Japanese Huntsman Spiders (can I just stay in the UK now, please...?)

[elspethelf]

Help! To those on my f'list who is living or have lived in Japan, how common are these fucking huge monsters spiders found in the city?

It is less than two weeks before I leave for Japan, and I was feeling reasonably pleased with the way preparation was going, and all geared up for the year ahead ... that is until I happened to visit the JET forum

Comments

[hey_rupert]

Oh flipping hell...
Err... Don't let it dampen your mood though! :3
No seriously it's Japan. I'd do anything to go.

[elspethelf]

Haha, I'll try not to...
I'm going to stop looking at that picture of the spider legs behind the clock. Every time I do I want to go to Japan a little less....

[inksheddings]

I hope you do not have to fend off such spiders, truly! My goodness.

Still, that link of the man's story? Funniest thing and made my day! I'm gonna repost in my journal, because it should be shared far and wide! *laughs*

Sorry for my laughter at your expense.

[elspethelf]

Oh me too, please god don't let me have to fend them off!!

Yeah, that story had me stitches, but I sobered up pretty rapidly once it dawned on me that I'll be in that situation soon!

[tekalynn]

I like spiders, but those photos made ME jump.

[elspethelf]

There's something especially creepy about the first one, with the fat legs behind the clock!

[kath_ballantyne]

Fraid I can't help with how common they are in Japan.
We get similar ones here in Australia though and they are pretty harmless.

As long as they're not on me or poisonous then I don't mind.

They just do their own thing and usually stick to the walls/ceiling. They certainly wont go out of their way to bite you.
If they don't go away in a couple of days we usually catch them in a glass and put them outside so they don't starve.

[elspethelf]

Aah, see, you're much braver than I am. I'm the kind of person who will not be able to relax knowing that I have a huge spider in my room. I'd have to try and get rid of it if I'm to sleep in peace!
The smaller spiders in UK are pretty easy to catch in a cup, though I feel like I probably need a bowl to catch the huntsman (if I have the courage to get close enough in the first place, that is!)

[kitty_ryan]

This is going to sound demented, but they're not usually as big as they look, and they curl up if you put a large glass/jam jar over them. So getting rid of them isn't as big of a deal as it first seems when you see this BEAST glaring hairily at you.

Also, remember they're not poisonous. It's a useful adage.

[elspethelf]

I don't know if their curling up makes me feel any better, but the fact that they're not poisonous is definitely a relief! Approaching them for the first time will definitely require courage on my part - especially when they're big enough to have visible chelicerae!

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[anonymous]

It is difficult to tell.