3 Best Places to See Hot Spring Monkeys in Japan
Where to See Japan’s Bathing Wild Macaques?
Famed for its sacred flora and fauna, Japan is also a sanctuary for hot spring monkeys that are endemic to 3 of its islands: Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku. From winter to spring, visitors can watch families of wild macaques ambling down the hillsides towards glistening thermal baths, where they spend hours soaking in the water while observing curious tourists.
There are only a handful of places to see these creatures in their natural environs, including a beautiful botanical garden, a river valley in the Japanese Alps and an open-air zoo on the outskirts of Kyoto. The ‘snow monkeys’ offer ample photo opportunities (you might even get to feed them a slice of Fuji apple).
1. Yunokawa Onsen
A haven for hot-tubbing monkeys
Categorías: Fotos, Poco común, Asequible
A short stroll from Yunokawa Onsen, you’ll find Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden, a large pyramidal greenhouse that teems with rare varieties of plants. This horticultural refuge also features a thermal hot spring that attracts wild macaque monkeys, who bathe in the pool during the cooler months of the year.
Marvel at thousands of plants (including fruit trees, cacti and angel’s trumpet flowers) before heading to the natural baths to photograph the monkeys soaking. While there is a small price charged to enter the greenhouse, access to the thermal spring is completely free of charge.
Dirección: 3 Chome-1-15 Yunokawacho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 042-0932, Japan
Horario: Daily from 9.30 am to 6 pm
Teléfono: +81 (0)13-857-7833
Yunokawa Onsen
2. Jigokudani Monkey Park
The world’s most famous snow monkey spot
Categorías: Parejas, Familias, Fotos
Jigokudani Monkey Park is situated in the Japanese Alps town of Yamanouchi, 3.5 hours from Tokyo. Nestled in the Yokoyu River Valley, this mountainous refuge is famed for the macaques that bathe in its springs (they’re particularly popular with wildlife photographers).
These captivating primates first made international headlines when they appeared on the cover of LIFE magazine, in January 1970. Since then, visitors have flocked to the hot springs to watch the snow monkeys soak in the water. They do charge for admission, but it’s well worth the cost for this surreal, but incredible, experience.
Dirección: 6845 Hirao, Yamanochi, Shimotakai District, Nagano 381-0401, Japan
Horario: Daily from 8.30 am to 5 pm
Teléfono: +81 (0)26-933-4379
Jigokudani Monkey Park
3. Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama
Hilltop reserve where wild monkeys roam
Categorías: Parejas, Familias, Fotos
Iwatayama Monkey Park is in historic Arashiyama, a popular sightseeing district on the western outskirts of Kyoto. It may not feature thermal springs, but this open-air zoo is still a quality place to watch Japanese macaques, who amble about at all times of the year.
Along with its troop of 130 snow monkeys, Iwatayama boasts spectacular views of the city below from its panoramic mountain paths. You can buy bags of food as well, to give an interactive twist to your wildlife watching. In May, the park closes early when the creatures return to the mountains.
Dirección: Arashiyama Nakaoshitacho, Nishikyo Ward, 616-0004 Kyoto, Japan
Horario: Daily from 9 am to 4 pm
Teléfono: +81 (0)75-872-0950
Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama
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