Approximately 150 Japanese macaques live in the mountain valleys of the Jigokudani Yaen-koen monkey park in Yamanouchi, Nagano prefecture, Japan. Also called snow monkeys, the wild macaques are well known for spending their winter months keeping warm and relaxing in the waters of a natural hot spring. For years, the park has been a top destination for tourists, and its popularity is now rebounding as Japan has relaxed some of its COVID-19 restrictions.
The Snow Monkeys of Nagano
Hints:
View this page full screen.
Skip to the next and previous photo by typing j/k or ←/→.
-
![Several furry monkeys huddle together for warmth.]()
Read moreJapanese macaques huddle together at the Jigokudani Yaen-koen monkey park in Yamanouchi, Nagano, Japan, on January 28, 2023. #
Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty -
-
![Snow falls on the head of a monkey that is submerged to its shoulders in a hot spring.]()
Read moreSnow falls as a macaque bathes in a hot spring at the Jigokudani Yaen-koen monkey park on December 27, 2017. #
Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty -
![People walk along a trail through a snow-covered mountain valley.]()
Read moreTourists walk along the trail leading to the Jigokudani Yaen-koen monkey park on January 28, 2023 in Yamanouchi. #
Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty -
![A young macaque perches on a pole, observing nearby tourists while eating some seeds.]()
Read moreA young macaque perches on a pole, observing nearby tourists while eating some seeds. #
Manuel Romaris / Getty -
-
![A macaque relaxes in a hot spring under falling snow, which has accumulated on its fur.]()
Read moreA Japanese macaque relaxes under falling snow, in an open-air hot spring at the Jigokudani Yaen-koen monkey park in the town of Yamanouchi on December 10, 2012. #
Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP / Getty -
![A couple dozen tourists gather around a hot spring taking photographs of monkeys.]()
Read moreTourists take photographs of macaques bathing in a hot spring on January 28, 2023, in Yamanouchi. #
Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty -
![A macaque leans on the edge of a hot spring, covering its face with its hand.]()
Read moreA macaque leans on the edge of a hot spring. #
Sean Pavone Photo / iStockphoto / Getty -
-
![Two monkeys have a confrontation; one is leaping in the air.]()
Read moreMacaques fight in the snow. #
Mochida1970 / Getty -
![A macaque climbs on branches.]()
Read moreA macaque climbs on branches near a hot spring. #
Mochida1970 / Getty -
![Several monkeys huddle together in a snowstorm beside a hot spring.]()
Read moreJapanese macaques huddle next to an open-air hot-spring bath, or "onsen," in the town of Yamanouchi. #
Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP / Getty -
-
![Several dozen monkeys rest in a pool of warm water beneath falling snow.]()
Read moreMacaques bathe together in the Jigokudani Yaen-koen monkey park on January 18, 2016. #
Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP / Getty -
![A monkey pulls open the lips of another monkey during a grooming session.]()
Read moreMacaques groom each other in the Jigokudani Yaen-koen monkey park. #
Masashi Mochida / 500px Prime / Getty -
![A portrait of a monkey with snowflakes in its fur]()
Read moreA macaque bathes in a hot spring on February 8, 2019, in Yamanouchi, Japan. #
Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty -
-
![A macaque and its baby perch on a wooden fence beside a snow-covered hill.]()
Read moreA Japanese macaque perches on a fence on January 28, 2023, in Yamanouchi. #
Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty -
![Two monkeys run on rocks along the edge of a hot spring.]()
Read moreSnow falls as macaques run near a hot spring on December 27, 2015. #
Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty -
![A pair of monkeys relax in a hot spring; one lays its head on a rock.]()
Read moreJapanese macaques relax in a hot spring on February 17, 2018. #
Yifan Ding / Getty -
-
![Several monkeys walk on a path through a snowy field.]()
Read moreMacaques walk on a snowy path in Yamanouchi on January 28, 2023. #
Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty -
![A small crowd of tourists takes photographs of a pair of monkeys bathing in a hot spring.]()
Read moreTourists take photographs of bathing macaques in the Jigokudani Yaen-koen monkey park on February 8, 2019. #
Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty -
![Two macaques enjoy the warm water of a hot spring.]()
Read moreJapanese macaques enjoy the warm water on a cold day in the Jigokudani Yaen-koen monkey park on January 28, 2023. #
Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty -
-
![The face of a young monkey pokes out from beneath the snow-covered fur of its mother.]()
Read moreSnow falls as a baby macaque is held by its mother at the Jigokudani Yaen-koen monkey park on December 27, 2017, in Yamanouchi, Japan. #
Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.