The winter air in this snowy, mountainous area of northern Japan is cold. You don’t mind though. After all, it’s not every day that you get to watch a bunch of monkeys sitting in hot springs.
You are visiting the Jigokudani Monkey Park near Nagano, Japan. The story of this park and its Japanese macaques (muh-KAKS)—also known as snow monkeys—dates back to 1963. That’s when a young female macaque started slipping into the heated outdoor pool of a local hotel. The pool was filled with water from one of the area’s natural hot springs.
Soon that one monkey was joined by a few more monkeys, and then a few more monkeys, and then a few more monkeys. Before long, a large group of macaques had become regulars at the pool. The hotel was less than thrilled; apparently the guests didn’t enjoy swimming with a bunch of wild animals.
The solution? Build the monkeys their own pool. The plan was a success.
Now on cold days, dozens of monkeys come to the pool to warm up.
So here you are, feeling lucky to be watching these creatures up close. Many are up to their chins in the water. Only their faces and the tops of their heads poke out. Snowflakes come down. You watch one monkey close her eyes and sink deeper into the steaming water. She looks so interesting.