Loggerhead turtles
Visit Yakushima Island to see loggerhead turtle lay their eggs. Later in the summer watch the babies scramble into the sea.
The rainforest island of Yakushima off Kyushu's southern coast is home to the largest spawning grounds for loggerhead turtles in the North Pacific. From May to July over 500 turtles come ashore at Inakahama Beach to lay their eggs. Later in the summer you can see the newly hatched infants scramble their way into the ocean. Loggerheads born on Yakushima grow up to one metre in length and migrate around the Pacific Ocean before returning to the island to leave their offspring.
Yakushima is home to a turtle museum and research centre which is open each evening during the summer so visitors can see the turtles on the beach.
When to go: The turtles lay eggs on the island from May to July, and the hatchlings make their way to the sea from July to September.
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: + 44 117 244 3380
Important notice: We are pleased to be able to offer so many amazing experiences in Japan. However, we are sorry that we can only include these as a part of a full Japan holiday package which includes your accommodation and transport alongside the experiences presented in this section of the web site.
Other Wildlife experiences
View more >Japanese Giant Salamanders Conservation
Wade into the clear rivers of remote Tottori Prefecture for a wildlife research experience with Japanese giant salamanders.
Steller's sea eagles
Take a small ice breaker cruise into the ice flows of the Nemuro Straits to photograph Steller's sea eagles fishing for Pacific cod.
Blakiston's fish owl
Meet Blakiston's fish owl, the largest owl in the world, which feed on river fish around the Shiretoko Peninsula.