At Christmas the family was discussing my upcoming adventure in Japan.
My nephew’s partner “suggested” (strongly) that I had to get images of the snow monkeys.
I knew they existed, but never thought much about photographing them.
- Quick rundown…
- They are Japanese macaque.
- They live in a national preserve in the mountains near Nagano.
- The survive in some harsh conditions. (-10 c in winter).
- They were seen around hot springs, so some locals built them a pool, which they use to bath and warm up.
- They are fed, usually grain which is tossed around the park, so the have to forage for it.
This weekend was the first real chance for me to go, and I wanted to go before spring.
My plan, take the train up Friday, shoot, stay at a ryokan, shoot Saturday, then back to Tokyo.
Weather looked good, snow on Friday, sun on Saturday. I didn’t count on the earthquake.
I am staying at a place called Shibu Matsuya Ryokan
I can not recommend this place highly enough!!!! If you ever come this way, stay here….and have their dinners and breakfast!!
I am staying an extra night, and will try and reach Tokyo tomorrow.
Monkey park is a hike….30 to 60 minutes of maintained forest paths… Once you get to the monkeys… They are there.
They are not friendly. They are not hostile. They don’t really care about humans and ignore us.
The way they are fed separates humans from food.
It is in the mountains…cold..blowy, but there is a warm up hut. And after a chilly day of shooting and walking, it is great to go back to the ryokan and soak in their hot spring onsen.
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Location:Yamanouchi,Japan
