Large-billed Crow
LC

Large-billed Crow

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Corvus macrorhynchos

60–70% · Likely
Japanese Bush Warbler
LC

Japanese Bush Warbler

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Horornis diphone

60–70% · Likely
Coal Tit
LC Endemic

Coal Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Periparus ater

60–70% · Likely
Black Kite
LC

Black Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Milvus migrans

50–60% · Likely
Pygmy Woodpecker

Pygmy Woodpecker

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Yungipicus kizuki

50–60% · Likely
Great Spotted Woodpecker
LC Endemic

Great Spotted Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dendrocopos major

50–60% · Likely
Long-tailed Tit
LC Endemic

Long-tailed Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aegithalos caudatus

50–60% · Likely
Willow Tit
LC Endemic

Willow Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile montanus

50–60% · Likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

40–50% · Likely
Brown-eared Bulbul
LC

Brown-eared Bulbul

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Hypsipetes amaurotis

40–50% · Likely
Oriental Turtle Dove
LC Endemic

Oriental Turtle Dove

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Streptopelia orientalis

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Japanese five-lined skink ★
LC

Japanese five-lined skink

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Plestiodon finitimus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Tiger Keelback
LC

Tiger Keelback

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Rhabdophis tigrinus

40–50% · Likely
Japanese Grass Lizard
LC

Japanese Grass Lizard

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Takydromus tachydromoides

30–40% · Possible
Japanese Rat Snake
LC

Japanese Rat Snake

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Elaphe climacophora

30–40% · Possible
Japanese Four-lined Ratsnake
LC

Japanese Four-lined Ratsnake

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Elaphe quadrivirgata

20–30% · Possible
Burrowing Ratsnake
LC

Burrowing Ratsnake

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Euprepiophis conspicillata

20–30% · Possible
Schlegel's Japanese Gecko
LC

Schlegel's Japanese Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Gekko japonicus

Insufficient data
Short-tailed Mamushi
LC

Short-tailed Mamushi

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Gloydius blomhoffii

Insufficient data
Japanese Keelback
LC

Japanese Keelback

Reptile

Hebius vibakari

Insufficient data
Peters' Odd-scaled Snake
LC

Peters' Odd-scaled Snake

Reptile

Achalinus spinalis

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Japanese Fire Belly Newt ★
NT

Japanese Fire Belly Newt

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Cynops pyrrhogaster

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Japanese Toad
LC

Japanese Toad

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Bufo japonicus

40–50% · Likely
Daruma Pond Frog
LC

Daruma Pond Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Pelophylax porosus

30–40% · Possible
Forest Green Treefrog
LC

Forest Green Treefrog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Zhangixalus arboreus

20–30% · Possible
Japanese Brown Frog
LC

Japanese Brown Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Rana japonica

20–30% · Possible
Schlegel's Green Tree Frog
LC

Schlegel's Green Tree Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Zhangixalus schlegelii

20–30% · Possible
Japanese Clawed Salamander
LC

Japanese Clawed Salamander

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Onychodactylus japonicus

20–30% · Possible
Montane Brown Frog
LC

Montane Brown Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Rana ornativentris

10–20% · With luck
Kajika Frog
LC

Kajika Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Buergeria buergeri

10–20% · With luck
Black Salamander
LC

Black Salamander

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Hynobius nigrescens

10–20% · With luck
Northeast Salamander
LC

Northeast Salamander

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Hynobius lichenatus

Insufficient data
Tago's Brown Frog
LC

Tago's Brown Frog

Amphibian

Rana tagoi

Insufficient data
Black-spotted Frog
LC

Black-spotted Frog

Amphibian

Pelophylax nigromaculatus

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Monkey Parade

FebMar

Japanese macaques descend to lower valleys for mating displays, creating lively troop movements.

Japanese Macaque
LC

Japanese Macaque

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Macaca fuscata

60–70% · Likely
🐸

Summer Amphibian Chorus

JulAug

Japanese fire‑belly newts gather in mountain streams, their bright bellies flashing during breeding calls.

Japanese Fire Belly Newt
NT

Japanese Fire Belly Newt

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Cynops pyrrhogaster

30–40% · Possible
🦌

Deer Migration

NovDec

Sika deer migrate to lower elevations as snow falls, forming large herds that are easy to spot.

Sika Deer
LC Endemic

Sika Deer

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Cervus nippon

50–60% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
Japanese Macaque
60–70
80–90
80–90
70–80
60–70
70–80
40–50
30–40
60–70
50–60
60–70
80–90
Sika Deer
30–40
50–60
60–70
40–50
30–40
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
Japanese Fire Belly Newt
10–20
10–20
10–20
30–40
50–60
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
10–20
Japanese five-lined skink
20–30
20–30
10–20
10–20
40–50
40–50
50–60
70–80
40–50
10–20
10–20
20–30
Cinereous Tit
70–80
60–70
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
60–70
60–70
Large-billed Crow
50–60
80–90
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
Japanese Bush Warbler
30–40
30–40
50–60
80–90
90–100
80–90
70–80
70–80
50–60
40–50
20–30
20–30
Coal Tit
50–60
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
50–60
40–50
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
Black Kite
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
30–40
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
Pygmy Woodpecker
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
40–50
30–40
40–50
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
Great Spotted Woodpecker
40–50
40–50
30–40
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
Long-tailed Tit
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
50–60
70–80
50–60
70–80
Willow Tit
40–50
60–70
30–40
50–60
50–60
30–40
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
Mallard
50–60
30–40
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
70–80
50–60
Brown-eared Bulbul
50–60
40–50
40–50
60–70
30–40
40–50
20–30
30–40
40–50
60–70
50–60
50–60
Oriental Turtle Dove
30–40
30–40
30–40
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
60–70
60–70
30–40
20–30
20–30
Animal Events
🦌 Monkey Parade
🐸 Summer Amphibian Chorus
🦌 Deer Migration

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🐒 Japanese Macaque Parade in Nikko

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
268
🐒 Mammals
65
🦎 Reptiles
16
🐸 Amphibians
19
368 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
14 Threatened 7 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
60%
📊
Coverage (122 species at ≥5% of 368 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
33%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (10 bird, 2 mammal)
46% Global avg
37%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
76
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
4
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
21

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Nikko National Park?

The most likely sightings are Cinereous Tit (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Japanese Macaque (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Large-billed Crow (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Japanese Bush Warbler (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Coal Tit (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 368 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Nikko National Park for wildlife?

April has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Japanese Macaque in Nikko National Park?

Yes — about 66% of wildlife watchers report a Japanese Macaque sighting in Nikko National Park, based on 52 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Sika Deer in Nikko National Park?

Yes — about 58% of wildlife watchers report a Sika Deer sighting in Nikko National Park, based on 38 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Japanese Fire Belly Newt in Nikko National Park?

Yes — about 39% of wildlife watchers report a Japanese Fire Belly Newt sighting in Nikko National Park, based on 28 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Japanese five-lined skink in Nikko National Park?

Yes — about 44% of wildlife watchers report a Japanese five-lined skink sighting in Nikko National Park, based on 21 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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