Do you know what special day September 9 is? It is “Giant Salamander Day” in Japan. In honor of that, today I’d like to share something about the rare giant salamander, the world’s largest amphibian.

The information came from Naofumi Ueda of DIVE KOOZA, located in the Nanki region of Wakayama Prefecture. In the clear streams of Kozagawa River, giant salamanders live, and they can be observed through river diving. Basically, you search until you find one. Sometimes you spot one right after entering the river. Other times, after hours of searching, you might see just a portion of its body sticking out from under a rock and then it’s all you catch.

In the video, you can clearly see a giant salamander surfacing to breathe, then moving slowly thereafter! Since these salamanders are nocturnal, whether or not you can see such behavior depends on the salamander’s mood. While looking up at the verdant forest canopy overhead, it’s a beautiful natural setting, different from everything sea-related. Why not visit Kozagawa to enjoy this tranquil nature?

Info & image credit: DIVE KOOZA