I don't like spiders much, especially big ones with really long legs. Japan has a lot of these so you really have to watch where you are walking, I mean really watch. The spider below I found on a really narrow little neighborhood street in Otawara Tochigi. The spider had built its web partially covering the road with support strands stretching about 6 or 7 feet (approximately 2 meters) to the other side of the road. It was high enough for small cars to go under. However, the main part of the web you see below was only about 5 feet off the ground and along the side of the road. Had I not been paying attention I would have had a face full of what you see below. It gives me goose bumps and shivers just thinking about it. AAAAHHHHHH!!!!
This is my entry for Show Me Japan Vol 1, Issue 26. Please visit to see more great photos of Japan.
Awesome!!! Yoshi has this kind of stuff on his blog too (last year), macro lens and all. You guys... LOL!
ReplyDeleteDoes Yoshi like spiders? I don't. I don't like those giant Japanese beetles either but my two little boys love them. They collected a whole bunch last summer in Otawara. Kept them like pets in a little bug box at Ojiichan's house.
ReplyDeleteI feel you! I posted in the past about those spiders, too. Friggin' creepy.
ReplyDeleteCrazy colors on that one too, almost seems worse than an all black spider.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of all the spiders we've encountered in Matsuhsima.
ReplyDeleteI posted up some photos, (they aren't that good though) at my Eeek! Spiders post.
But they sure are colourful!
Heh...while we're sharing pics:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.jadij.com/2009/09/denizens-of-japan-1-jorou-gumo.html
http://www.jadij.com/2009/09/pleasant-morning-surprise.html
First time I saw them I thought they had to be super venomous, but don't think they're that dangerous.
Nice scary spider pics Lina and Blue Shoe. Those spiders look like the same kind but just somewhat different colors. They're all ugly. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a pretty cool spider!
ReplyDeleteThanks. They are pretty impressive spiders aren't they.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of which, it's almost spider season here ...
ReplyDeleteThere's a spider season? Eeek!
ReplyDeleteYou know what I have to do?
ReplyDeleteI'm going to make a Wordless Wednesday post with spider pictures I've taken and link back to this post.
Gahhhhhhh!
ReplyDeleteThe spider I took last year looks similar to yours but bit thinner.
ReplyDeleteI don't like spider but like taking a photo simply because they don't move so fast. It's a lot easier than shooting butterfly. In this respect, I like spider but I have to tell you that I've had goose bumps while photographing it with macro lens...
Have a wonderful Sunday.
Yoshi
Spider season, that's when I took this photo last year.
ReplyDeleteThanks Yoshi. Yes, a bit scary as i had to get close. I also tried taking some photos of butterflies on the same trip but they did not come out good. Blurry photos.
I look forward to seeing your photos Contamination.
I hate spiders! I've seen that kind a few times. But I've also seen 2 much larger spiders running on the ground. I don't think they were native to Japan, though. They creeped me out!
ReplyDeleteI especially hate big spiders with really long legs like this one. The thought of walking face first into this web still freaks me out.
ReplyDeleteYikes. I must admit to being a bit thankful that we have yet to run across super huge Japanese spiders here in Kyushu. Although, when we moved here almost two months ago, there were stories in the news about super poisonous redback spiders hitching rides on ships from Australia to Japan. Scary!
ReplyDeleteI don't want to see any spiders with any red on them. I sometimes find poisonous black widow spiders in my garage here in LA. Always freaks me out seeing that red spot on the black spider.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... this story seems familiar. ?:n) But then again, spiders always have a way of bringing out the deja vu in me. I'd like to post some more of my Aussie spider pics, but my wife has laid down the law (she says she gets freaked when she checks out my blog).... well, I guess I know who's going to win that editorial battle. So I get my scare-fix vicariously.
ReplyDeleteEspecially the latest photos I've got of the 100's of baby spiders on the back of a BIG mummy spider. I hate spiders.
I have to say, that spider does look impressive. And as for red-backs catching rides abroad, well it's about time we gave some back. Australia's been the receiving end for all manner of pests and problems from overseas... many of which we invited in!
100s of baby spiders on the back of a mummy spider is NOT something I want to see.
ReplyDelete