Japanese Spiders

Sun 2009/10/11 08:20 JST
 by 
josephtame
 38
9549 views

BEWARE: Man-eating spiders!

Well, maybe not man-eating, but they're big enough and scary enough to ensure that as I walk through this beautiful little park near Gotanda I keep my eyes on where I'm going - there's spider's webs all over the place!

I don't know what kind of spiders these are, but I remember first coming across them when I was working on the Shikoku mikan farm - nearly got a few in my mouth by walking into their webs!

The park I've found is absolutley beautiful - I'll post more photos on Flickr and on my personal blog later when I get home from my Sunday morning jog.

How do you feel about spiders? Love them? Have one as a pet? Run away when you see them?

Joseph



This is a Tokyo Live Blogger post posted from the iPhone. You can read more by this and other live bloggers or follow them via RSS.
  • Yaku
    Yaku in Chinatown, Los Angeles, USA (Registered on 2008/08/27)
    Student, part-time slave
    http://yakuri.wordpress.com/

    There are only two kinds of spiders that freak me the hell out more than the other ones, and while I don't know the names I do know one of them eats frigging BIRDS and the other makes communal webs big enough to cover a huge frigging tree.

    Sun 2009/10/11 08:56:26 JST (ID #729090)
    reply to Yaku's comment
  • FatBastard
    FatBastard in over his head (Registered on 2007/11/04)
    Dirty Gentleman
    http://cantstanzya.wordpress.com/

    I got bitten by a spider once. Now I can climb buildings and shoot webs out my wrists.

    Sun 2009/10/11 09:13:15 JST (ID #729091)
    reply to FatBastard's comment
  • TevaZul
    TevaZul in Midwest U.S. (Registered on 2009/09/16)
    Web Developer/Software Engineer
    http://www.nyannet.com

    There are few things that I revile. Spiders are one of those things. I have a ground level apartment so I get plenty of spiders sneaking in. I am not the "catch and release" type when it comes to spiders. Spiders must die. Just talking about them makes me shudder. Gross.

    Sun 2009/10/11 09:40:10 JST (ID #729102)
    reply to TevaZul's comment
  • Danny Choo
    Danny Choo in Tokyo (Registered on 2006/12/11)
    CEO MIrai Inc
    http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/

    This really an iPhone pic?! Nice Bokeh.

    Sun 2009/10/11 10:04:23 JST (ID #729112)
    reply to Danny Choo's comment
    • josephtame
      josephtame in Tokyo (Registered on 2008/12/27)
      Podcaster and tech-otaku
      http://www.japanpodshow.com

      Yep, really is the iPhone, and no post-processing either. Hardest thing was holding it still with the sun directly behind the spider!

      Sun 2009/10/11 12:36:40 JST (ID #729165)
      reply to josephtame's comment
  • Alfisti
    Alfisti in Brisbane, Australia (Registered on 2008/01/08)
    Design Student
    http://wraith11.deviantart.com/

    I hate spiders... which is a bad thing because there's many of them around where I live. Winter's ok, summer I tend to take to swinging my arms around in front of me when walking through particlarly spider-prone areas =P

    Sun 2009/10/11 10:20:03 JST (ID #729115)
    reply to Alfisti's comment
  • Heavy
    Heavy in Georgia U.S.A. (Registered on 2009/07/02)
    Exploring worlds and ways of thought

    When I was 8 or 9 years old, I would go exploring in the forest close to our house. I would walk right into the webs of spiders that looked like this, but the abdomen was cylindrical. The web would span 1.5 meters between trees and was hard to spot. And the spider was about 2/3 the size of my hand now. And I knew every one of those webs had one in it.

    Sun 2009/10/11 10:28:32 JST (ID #729117)
    reply to Heavy's comment
  • wannbe17
    wannbe17 (Registered on 2009/08/27)

    ah yes...back in my country we catch spiders in our backyard, farm and all place that's located in the wilderness. And to tell the truth it aint a joke to find one. When we catch spiders we put them inside an empty matchbox. Place it with leaves and store one spider per box. Then when people who are "spider trainers" (much like pokemon) We take one stick, probably a bbq stick and then place one spider per point of the stick and a spider fight begins. The rules are simple, a spider that falls down or get's eaten by the rival spider loses. Philippines really gives me those memories.... ^_^

    Sun 2009/10/11 10:32:17 JST (ID #729120)
    reply to wannbe17's comment
  • The Envoy
    The Envoy in Lands From Afar (Registered on 2009/05/27)
    Ambassador
    http://througheyesfromafar.blogspot.com/

    I prefer the spider goddess of the drow ^^

    Sun 2009/10/11 10:38:04 JST (ID #729123)
    reply to The Envoy's comment
  • Cyberchaos
    Cyberchaos in Australia, Sydney (Registered on 2008/02/17)
    NEET part-time - Technical Support Officer - Network security engineer
    http://burugureibi.blogspot.com/

    If it was ever appropriate to put "Professional spider killer" on my resume, i would

    Sun 2009/10/11 10:41:56 JST (ID #729125)
    reply to Cyberchaos's comment
    • nanu
      nanu in U.S. Suburbia (Registered on 2007/12/28)
      hikikomori

      I hear ya.
      I generally don't kill the big ones. They can just go back where they belong (away from me XD)

      Sun 2009/10/11 21:53:53 JST (ID #729314)
      reply to nanu's comment
  • Kamen Rider Cruz
    Kamen Rider Cruz (Registered on 2009/09/16)

    We used to play with spiders here in Manila..

    but i don't like really big spiders! they give me the chills

    Sun 2009/10/11 10:46:53 JST (ID #729129)
    reply to Kamen Rider Cruz's comment
    • wannbe17
      wannbe17 (Registered on 2009/08/27)

      well i caught one before. It was'nt so bad. But gave me itches because maybe I'm allergic to spider venom... >_>

      Sun 2009/10/11 11:46:55 JST (ID #729138)
      reply to wannbe17's comment
  • SG
    SG in 英国 (Registered on 2006/12/28)
    Art/Media
    http://sgallen.wordpress.com/

    Where I work, the roof of the building has a greenery area... massive spiders inhabit the area.
    I started poking them and the webs, really strong and scary like. They're brown, tan, yellowy striped. hhmm.

    Not fond spiders D':

    Sun 2009/10/11 11:04:30 JST (ID #729132)
    reply to SG's comment
  • cedrico
    cedrico in Australia (Registered on 2007/03/18)
    Bus Operator, Part time Zaku Pilot

    Here in Australia we got enough spiders. large & hairy like the huntsman, then there is small & deadly like black widow. Theres even one that looks like a black widow except its not it. But still quite venomous...

    Sun 2009/10/11 11:16:32 JST (ID #729133)
    reply to cedrico's comment
  • tim62360
    tim62360 in united states (Registered on 2009/05/03)
    west virginia janitor
    http://yahoo.com

    It is extremely hard to look at this particular species because as a kid, I had Arachnophobia extremely horribly bad. I used to wake up screaming in the middle of the night because I just had a nightmare about spiders. Growing up I learned to tolerate certain types but the one pictured in this story is the one I am scared to death about because as a kid, the one pictured in this story is the same type that scars me to death. The first time I saw this particular one, I was in the woods and came upon it very close, it's web was between two trees and it being big, the long black legs and yellow and black body was so frightening. I'm gonna leave this comment page right now because I'm feeling quite queasy right now. I hope I don't have a dream about this spider.

    Sun 2009/10/11 11:40:38 JST (ID #729137)
    reply to tim62360's comment
  • Owlstar
    Owlstar (Registered on 2009/09/12)

    I'm pretty bad with spiders as well, though we only get daddy longleg spiders and some really tiny ones, but I think recently a (relatively big) spider set up its web right outside my backyard screen door, so I've been going to the backyard via the fence gate

    Sun 2009/10/11 12:04:24 JST (ID #729145)
    reply to Owlstar's comment
  • Puru Puru Purin
    Puru Puru Purin in Canberra, Australia (Registered on 2009/09/17)
    Underpants inspector #42

    Huntsman spiders freak the hell out of me, and i live in the bush so we get HEAPS of them coming into the house. I tend to catch and release them, as in my experience they tend to just go nuts and don't die if you spray them. Fortunately they're not as deadly as they look (not deadly at all).

    Sun 2009/10/11 12:37:06 JST (ID #729166)
    reply to Puru Puru Purin's comment
  • 6pack
    6pack (Registered on 2008/03/20)
    browsing the nets
    http://otakuposts.blogspot.com/

    dont hate spiders but dont like them putting up webs in my home too. extra work while cleaning. dont know why people are freaked out by them. they are soft and furry to touch.

    Sun 2009/10/11 13:10:07 JST (ID #729176)
    reply to 6pack's comment
  • Ghostly Substance
    Ghostly Substance in Canada, Ottawa (Registered on 2008/01/29)
    An Arctic Fox
    http://ghostlysubstance.swgbex.com/

    In truth I'm actually scared of them. I can actually look at them briefly before realize that what I'm looking at is spider. I even started taking pictures of them, putting them on my Flickr, just to see what kinds I got in the area I live in.

    Sun 2009/10/11 14:07:17 JST (ID #729195)
    reply to Ghostly Substance's comment
  • Cascade
    Cascade in Florida, United States (Registered on 2009/07/28)
    Student (University)

    Whenever I was to class, there's this huge spider that's built it's little nest/web between two palm trees. Oddly enough, it looks just like the one pictured here. But, the good thing is that it's out of the way, so no one will accidentally stumble upon it. At any rate, nice pic.

    Sun 2009/10/11 15:23:26 JST (ID #729220)
    reply to Cascade's comment
  • oCHAPPYo
    oCHAPPYo in Singapore (Registered on 2008/08/26)
    Student
    http://chappypyon.wordpress.com/

    I am scared of spider. I tend to freak out if i see them, except those really small ones.

    Sun 2009/10/11 15:31:19 JST (ID #729224)
    reply to oCHAPPYo's comment
  • Morgan Lamia
    Morgan Lamia in Oxford, England. (Registered on 2009/08/10)
    Sentai Ranger
    http://morganlamia.blogspot.com/

    ?!!!?!!?! T-T I hate spiders, they're my biggest fear. Even tiny 1cm big ones...

    Sun 2009/10/11 19:36:13 JST (ID #729274)
    reply to Morgan Lamia's comment
  • Sabekuji Kaneda
    Sabekuji Kaneda in Parañaque, Philippines (Registered on 2008/06/21)
    Mechanical Engineering student
    http://sabekujikaneda.multiply.com/

    I'm ok with small spiders. In fact, sometimes I let them crawl on my hands. What I do hate are those big ones, the ones that are the size of saucers! Those are the ones I usually kill (either with a good smack with a shoe or ol' bug spray).

    Sun 2009/10/11 21:34:11 JST (ID #729301)
    reply to Sabekuji Kaneda's comment
  • maikeru
    maikeru in Oregon (Registered on 2007/12/06)
    Replenisher

    The last time I was in Japan, I went to Enoshima. These spiders had built webs from one tree to the next over the walk ways. It felt like they were just waiting to drop the web down on their next victim. I'm not a big fan of spiders, so it was a little unnerving.

    Sun 2009/10/11 23:27:05 JST (ID #729340)
    reply to maikeru's comment
  • LoganRunn
    LoganRunn in Miami (Registered on 2008/11/30)
    Boukenger

    I also hate spiders. Saw some of those killer spider movies when I was a kid and I think that had an effect on me. Seen vids on youtube with spiders fighting and killing things as big as a mouse and was totally creeped out.

    Sun 2009/10/11 23:41:58 JST (ID #729343)
    reply to LoganRunn's comment
  • Coolmikeol
    Coolmikeol in San Francisco, CA (Registered on 2009/02/22)
    College Student
    http://www.xanga.com/coolmikeolgx

    Spiders don't mix well with me. I would run away. LOL.

    Mon 2009/10/12 00:32:22 JST (ID #729356)
    reply to Coolmikeol's comment
  • SeiWhiteMoe
    SeiWhiteMoe in Caracas,Venezuela (Registered on 2009/06/18)
    Full-time geek/Part-time student/Part-time musician
    http://randomgeekness.livejournal.com/

    @_@ KOWAI!.

    Mon 2009/10/12 01:28:01 JST (ID #729373)
    reply to SeiWhiteMoe's comment
  • 紅葉
    紅葉 in 品川 (Registered on 2009/10/11)
    自営業

    クモはゴキブリの次に嫌いな昆虫ですね。小さい頃、年齢が2桁もいかない頃は
    ジョロウグモ(恐らく写真のクモもジョロウグモでしょう。)ぐらいの大きくて、
    ケバケバしいクモも平気だったのですが、小学5年生の遠足の時、トイレ休憩の
    為に立ち寄った庭園の岩の上に物凄く胴体が小さな、それでいて足が凄く長い
    地味なクモがいました。そのクモを良く言えば好奇心旺盛、悪く言えば凄い馬鹿
    な俺は触ったんです。そしてクモを触った指を嗅いで見たら、とんでもなく臭か
    ったんです。それ以来クモはゴキブリの次に嫌いな昆虫へと格上げされました。

    Mon 2009/10/12 05:34:52 JST (ID #729416)
    reply to 紅葉's comment
  • cabose
    cabose in The Shire, Middle Earth (Registered on 2008/12/19)
    schooling of the college type

    am scared of bigger spiders, little ones and daddy long legs are ok

    Mon 2009/10/12 07:52:16 JST (ID #729430)
    reply to cabose's comment
  • spidr245
    spidr245 in Everywhere, Anywhere, and sometimes There too (Registered on 2008/08/25)
    Ninja / Engineer / Sensei / 魔法少女 (What!?! I can't be, I'm a guy...)

    Spiders are nice. They keep other pests in check. But yes, it is sometimes hard walking around with their randomly placed webs.

    Mon 2009/10/12 11:57:26 JST (ID #729476)
    reply to spidr245's comment
  • Wolfman-X
    Wolfman-X in Melbourne Australia (Registered on 2009/02/16)
    About that......

    its been a while since i killed spiders, mainly we get a small number of white tails crawling in my home, and when i do see one i tend to kill it with anything i could get my hands on. i hate spiders afterall but i dont have a strong phobia of them compared to the rest of my family

    Mon 2009/10/12 13:02:48 JST (ID #729483)
    reply to Wolfman-X's comment
  • 10116222
    10116222 in QC, Manila, Philippines (Registered on 2007/01/28)
    Nendoroid Hunter

    I'd pray dearly to God when I see them. Hoping they won't do any harm or I would be forced to squish them.

    Mon 2009/10/12 13:35:59 JST (ID #729500)
    reply to 10116222's comment
  • Katastrofaali
    Katastrofaali in finland, Savonlinna (Registered on 2009/05/02)
    Restaurant and foodindustry student

    That looks so terrible! : O

    Mon 2009/10/12 16:16:21 JST (ID #729544)
    reply to Katastrofaali's comment
  • stary
    stary in Germany, Bavaria (Registered on 2009/01/22)
    Public service employee
    http://stary84.blog.de/

    :)
    i don´t like spiders in the room but outside i like to look them while eating >,<

    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2453/3968890873_3d9c69a2cd_o.jpg

    Mon 2009/10/12 18:26:36 JST (ID #729573)
    reply to stary's comment
  • Loggins
    Loggins in Tampa, FL (Registered on 2009/08/19)
    Slave

    We have Banana Spiders here. We also have the bird eating ones. The most common is Wolf spiders. Not poisonous, but VERY fast, and they jump... Banana spiders find there way in to public restrooms near wooded areas, and garages. Wolf spiders find their way in to your shoes when you go camping and your garage, occasionally in your house.

    Not really afraid of them...but I don't think anyone could not freak out when you walk in to a GIANT web and you can feel the spider running towards you.....Arms flailing, smacking yourself in the face and chanting "Holy %@#! and %$&@!

    Tue 2009/10/13 01:43:29 JST (ID #729758)
    reply to Loggins's comment