The breeding season of Japanese spider crabs have started in Hiwasa, Tokushima prefecture! Tokushima prefecture is located at Shikoku Island. It is about 4 hours’ drive away from Osaka using highway bus.

Japanese spider crabs are the world’s largest kind of crabs found around the ocean of Japan, some with leg span of over 3 m. They are usually living at the depth of the ocean, at about 300 m below surface. However, during the breeding season in Hiwasa, they can be found at the depth of only about 25 ~ 30 m. According to Umitatsu, a diving shop in Hiwasa, if you’re lucky, you may even see them at the depth of just 5 ~ 10 m! They get back to the deep bottoms of the ocean once the breeding ends, so now is the best time to go and dive in Hiwasa!

Information & photos from Umitatsu