Japanese Eel
Anguilla japonica
Photo: DataBase Center for Life Science (DBCLS) / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
The Japanese eel is a migratory fish that is born at sea, grows up in rivers and ponds, and returns to the ocean to spawn. Slender and largely nocturnal, it spends the day hidden among cover. Habitats of the species in Fukushima and Gifu prefectures are designated Natural Monuments. As a fish deeply woven into Japanese food culture, protecting its freshwater habitat matters greatly.
- Scientific name
- Anguilla japonica
- Group
- Fish
- Prefectures
- Fukushima, Gifu
- Japanese Red List (Ministry of the Environment)
- EndangeredMinistry of the Environment Red List 2020
- 日本語
- ニホンウナギ
- 简体中文
- 日本鳗鲡
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Where to see the Japanese Eel
Facilities whose official websites show this animal on display. Exhibits can change, so check each facility's latest information before you go.
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Markers show designated habitats and breeding sites.
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Frequently asked questions
The Japanese Eel is designated as a species without a fixed area and lives in places such as Fukushima, Gifu.
You can see the Japanese Eel at Aqua Totto Gifu, Kyoto Aquarium, Tochigi Prefectural Nakagawa Aquatic Park, among others (confirmed on each facility's official website on 2026-10-15).
The Japanese Eel is listed as "Endangered" in the Ministry of the Environment Red List 2020 (listed as ニホンウナギ).
Animals related to the Japanese Eel
Animals in the same group or designated in the same area.
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