Have you ever heard about the Japanese snow monkeys before? If not, come let us see in detail about where they live and how they survive in cold winter times. The Japanese Macaque or otherwise called as snow monkeys live in Japan. They are known for playing leisurely in the snow and warm themselves in the natural hot springs or Onsens. These monkeys can only be found in Jigokudani [Hell Valley] in the mountains near Nagano in Japan. You cannot find them anywhere in the world except here. It is very interesting. Isn’t it?
Macaques in Jigokudani Area,Nagano:
Even though there is a wide variety of Japanese Macaques in various parts of Japan, the snow monkeys found here are very unique and have unique characteristics unlike the other ones. They are the only creatures that are known to take bath in the hot springs. While the other monkeys search for the scarce food available inside the snow during the winter and cuddle themselves up during night time in order fight against the biting cold, Japanese Macaques found in Jigokudani area are very smart in finding a solution for the biting cold. They actually enter into the hot springs to escape from the cold outside so that they can be warm and comfortable in the natural warm water.
This queer way of warming themselves up not only helps them protecting themselves from severe cold outside but also gives them the chance of grooming each other. It is an interesting scene to watch them bathing in the hot water pool and playing without worrying about the outside world. How did only these macaques develop this type of smart behavior while other monkeys are not doing it? What makes them unique?
Interesting Story behind Japanese Snow Monkeys:
Well, there is a real story behind this. It happened about 40 years ago when there was a severe winter and these monkeys were struggling hard to find food. A hotel owner took notice of this and had mercy on them. He started giving small amounts of food for them initially and these monkeys started coming later to eat whatever food is given to them. The food was provided to the snow monkeys regularly by the hotel owners. These monkeys were keenly observing the humans taking bath in the Onsens near to them.
One day a small monkey fell into the Onsen and felt that it was warm and comfortable. The very next day, it started jumping in again. The other monkeys also followed the same. Because of the aggression of the monkeys, the hotel owner could not manage the situation and lost his Onsen to the monkeys. So, he came up with an idea of building a separate Onsen for monkeys far from his own Onsen. He built it in a few months and it was at last ready. But, the monkeys were reluctant to move to the new Onsen. So, the hotel owner put some food near the new Onsen. Lured by the food kept there daily, the monkeys started coming to the new Onsen and the hotel Owner was happy that his old Onsen was saved from the pestering snow monkeys as they sought to go to their new one. By building the new Onsen, the customers who come to his old Onsen were charged some money to see the monkeys in the new Onsen.
Major Tourist Attraction in Nagano:
Nowadays, the area where the snow monkeys revel in the hot spring has become popular with so many tourists coming to see this rare phenomenon. The visitors are awestruck by the playful activities of the monkeys and they come from all over the world to see this in Nagano, Japan. It is a rare chance to see these monkeys grooming and playing in the hot spring. It is also a place for taking photos of the wild but, you are not allowed to feed the monkeys. It is such a wonderful sight to see them in action in the Onsen and take beautiful snaps from afar. So, next time when you come to Japan, never miss to come to Nagano and see these queer snow monkeys.