Heirinji Temple Precinct Forest

A large butterfly whose males shine blue-purple, chosen as Japan's national butterfly. Larvae feed on Japanese hackberry leaves, and adults gather at sap on oaks. It depends on healthy woodland, such as the Heirinji temple forest in Saitama.

A thrush with reddish-brown flanks that breeds in mountains in summer and moves to warmer woods in winter. The Heirinji temple forest in Niiza, Saitama, is a valuable place where such birds descend to lowland woodland.

A green woodpecker found only in Japan, which probes trees for insects and gives a loud ringing call. Heirinji's temple forest in Niiza, Saitama, is a rare remnant woodland near Tokyo that shelters this bird among many other creatures.

The Narcissus Flycatcher is a small summer migrant whose male has a bright yellow eyebrow and breast. It arrives in spring from Southeast Asia and other wintering areas and sings in a clear, carrying voice. It catches insects on the wing in woodland. The forest of Heirin-ji temple in Saitama is protected as a rich woodland that shelters such wild birds.

A pretty small bird; males have a blue back and orange flanks. It breeds in subalpine forests in summer and descends to lowland woods in winter. It can be seen in the Heirinji temple forest in Saitama, where the woodland is protected.