As of today, peak season now, through ~July 31. Earth Exhibit tracks the live conditions and flags it the moment it is on.
The Japanese rock ptarmigan, Lagopus muta japonica, is an alpine subspecies restricted to high mountains in the Japanese Alps.
Birds change plumage seasonally and during the breeding season adults and chicks are most visible in talus and alpine meadow habitats following snowmelt.
The subspecies is nationally threatened and protected.
Where to see it
A taste of where to see it. The full map, exact coordinates and the best timing for each spot live in the app.
| Viewing spots |
|---|
| Murodo Plain (Tateyama, Northern Alps) |
| Shirouma-dake (Mount Shirouma / Hakuba area, Northern Alps) |
| + 1 more spot, with exact coordinates and timing, in the app → |
This is the short version
This page shows a taste. The app has the full list of where to see this, the exact timing, and live conditions for 1,000+ natural phenomena worldwide, so you know the moment one is genuinely worth the trip.