Our recent trip to Nagano included an all day trip to the Jigokudani Yaen Koen (monkey park). This recluse destination spot is know for its vast population of macaca fuscata or commonly known as snow monkey. During the winter, these snow monkeys descend from the mountain tops to bask in the warmth of the famous Kanbayashi onsens. From Matsumoto, it was a beautiful 2 hour train ride to Kanbayashi station, a 20 minute bus ride to the park entrance, and a 30 minute hike to the monkey park.Kim and I were very excited about this trip. We've heard so much about this place and have seen many pictures online. This website provides a live camera of the monkey park. During the winter, this onsen is surrounded by snow and filled with monkeys basking in the warm water. Typically the monkeys go about minding their own business. It is encouraged that tourist don't feed the monkeys and making direct eye contact with them can be a form of aggression. The monkeys do the same as they walk by you on the paths, they will turn their head the other way to avoid making eye contact with humans. They are not threatened by the camera but if you notice in the pictures below, none of the monkeys ever look directly at the camera.
Kim and I did encounter one brave little monkey. He first came up to me while I was sitting on the park bench. Not k
nowing what it was doing, I remained still and waited for the monkey to make first contact. Sure enough, the little guy put his hand on me and picked the scab off my knee and ate it. After that, it turned around and proceeded to try and climb on Kim's back. I was trying to take a picture of it but Kim kept screaming and shaking the monkey off before I could get the camera focused. The picture to the left is my knee and the monkey looking at my scab and contemplating whether to eat it or not. After our long travels and adventures in the monkey park, we decided to relax at one of the famous Kanbayashi onsens. There are several different hotels and ryokans where you pay 1000 yen to use their onsen facilities. We found a nice hotel near the bus stop and decided to take a quick bath in one of these soothing natural hot springs. A highly recommended day trip...
nowing what it was doing, I remained still and waited for the monkey to make first contact. Sure enough, the little guy put his hand on me and picked the scab off my knee and ate it. After that, it turned around and proceeded to try and climb on Kim's back. I was trying to take a picture of it but Kim kept screaming and shaking the monkey off before I could get the camera focused. The picture to the left is my knee and the monkey looking at my scab and contemplating whether to eat it or not. After our long travels and adventures in the monkey park, we decided to relax at one of the famous Kanbayashi onsens. There are several different hotels and ryokans where you pay 1000 yen to use their onsen facilities. We found a nice hotel near the bus stop and decided to take a quick bath in one of these soothing natural hot springs. A highly recommended day trip...
Kim makes a new friend
Mama San
Monkeys on the rocks!
"Beam me up Scotty..."
Monkey massage pallor
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