Snow Monkeys of Nagano Japan

Groups of snow monkeys  live in Jigokudani (Hell Valley), located in the mountains of Nagano, Japan. The can be vied first-hand at Jigokudani Yaen-koen (Hell Valley Wild Monkey Park). The snow monkeys of Jikokudani are accustomed to being around people and live as if they are human. There is even an outdoor hot spring that was created just for the monkeys. In winter, you can observe the snow monkeys soaking themselves in the hot water while the snow falls gently atop their heads, as in the picture below.

Netherland Dutch:

Het Jigokudani Apenpark ligt op 850 meter hoogte in het noorden van de Nagano Prefectuur. De ‘Vallei van de Hel’ is lastig toegankelijk via een voetpad en kenmerkt zich door heetwaterbronnen en koude winters met veel sneeuw. De vallei is beroemd vanwege de grote populatie Japanse Makaken, die bekend staan als de Sneeuwapen, en die overdag afdalen om te baden in de natuurlijke onsen.

Het Apenpark is bereikbaar via Yudanaka-onsen, een badplaats in de Shigakogen Bergen en laatste stop op de Nagaden Nagano Line. Het is een aardig plaatsje met enkele tempels en een groot bronzen beeld van Hyaku Shaku Cannon, de boeddhistische godin van genade.

American English:

The Jigokudani Monkey Park is 850 meters altitude in the north of Nagano Prefecture. The “Valley of Hell” is difficult to access via a footpath and is characterized by hot springs and cold winters with much snow. The valley is famous for its large population of Japanese macaques, known as the Snow Monkeys, by day and descend to bathe in the natural onsen.

The park is accessible via Yudanaka Monkey-onsen, a seaside resort in the mountains Shigakogen and final stop on the Nagano Line Nagaden. It’s a nice town with some temples and a large bronze statue of Hyaku Shaku Cannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy.

Photos and information by Ron Gessel you can find more of his work on his Website or  Flickr and contact him on Twitter