Tag Archives: Jigokudani Yaen Kōen

Japanese Snow Monkeys Bathing In An “Onsen”!


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Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Wintertime…. in New York, and I’m missing my Japanese snow monkeys!!! Did you know that the snow monkeys are the most northerly non-human primate in the world?  When temperatures drop to below freezing and snow covers their habitat, they spend the winter warming up in the volcanic hot springs called onsen in Japanese. If you have a day to spare on your trip to Tokyo, consider visiting the Jigokudani Monkey Park (地獄谷野猿公苑 Jigokudani Yaen Kōen). The park is located in Yamanouchi (a Northern Nagano Prefecture).

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