No monkeys like snow monkeys!

The whole reason we went on this overnight trip to Nagano was to see the snow monkeys! We woke up on Christmas morning, had breakfast, packed our things and then we were on the bus and off to see the monkeys. Before we arrived at the park, the tour guide told us not to look the monkeys in the eye because they see that as a sign of agression. The monkeys like plastic bags, backpacks and purses and may try to take those things from you thinking there's food inside. Other than those rules you could wander about the monkey park for as long as you wished and take as many pictures as you like.

In order to get to the monkeys we had to hike for a snowy mile and walk several sets of slick stairs. One girl in our tour group was brave enough to wear heeled boots. Other people came very under prepared and wore tennis shoes which promptly became soaked through with snow and ice.

Once you reach the mokey park, you see one hot spring filled with monkeys. The park estimates there are 160 monkeys all from one family unit. The area around the hot spring was crowded with people. When the monkeys become relaxed in the water, their faces droop. The Japanese call this "relaxation face." While you could get as close to the monkeys as you wanted (without touching), fights would often break out amongst the monkeys in the hot spring. This would cause warm (and poop-filled) water to go flying at the people gathered around the hot spring. Everytime this happened, everyone would hold their cameras in the air in an attempt to avoid getting water on their cameras. The monkeys ignored the humnas completely and ran freely amongst the crowd to go between soaking and looking for food.

Enjoy the pictures of our visit with the snow monkeys!



Very close to the monkey park is a  hot spring onsen for humans. Sometimes monkeys wander into these onsens and soak with the humans.



Next to the onsen was a natural steam geyser.

The weird thing about this onsen is that the hot tubs are visible from the monkey park lodge area. Remember what I said earlier...that onsens are done sans clothing.

The first monkeys we encountered on the lodge steps.

You could really get as close as you wanted.

The monkeys don't seem to care about the humans.

Taking a swim in the hot spring.

After a long soak.

He's eyeing John.

A live web cam captures monkey action all the time.

The monkeys spent a good deal of time digging in the snow looking for food. John helped.